RONNIE DYSON

Ronald Dyson was born in Washington, D.C. on June 5, 1950, and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. He sang in church choirs and, at 18, landed a role in the Broadway production of Hair. Dyson was the lead voice on “Aquarius.” He also made a cameo in the 1979 film version, singing “3-5-0-0” with Melba Moore, another Hair veteran.

In 1969, Dyson appeared in the film Putney Swope. In 1970, he returned to the stage in Salvation, in which he sang “(If You Let Me Make Love to You Then) Why Can’t I Touch You?” The resulting Columbia single launched Dyson’s recording career, hitting #9 on the Billboard magazine R&B/Soul chart and #8 pop. His follow-up, a remake of Chuck Jackson’s “I Don’t Wanna Cry,” also reached #9 R&B but sputtered at #50 pop.

Dyson’s third hit was another remake, this time of the Delfonics’ “When You Get Right Down to It.” The single reached #37 R&B and #94 pop in 1971. It also became his only hit in the UK, going to #34 in that country.

Dyson’s second and final top forty pop hit, “One Man Band (Plays All Alone),” came in 1973. The follow-up “Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely,” was an even bigger hit for the Main Ingredient. The year 1976 gave Dyson his highest charting Soul hit, “The More You Do It (The More I Like It Done to Me).” Dyson also made the Soul top thirty with 1977’s “Don’t Be Afraid.” His time at Columbia further produced five albums.

In 1981, Dyson signed with Cotillion Records. His biggest hit for the label, the disco-flavored “All Over Your Face,” reached #23 R&B in 1983. Dyson also recorded two LPs for Cotillion.

In 1986, Dyson sang “Nola” for the soundtrack of the Spike Lee film, She’s Gotta Have It.

Dyson’s health had begun to decline in the late 1970s. He died of heart failure on November 10, 1990, at age 40. The following year, “Are We So Far Apart,” his duet with Vicki Austin, spent five weeks on the R&B chart.

Charted singles:

“(If You Let Me Make Love to You Then) Why Can’t I Touch You?” (1970) R&B #9, Pop #8
“I Don’t Wanna Cry” (1970) R&B #9, Pop #50
“When You Get Right Down to It” (1971) R&B #37, Pop #94
“One Man Band (Plays All Alone)” (1973) R&B #15, Pop #28
“Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely” (1973) R&B #29, Pop #60
“We Can Make It Last Forever” (1974) R&B #62
“The More You Do It (The More I Like It Done to Me)” (1976) R&B #6, Pop #62
“(I Like Being) Close to You” (1976) R&B #75
“Don’t Be Afraid” (1977) R&B #30
“Ain’t Nothing Wrong” (1978) R&B #77
“Heart to Heart” (1982) R&B #57
“Bring It On Home” (1982) R&B #66
“All Over Your Face” (1983) R&B #23
“Are We So Far Apart (We Can’t Talk Anymore)” (Duet with Vicki Austin, 1991) R&B #79