Ronnie Self was an American singer-songwriter known for the rockabilly song "Bop-A-Lena" and his energetic live performances and aggressive vocals, which earned him the nickname Mr. Frantic. Released as a single on Columbia Records in January 1958, it appeared on Billboard charts in the United States and Australia. Limited in commercial success as a performer, Self had significant success as a songwriter across multiple genres in the 1960s and 1970s. Multiple musicologists have retrospectively cited him as an influence on garage rock and proto-punk, and historian Colin Escott described "Bop-A-Lena" as "the first punk record."
Ronnie Self, American singer-songwriter (died 1981)
On July 5, in the year 1938, Ronnie Self, American singer-songwriter (died 1981). This event is recorded as a Notable Births event in the history of July 5, a notable event in this corner of history.
1 notable person is associated with this event, including Ronnie Self. Learn more below.
Key Facts
- This event took place on July 5, 1938 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Notable Births event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 1 Wikipedia article.
- 1 notable person is recorded as involved in or associated with this event.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 28 June 2026.
On This Date in History
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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