Ronnie Dyson
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Ronnie Dyson (June 5, 1950 — November 10, 1990[1]) was an American singer and actor.
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[edit] Career
Born in Washington, D.C.[1] Dyson played a leading role in the Broadway production of Hair debuting in New York in 1968.[2] Dyson became an iconic voice of the 1960s with the lead vocal in the show's anthem of the hippie era "Aquarius". It is Dyson's voice leading off the song and opening the show with the famous lyric "When the Moon is in the second house, and Jupiter aligns with Mars".
Dyson also appeared in the 1969 film, Putney Swope.[2]
After Hair Dyson pursued his stage career with a role in Salvation in 1970. His recording of a song from the Salvation score "(If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?", broke into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at #8 in 1970. Dyson later increased his popularity on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with hits including "I Don't Wanna Cry" (1970) and "The More You Do It (The More I Like It Done To Me)" (1976).
In 1971 "When You Get Right Down To It" (a cover version of the 1970 hit for The Delfonics) reached the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart, but failed to make a serious mark in the American market.
In the early 1980s after a period of musical obscurity, Dyson changed record labels from Columbia Records to Cotillion Records but was unable to achieve another major success. "It's All over Your Face" (1983) was Dyson's last chart entry.[3] His final recording was "See the Clown" in 1990.[2]
Dyson died at the age of 40 from heart failure in late 1990, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]
[edit] See also
- List of disco artists
- List of Soul Train episodes (seasons 1-9)
- List of Soul Train episodes (seasons 10-19)
