Ronnie Dyson

Ronald Dyson (June 5, 1950 – November 10, 1990) was an American soul and R&B singer and actor. He had a lead role in the Broadway production of Hair and scored a top ten single in 1970 with "(If You Let Me Make Love to You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?"

Early career Born in Washington, D.C., debuting in New York in 1968. Dyson became an iconic voice of the 1960s with the lead vocal in the show's anthem of the hippie era, "Aquarius". It is Dyson's voice leading off the song and opening the show with the famous lyric "When the Moon is in the seventh house, and Jupiter aligns with Mars..." He made a cameo appearance in the 1979 motion picture version of Hair, singing "3-5-0-0" with another Hair alumnus, Melba Moore.

Later career

Dyson also appeared in the 1969 film Putney Swope.

His record company, Columbia Records, sent him to Philadelphia in 1973 to be produced by Thom Bell, one of the premier producers of the day, for several tracks. Bell's highly orchestrated style suited Dyson with hits including "One Man Band (Plays All Alone)", which reached number 28 on the Hot 100 and number 15 on the R&B chart, and "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely", peaking at number 60 on the Hot 100 and number 29 on R&B. They appeared on an album which was also made up of re-mixes of some earlier recordings, including "When You Get Right Down to It".

Dyson remained with Columbia working with top-line producers for another three albums, The More You Do It (1976), Love in All Flavors (1977) and If the Shoe Fits (1979).

Discography

Studio albums Year Album Chart positions Record label US USR&B USR&B USAC AUS UK 1970 "(If You Let Me Make Love to You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?" 8 9 — 68 — "I Don't Wanna Cry" 50 9 — — — 1971 "When You Get Right Down to It" 94 37 — — 34 1973 "One Man Band (Plays All Alone)" 28 15 16 — — "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely" 60 29 30 — — 1974 "We Can Make It Last Forever" — 62 — — — 1976 "The More You Do It (The More I Like It Done to Me)" 62 6 — — — "(I Like Being) Close to You" — 75 — — — 1977 "Don't Be Afraid" — 30 — — — 1978 "Ain't Nothing Wrong" — 77 — — — 1982 "Heart to Heart" /"Bring It On Home" — 57 / 66 — — — 1983 "All Over Your Face" — 23 — — — 1991 "Are We So Far Apart (We Can't Talk Anymore)" — 79 — — — "—" denotes the single failed to chart