Ronnie Hawkins, Canadian/American legend and showman, dies at 87

Ronnie Hawkins, the southern U.S. rockabilly artist who sowed the seeds of Canada’s music scene after moving north, has died at 87. His wife Wanda confirmed  that Hawkins died Sunday morning at a hospital in Peterborough, Ont. He had faced various health issues in recent years. In 2002, Hawkins had a cancerous tumour removed from his pancreas, just three months after undergoing quadruple bypass heart surgery. Throughout his career, Hawkins wrote roughly 500 songs and received numerous accolades and awards. He was honoured with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in October 2002, He was also an Order of Canada recipient in 2014. While Hawkins went back to Arkansas for many winters, he said he considered Canada his home — even though he was a landed immigrant. Ronnie said there’s no place in the world more beautiful than Canada. I’ve made a lot of good friends here, a lot of outlaws. Hawkins is survived by his wife Wanda, who he married in 1962, three grown children…..Ed

Source: David Friend/Photo: George Pimentel/Wire