Quick Facts
Biography
Robert Lee "Bob" Dunn (February 5, 1908 - May 27, 1971) was an American jazz trombonist and a pioneer Western swing steel guitarist. Although much influenced by influential, key Hawaiian lap steel guitar player Sol Hoʻopiʻi, Dunn played in his own original bluesy style and was the first to record an electric guitar, preceding other country & western guitarists following him shortly. He preceded by over three years George Barnes (with Big Bill Broonzy in 1938), Leonard Ware and, slightly later, Eddie Durham.
Bob Dunn is noted as the first musician to record an electrically amplified instrument—as a member of Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies—on January 27, 1935.
Dunn also played steel guitar in numerous other Western swing groups including those of Cliff Bruner and one of Moon Mullican's earlier bands. Dunn also had his own group, The Vagabonds, featuring Mullican and Cliff Bruner.
Dunn was inducted into to the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1992.