Biography
Although Bill Haley & His Comets are frequently named as the first to commit a rock & roll number to tape with the release of “Rock A'Beatin' Boogie,” and although disk jockey Alan Freed is usually cited as the phrase’s originator, earlier evidence points to Doles Dickens. In June 1949 the bassist selected his own composition “Rock & Roll” as his debut single, thereby establishing himself as the idiom’s actual progenitor. Dickens remained active through the mid-1960s, cutting additional high-energy sides such as “Find 'Em, Fool 'Em and Forget 'Em” and “Choo Choo Bop.”
Born in Chicago, Dickens honed his abilities during the late 1930s alongside trombonist/guitarist Eddie Durham and alto saxophonist Buster Smith. His first studio appearance occurred in 1940, when he supplied bass for the Eddie South Orchestra.
After departing South’s ensemble in 1943, Dickens stepped in for Richard Davis within the vocal quartet the Four Toppers; the addition prompted the group to adopt the name Five Red Caps. He stayed with the Red Caps until 1946, contributing to such numbers as “Boogie Woogie on a Saturday Night,” “Lenox Avenue Jump,” and “The Boogie Beat'll Getcha If You Don't. . .” During 1945 he also recorded with vocalist George “Bon Bon” Tunnell and the Park Avenue Trio, employing either fellow Red Caps Steve Gibson and Romaine Brown or session players Frank Signorelli, Andy Sannella, and Robert Michelson.
Upon leaving the Five Red Caps in 1946, Dickens assembled a jazz quartet that included Herbie Scott, Reuben Cole, and Dickie Thompson. The unit issued material on Superdisc, Continental, and Gotham, yet none of the sides reached the charts.
Relocating to New York in 1949, Dickens promptly recorded the historically significant “Rock & Roll” on 23 June and worked as bassist for boogie-woogie pianist Piano Red, born William Patterson. In 1954 he formed a new outfit, Doles Dickens & the Strangers.
His association with the doo-wop ensemble the Mello-Harps commenced in 1957 when he arranged the track “Gumma Gumma,” which featured King Curtis on saxophone; Dickens continued as the group’s music director until 1964. In June 1960 he briefly substituted for bassist Al Rappa during a Bill Haley & His Comets session that produced “Let the Good Times Roll Creole” and “So Right Tonight.”
Dickens died in New Jersey on 2 May 1972.
Born in Chicago, Dickens honed his abilities during the late 1930s alongside trombonist/guitarist Eddie Durham and alto saxophonist Buster Smith. His first studio appearance occurred in 1940, when he supplied bass for the Eddie South Orchestra.
After departing South’s ensemble in 1943, Dickens stepped in for Richard Davis within the vocal quartet the Four Toppers; the addition prompted the group to adopt the name Five Red Caps. He stayed with the Red Caps until 1946, contributing to such numbers as “Boogie Woogie on a Saturday Night,” “Lenox Avenue Jump,” and “The Boogie Beat'll Getcha If You Don't. . .” During 1945 he also recorded with vocalist George “Bon Bon” Tunnell and the Park Avenue Trio, employing either fellow Red Caps Steve Gibson and Romaine Brown or session players Frank Signorelli, Andy Sannella, and Robert Michelson.
Upon leaving the Five Red Caps in 1946, Dickens assembled a jazz quartet that included Herbie Scott, Reuben Cole, and Dickie Thompson. The unit issued material on Superdisc, Continental, and Gotham, yet none of the sides reached the charts.
Relocating to New York in 1949, Dickens promptly recorded the historically significant “Rock & Roll” on 23 June and worked as bassist for boogie-woogie pianist Piano Red, born William Patterson. In 1954 he formed a new outfit, Doles Dickens & the Strangers.
His association with the doo-wop ensemble the Mello-Harps commenced in 1957 when he arranged the track “Gumma Gumma,” which featured King Curtis on saxophone; Dickens continued as the group’s music director until 1964. In June 1960 he briefly substituted for bassist Al Rappa during a Bill Haley & His Comets session that produced “Let the Good Times Roll Creole” and “So Right Tonight.”
Dickens died in New Jersey on 2 May 1972.