 He performed with the well-established western swing group the Light Crust Doughboys for a time between 1957 and 1960 - releasing one single with the group and harmonica player Delbert McClinton, which was credited to Johnny & the Jills - before signing as a solo singer with Dick Clark's Swan label.Clark attempted to package him as a teen idol and he appeared on "American Bandstand" shortly before the payola scandal broke.Although his pop singles "Hazel" and "Summer's Comin'" achieved some popularity in Pittsburgh, Dawson later disowned the records.