Born in Herndon, Virginia, Dove moved to Baltimore in the mid ‘50s and worked for the Coast Guard. Ronnie began singing and playing guitar at local clubs for part time night work. At Elmer’s on the corner of Pratt and Light Streets there was a country music house band that he sat in with. The bandleader did not like the new rock and roll styles so he quit the band, allowing Ronnie to became leader of the group that included Johnny Humphries (guitar), Blackie Mullins (guitar), Lester Sexton, and Del Richardson (drums). Eventually Ronnie put together a band called the Rockers (or the Rockin’ Rollers) – later known as the Beltones. The original group consisted of Dove (lead vocals, guitar), Johnny Gillespie (guitar), Claude Hatmaker (bass), Don Tobin (piano), Billy Holmes (drums), and Tony Jeppi (sax). They continued to perform at Elmer’s, which became known as Elmer’s Rock & Roll Musical Bar.
The Original Beltones publicity photo (above right) courtesy of Warren Cassell
Ronnie & The Beltones cut a rockabilly style record in 1956 “Lover Boy” b/w “I’ll Be Around” (Dove 101).
In 1959 Ronnie Dove & the Beltones were house band at the Spa Club. Ronnie was quite a performer as one club advertised him as “Baltimore’s own Mr. Show Business.” Performing at the ‘New’ Spa Club his show was broadcast live on WBMD radio on June 4, 1960, and again on June 11, hosted by emcee Dan Bishop. The group played locally and traveled to New York where they performed at the Latin Quarter, and the ABC Paramount Theater.
Developing a loyal following the Beltones performed in 1961 at Moe’s, and Fridays at the Spa Club. Seen on weekends at Cicero’s where they advertised “free records to all!” A single was released on Decca records written and produced by Jack Gale as well as another on Gale’s Jalo label. The band continued playing mainly at Cicero’s and the Spa. In June 1962 they traveled to New York for a 1-week engagement at the Peppermint Lounge.
The Beltones drummer Billy Holmes also appeared on records by many Baltimore artists as a member of Jack Gale’s studio group. Other Beltones members included Warren Cassell (guitar -later with Johnny Walker Group), and Roger Pace (sax)…
Dove and Charlie Daniels operated a recording studio on Biddle Street in 1962 where they worked with musicians from Peabody Conservatory. Around this time Ronnie and the original Beltones went their separate ways. Ronnie assembled a new Beltones with Demetri Callas (guitar), Bruce Westcott (keyboards), Tony Cantoni (guitar), and Eddie Crocetti (drums).
In 1963 Dove headed to Nashville where he began a very successful recording career on Diamond Records. Gillespie, Holmes, and drummer Carl Ratcliff were several of the local musicians who went on the road with him. Callas, Ruzicka, and Crocetti went on to form the Bad Boys.
As a solo vocalist Ronnie released many records including a string of over 23 consecutive nationally and internationally charted Top-10 hits. During the height of the “British Invasion” Dove was one of very few American artists to consistently produce hit records. Ronnie swept the Billboard and Cashbox major awards in 1965 for Best Single Male Artist, and Top Easy Listening single and album awards. That year he also won Cashbox R&B artist awards. Ronnie made numerous television appearances including American Bandstand, Ed Sullivan Show, Mike Douglas Show, Merv Griffin Show, Danny Thomas Show, as well as hosting his own Ronnie Dove Show.
Dove continued traveling nationally including tours with Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars, and over 15 weeks a year between Reno and Lake Tahoe, while also returning to perform locally at the Club Venus, Golden Horn, Embassy Club, Spa Club, Latin Casino…
In the ‘70s Dove was seen with his Revue at the Embassy, Stardust, California Inn, Loverde’s, Pecora’s… He also obtained ownership of the Diamond Records catalog.
The 1980s featured Dove touring with oldies revival shows. Even into the ‘00s he has kept a loyal local following playing at venues in and around the Baltimore area such as the Anchor Inn in Pasadena, and Stables in Westminster with group featuring local guitar wizard (and Grand Ole Opry veteran) Garrick Alden. Alden’s solo releases include 1997 CD “Rules of The Game” with songs written by Jim Gach…Cliff Martin played drums for Ronnie, he had also played for country great Kitty Wells, and in ‘00s was a member of The Dixie Wind Band, and Anne Arundel County based band Shiftwork Entertainment.
In 1984 Ronnie along with Jack Gale started Playback Records. An album of Ronnie’s hits was released. Ronnie soon decided that he would rather be touring and singing and he sold his stake in the label. A subsequent single was recorded in 1986 on Playback’s subsidiary label Gallery II “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” b/w “Just Call My Name.” Ronnie later returned to the record production business with his own Hobby, and Bay Knight labels.
Record releases by Ronnie Dove & the Beltones:
1956 Dove 101 Lover Boy / I’ll Be Around
1962 Jalo 1406 Saddest Song (Of the Year) / No Greater Love
1962 Decca 31288 Party Doll / Yes Darling, I’ll Be Around
Ronnie Dove single releases:
1964 Diamond 163 Sweeter Than Sugar / I Believe in You
1964 Diamond 167 Say You / Let Me Stay Today
1964 Diamond 173 Right or Wrong / Baby, Put Your Arms Around Me
1965 Diamond 176 Hello Pretty Girl / Keep It a Secret
1965 Diamond 179 One Kiss for Old Times’ Sake / No Greater Love
1965 Diamond 179 One Kiss for Old Times’ Sake / Bluebird
1965 Diamond 184 A Little Bit of Heaven / If I Live to Be a Hundred
1965 Diamond 188 I’ll Make All Your Dreams Come True / I Had to Lose You
1965 Diamond 191 Kiss Away / Where in The World
1966 Diamond 195 When Liking Turns to Loving / I’m Learning How to Smile Again
1966 Diamond 198 Let’s Start All Over Again / That Empty Feeling
1966 Diamond 205 Happy Summer Days / Long After
1966 Diamond 208 I Really Don’t Want to Know / Years of Tears
1966 Diamond 214 Cry / Autumn Rhapsody
1967 Diamond 217 One More Mountain to Climb / All
1967 Diamond 221 My Babe / Put My Mind at Ease
1967 Diamond 227 I Want to Love You for What You Are / I Thank You for Your Love
1967 Diamond 233 Dancin’ Out of My Heart / Back from Baltimore
1968 Diamond 240 In Some Time / Livin’ for Your Lovin’
1968 Diamond 244 Mountain of Love / Never Gonna Cry
1968 Diamond 249 Tomboy / Tell Me Tomorrow
1969 Diamond 256 What’s Wrong with My World / That Empty Feeling
1969 Diamond 271 Chains of Love / If I Live to Be a Hundred
1969 Diamond 260 I Need You Now / Bluebird
19** Diamond 379 Rise and Shine / World of Memories
1971 Wrayco 201 Talking to My Children’s Mama / Sunny
1971 Decca 32853 If I Cried Every Time You Hurt Me / Just the Other Side of Nowhere
1972 Decca 32919 Kiss the Hurt Away / He Cries Like a Baby
1973 Decca 33038 Lilacs in Winter / Is It Wrong (For Loving You)
1975 Melodyland 6004 Please Come to Nashville / Pictures on Paper
1975 Melodyland 6011 Things / Here We Go Again
1975 Melodyland 6021 Drina (Take Your Love Off for Me) / Your Sweet Love
1976 Melodyland 6030 Right or Wrong / Guns
1976 Hitsville 6038 Tragedy / Songs We Sang as Children
1976 Hitsville 6045 Why Daddy / The Morning After the Night Before
1978 M.C. 5013 The Angel in Your Eyes / Songs We Sang as Children
1983 Moon Shine 3018 She Feels So Right (I Feel So Wrong) / Loving on Back Streets
1984 Hobby 1001 Lucille Stubs / Loving on Back Streets
1984 Hobby 1002 Slowly / Lucille Stubs
1984 Hobby 1003 A Short Walk from Heaven / Livin’ for Your Lovin’
1985 Hobby 1004 I Don’t Hurt Anymore / She Feels So Right
1986 Gallery II 2002 I’ll Never Fall in Love Again / Just Call My Name
1987 Diamond 378 Heart / Old Time Rock’n Roll
1987 Diamond 379 Rise and Shine / (same)
Album releases by Ronnie Dove:
1964 Diamond 5002 Right or Wrong
1965 Diamond 5003 One Kiss for Old Times’ Sake
1965 Diamond 5004 I’ll Make All Your Dreams Come True
1966 Diamond 5005 The Best of Ronnie Dove
1966 Diamond 5006 Ronnie Dove Sings the Hits for You
1967 Diamond 5007 Cry
1967 Diamond 5008 The Best of Ronnie Dove – Vol. 2
196* Promo 7401 Ronnie Dove
1973 MCA 309 Ronnie Dove
1977 M.C. Livin’ In the Country
1982 Roller Skate 50173 A Little Bit of Heaven
19** Charnita 1001 To You with Feeling
19** Ronnie Dove: Live at The King of The Road
1970 Certron 7011 Greatest All Time Hits
1998(CD) (indie) Now & Then
2004(CD) (indie) My Favorite Christmas Songs
2012(CD) (indie) Red Hat Ladies
A 1962 album “Swingin’ Teen Sounds of Ronnie Dove & Terry Philbin” (Design DLP-186) featured the sides from Ronnie’s Jalo single and first Decca single.
