Bob Dunn Born:  February 5, 1908 Died:  May 27, 1971 Oklahoma Music Hall Of Fame (2013) Steel Guitar Hall of Fame (1992)

About The Artist Bob Dunn was perhaps the first country musician to play an electric steel guitar. He did this first with Milton Brown's Musical Brownies and then with his own Bob Dunn and Vagabonds. Jazz-influenced, he also played and recorded with other western swing groups, but seldom after World War II. Later he owned a music store in Houston, Dunn joined the Musical Brownies following Milton's 1934 sessions for Bluebird, but appeared on all of his Decca recordings. He was also a skilled trombone player and may have played that horn on a few records as well. He amazed many with his ability to produce a "trombone effect" on the steel guitar. After Milton's passing, Bob played briefly with his brother Derwood and then went with the new Cliff Bruner band. He also had his own Vagabond group although as Cary Ginell points out, the Dunn efforts on Decca were virtually the Bruner band rather than his own group. Dunn also recorded with Jimmie Davis and the Shelton Brothers among others. Known for heavy drinking in his musical prime, he eventually quit drinking. Attending college, he acquired a degree. But when he owned and operated his music store, he seldom, if ever, played with swing bands. He died at age 63. Credits & Sources Hillbilly-Music.com would like to express its thanks to Ivan M. Tribe, author of Mountaineer Jamboree — Country Music in West Virginia and other books that can be found on Amazon.com and numerous articles in other publications for providing us with information about this artist. Related Web Links • Brad's Page of Steel - Bob Dunn

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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)   Decca Rec. No. Side Song Title   5667 A Mamas Gone Goodbye   5667 B Too Long   5676 A Blue Skies   5676 B Toodle Oodle Oo   5684 A When Night Falls   5684 B You Dont Know My Mind   5694 A It Must Be Love   5694 B Mean Mistreater Blues   5707 A Graveyard Blues   5707 B I Want Whole World To Know   5733 A You'll Pay Some Day   5733 B Basin Street Blues   5746 A Was That All I Meant To You?   5746 B Sweet Bunch Of Daisies   5772 A Wednesday Rag   5772 B Stompin At The Honky Tonk   5789 A I'll Tell The World   5789 B Meet Me Tonight In Dreams   5828 A Juke Box Rag   5828 B I'll Forget Dear   5848 A I Found You Out   5848 B Marcheta   5868 A I'll Get By   5868 B Round Her Neck She Wears A Yellow Ribbon