Dobson was born in Toronto.[3] Her father was a union organizer and opera lover. Her early music influences included Paul Robeson[4] and The Weavers.[5]
Career
Dobson became part of the active folk-revival scene in Toronto, performing in local coffee houses and at the Mariposa Folk Festival. She later moved to the United States where she performed in coffee houses across the country[6] and recorded several albums, including 1962's Bonnie Dobson at Folk City, which contained her well-known song "Morning Dew".[7]
Dobson has consistently questioned Tim Rose's right to a co-writing credit for "Morning Dew" (stating that Rose first heard it as sung by Fred Neil) (1964 album Tear Down The Walls, crediting Dobson).
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After returning to Toronto in 1967 she continued to perform locally in coffee houses as well programs on the CBC.[1] She married, and in 1969 moved to London, England, where she took up university studies and later became an administrator of the Philosophy Department at Birkbeck College, part of the University of London.[2]
After retiring in the 1980s, Dobson returned to perform in 2007 in London with Jarvis Cocker;[6] she released a new album in 2013 with the Hornbeam label and that year launched a number of concert dates.[9]
