Name Carl Jr. | Role Singer | |
Born January 13, 1941 (age 83)
Cincinnati, Ohio ( 1941-01-13 ) Albums The Essential Work of, My Heart Is an Open Book Similar People Bobby Rydell, Jimmy Clanton, Brook Benton, Billy Vaughn, Bert Kaempfert | ||
Carl Dobkins Jr......Ask Me No Questions..1961
Carl Dobkins, Jr. (born January 13, 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States) is an American singer. He is best known for his 1959 hit, "My Heart is an Open Book", which went to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The record sold over one million copies, resulting in the awarding of a gold disc.
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Career
The Seniors, Dobkins' backup group, included Keith Ross, Paul Powers and Harry Clifton. The Seniors first met with a common interest in singing at Nast Memorial Methodist Church in Cincinnati. The group sang together for approximately eight years. Dobkins and the Seniors were promoted by Gil Sheppard, a local Cincinnati radio disc jockey, who noted the young singer's early high school compositions and a two-song demo record. This led to a recording contract with Fraternity Records, who released their first record.
After recording "If You Don't Want My Lovin'" at King Records studios, Sheppard sold the master recording to Decca Records. Dobkins then recorded sessions for Decca in Nashville, Tennessee, which included "My Heart is an Open Book" in 1959, which reached No. 3 on the pop chart and number 11 on the R&B chart. Dobkins was featured frequently at Castle Farms, and on television for the Bob Braun Show (WLW-T, Cincinnati). He appeared fourteen times as a guest on Dick Clark's American Bandstand.
Personal life
Carl attended Hughes High School in the late 50's. Dobkins married Janice Cox in 1960. He has two daughters, five grandchildren, and four great-grand children. Carl has been inducted into the Cincinnati Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is now retired, but occasionally performs at oldies festivals. Dobkins sang rockabilly as well, and his contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.