The raw, bluesy swamp-rock sound of the original “Suzy Susie-Q" grew out of Dale Hawkin's childhood experience, steeped in rural country and blues music.
Dale Hawkins, a singer-guitarist best known for his 1957 hit Susie-Q, which became a rock anthem, died Saturday in Little Rock, Ark., his family announced. He was 73.
He was diagnosed with colon cancer more than four years ago, according to his website.
The famous song, “with its crackling bluesy guitar and insistent cowbell, was one of the most exciting early rockabilly singles," music historian Richie Unterberger wrote of “Susie-Q" on the Allmusic Internet database.
The single reached the top 30 in the U.S. in 1957 and was later covered by many artists, including the Rolling Stones and Creedence Clearwater Revival, which had a top 20 hit with the song in 1968.
The raw, bluesy swamp-rock sound of the original “Susie-Q" grew out of a childhood steeped in rural country and blues music.
