Biography
Julian Dawson was born in London on 4 July 1954 – the day Elvis Presley, together with Scotty and Bill, first played That’s All Right at Sun Studios in Memphis – and the day food rationing in Britain came to an end after the Second World War.
He grew up in Kent as one of seven brothers and spent nine not always productive years at two Catholic boarding schools – an education that came to an abrupt end when he was expelled shortly before his 17th birthday. He then went on to study Fine Art and Printmaking at Exeter College of Art.
Through solo performances and an increasingly popular art-school band, he soon realised that singing suited him far better than painting. He joined his first professional band with plans to perform for American servicemen in Germany. Inspired by the example of the Beatles, he left England virtually overnight to begin rehearsals in Frankfurt. However, when it became clear that there was little room for original material on the US military circuit, Julian left the band to find out what Germany had to offer a solo artist. As soon as he could, he formed a band of his own.
After returning to England, he spent the next few years touring with various line-ups throughout Europe. In 1981, this led to his first album, the pub-rock-influenced Let Out The Pig, originally recorded for the British cult label Armageddon Records. Labelmates Kimberley Rew (guitar) and Andy Metcalfe (bass and keyboards) from the Soft Boys contributed to the album, which was completed at a Hamburg studio and released in 1982.
Realising that the energy spent keeping ageing tour buses on the road might be better spent in making a breakthrough album, Julian began working at Can Studio near Cologne with bassist Rosko Gee (Traffic), Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit, guitarist Jay Stapley and keyboard player Helmut Zerlett. Together with singer Lynda Hayes, this line-up developed into the project “The Flood”.
Rough Trade released the 12-inch single “Cold Cold World”, followed by the highly acclaimed album As Real As Disneyland on Polydor, who also released Luckiest Man In The Western World. Guest musicians included Richard Thompson, P. P. Arnold and Toots Thielemans. Outstanding international reviews and “Album of the Month” awards in Germany helped generate growing interest in Julian Dawson throughout Europe.
America had always been a goal, and in 1990 his first US release appeared, the CD Live On The Radio, released by Watermelon Records in Austin, Texas.
Regular songwriting trips to the United States followed. After signing with BMG/Ariola, Julian drew on his newly established contacts in Nashville to record the album Fragile As China in 1991, produced by Garry Tallent (E Street Band), with an impressive line-up of guest musicians including Vince Gill, Barry Beckett, Michael Henderson, Jerry Douglas and Dr. Hook’s Dennis Locorriere.
The first single, “How Can I Sleep Without You”, went straight into the German charts, boosted by four months of touring as special guest of BAP, at the time, Germany’s most popular band.
With a new line-up featuring former Rodney Crowell musicians Steuart Smith and Vince Santoro – both of whom had already played on Fragile As China – Julian embarked on two highly successful European tours, later documented on the live CD June Honeymoon.
In the autumn of 1992, he returned to the studio with Garry Tallent to record the follow-up album Headlines. This time, his regular band was joined by a distinguished cast of guests including Duane Eddy, Jo-El Sonnier, Dan Penn, Bill Payne (Little Feat), Steve Forbert and vocal group 14 Karat Soul. Following the success of the a cappella single “Sunday Into Saturday Night”, Arista released the album in the UK. Further tours followed.
In 1994, BMG brought together ten years of Julian’s best work for the compilation How Human Hearts Behave. Additional tracks were recorded in New York with producer Stewart Lerman, notably a duet version of “How Can I Sleep Without You” with Lucinda Williams, as well as two tracks featuring the Roches. The collection was rounded out with singles, live recordings and remixes. A similar compilation was released in the United States under the title Spark.
By the spring of 1994, Julian had completed a new collection of songs to be recorded at Dreamland Studios in Woodstock, New York. His own outstanding band took centre stage this time, but the album also featured co-writes and collaborations with Nicky Hopkins, Jules Shear and Willie Nile. The Roches and Curtis Stigers contributed vocals. “You’re Listening Now”, written and recorded by Julian with Nicky Hopkins, is regarded as one of the album’s highlights..
Travel On was released in Germany and North America in early 1995, followed by a UK release a year later.
Alongside his solo albums, Julian recorded five CDs with Iain Matthews’ Plainsong, a project in which all four members contributed their own material. He later left the group to focus more closely on his solo career. In 2012, however, the band reunited for the “40th Anniversary Farewell Tour”, which eventually took them as far as Japan.
In the summer of 1996, Julian produced The Longest Train, country legend Charlie Louvin’s comeback album. The CD featured new versions of six Louvin Brothers classics as well as three Julian Dawson songs. A wonderful cast of Nashville guest musicians and singers also contributed to the album.
During the following years, Julian performed both as a solo artist and with Plainsong throughout Europe and North America. His travels took him to Canada, the United States, Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland. He also toured with Arlo Guthrie, Fairport Convention, Dolores Keane, Al Stewart and Katy Moffatt.
In 2001, Julian celebrated his 25th anniversary as a performing artist with his most extensive concert schedule to date. Highlights included appearances at the Tønder Festival in Denmark and the prestigious Newport Folk Festival in the United States.
The live CD Cologne Again Or was also released that year, featuring stripped-down versions of some of his favourite songs.
Julian spent the summer in California, where he recorded the country-influenced album Hillbilly Zen with former Byrds member Gene Parsons, who played almost all the instruments himself. The album was released in Germany, the UK and the US in 2002, after which Julian and Gene toured together.
Among the low points of that year were a diagnosis of breast cancer – yes, men can get it too – and the events of September 11, 2001. Julian was flying that day and found himself stranded in Newfoundland along with 7,000 other airline passengers, and spent five nights sleeping on the floor of a Salvation Army church in Gambo. He drew on the experience for his song “Waiting For A Plane”, which became a minor anthem in Canada.
In 2004, Bedroom Suite was released, an album featuring eight songs about love, relationships and marriage. It was made largely at his home in Somerset, with contributions from friends and family members, including his daughter Holly, who sang a duet with dad. The album was supported by more than 50 concerts across Europe.
Two years later, Julian recorded his first album of cover versions, Nothing Like A Dame, reinterpreting fifteen of his favourite songs, all originally written or made famous by women. He was accompanied by guitarist Richard Kennedy, with Martin Carthy appearing as a guest musician. The album cover also marked the first appearance of what would become his famous kilt in the Dawson family tartan.
In 2008, Julian worked with producer and soul musician Dan Penn on the album Deep Rain, recorded with a hand-picked group of Nashville musicians at Penn’s own studio. The resulting collection of songs is regarded by many as some of Julian’s finest work.
Following the studio sessions, Julian decided to tour with a full band for the first time in years. One of the concerts was captured on the double CD/DVD Julian Dawson & Band: Live, released in 2010.
Also in 2010, Julian published his first book: a lovingly researched biography of the extraordinary pianist Nicky Hopkins, with whom he had previously worked on Travel On. A German edition was published by Random House under the title Nicky Hopkins – Eine Rock Legende, followed later by English-language editions in the UK and USA. The book received excellent reviews and was named one of the ten best books of the year by the music magazines Uncut and Shindig.
In 2013, Julian was invited by German rock legend Wolfgang Niedecken to produce his first solo album. Working with his trusted team from the 1990s and guests including Larry Campbell and John Sebastian (Lovin’ Spoonful), they made the album Zosamme Alt. To the surprise of many, it reached No. 4 in the German charts.
The next Dawson solo album was designed to capture the spirit of his live performances. Once again produced by Dan Penn in Nashville, Living Good was recorded the traditional way straight to analogue tape. The album was released in 2015 and received excellent reviews.
The success of the first Niedecken solo album led to another production in the USA. The Family Album was recorded in New Orleans and featured musicians including JJ Johnson, Roscoe Beck and Steuart Smith. Julian deliberately incorporated elements of the city’s rich musical heritage, including zydeco accordion (Dwayne Dopsie), New Orleans-style horns and characteristic Cajun sounds.
Since many of his albums were no longer available, Julian compiled the extensive 3-CD box set Life And Soul Vol. I in 2013, bringing together personal favourites, demos and rarities. In 2018 another collection of favourite tracks and rare recordings, Bargains Galore – Life And Soul Vol. II followed, this time including his contributions to Plainsong.
Julian Dawson’s songs have been recorded by artists including Rosie Flores, Charlie Louvin, Rock Salt and Nails and Sean Keane. He has also worked as a singer or harmonica player with numerous well-known musicians, among them Gerry Rafferty, Little Feat, Glen Tilbrook, Del Amitri, Dan Penn, Iain Matthews, Richard Thompson – and even Benny Hill!
In 2016, after reading Julian’s Nicky Hopkins biography, Spencer Davis, founder of the Spencer Davis Group, asked him to write his book. Following Davis’s death in 2020, the project was put on hold, but is at last expected to be published in 2027.
Recently, Julian served as a consultant on the documentary The Session Man, which explores the life and music of Nicky Hopkins.Dawson appears in the film alongside Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Dave Davies and many others. It premiered to a sold-out audience at London’s Barbican in 2023 and went on to win several awards.
In July 2024, Julian Dawson celebrated his 70th birthday with the album Julian Dawson / 4th of July, featuring an impressive line-up of guest artists, including Vince Gill, Steuart Smith, Richard Thompson, Iain Matthews and Lucinda Williams, as well as German friends Wolfgang Niedecken, Helmut Zerlett and Stefan Stoppok.
In 2026-27, Julian will celebrate his 50th anniversary as a performing songwriter and musician. With a loyal international fan base, consistently positive reviews and an undiminished passion for music, he remains a distinctive voice in rock, folk and country music. He spends as much of his free time as possible with his family – three children and three grandchildren – or listening to music, collecting rare records, painting, walking, writing and enjoying life.
