Carl Dobkins Jr.

Being from a musical family, Carl Dobkins Jr. learned the ukulele and guitar as a child. He started writing songs in his teens, and began singing at local events. The Seniors, Dobkins’ backup group, included Keith Ross, Paul Powers, Harry Clifton and Bill Smith. 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 had two other Hot 100 entries: “Lucky Devil” (# 25, 1959), and “Exclusively Yours” (# 62, 1960).

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, and toured with such singers as Bobby Vee, Frankie Avalon, and Jan & Dean. He continued to perform at oldies festivals for some years.

He was inducted into the Cincinnati Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.