Erskine hawkins biography of rory

Erskine Hawkins

American trumpeter and big band leader (–)

Erskine Hawkins

Hawkins circa s

Birth nameErskine Ramsay Hawkins
Born()July 26,
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
DiedNovember 11, () (aged&#;79)
Willingboro Township, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresJazz, blues
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, bandleader
InstrumentTrumpet
Years actives–s
LabelsVocalion, RCA

Musical artist

Erskine Ramsay Hawkins (July 26, &#; November 11, )[1] was an American trumpeter and big band leader from Birmingham, Alabama, dubbed "The 20th Century Gabriel".[2] He is best remembered for composing the jazz standard "Tuxedo Junction" () with saxophonist and arranger Bill Johnson.

  • Erskine Hawkins1940 orchestra performance of Swingin in Harlem on youtube.com
  • See full list on bhamwiki.com
  • Erskine Hawkins: Profiles in Jazz - The Syncopated Times

    • The song became a hit during World War II, rising to No.&#;7 nationally (version by the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra) and to No.&#;1 nationally (version by the Glenn Miller Orchestra). Vocalists who were featured with Erskine's orchestra include Ida James, Delores Brown, and Della Reese. Hawkins was named after Alabama industrialist Erskine Ramsay.

    Early years

    Erskine Hawkins was named by his parents after Alabama industrialist Erskine Ramsay who was rewarding parents with savings accounts for them for doing so.

    Hawkins biographyat All About Jazz If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with that. Hawkins also engaged in "battles of the bands" with such bandleaders as Glenn Miller , Duke Ellington , and Lionel Hampton. External links [ edit ]. The band would play out several nights a week, bringing their textbooks along to study between sets.

    Hawkins attended Councill Elementary School and Industrial High School (now known as Parker High School) in Birmingham, Alabama. At Industrial High School, he played in the band directed by Fess Whatley, a teacher who taught many African-American musicians, many of whom worked with such musicians as Duke Ellington, Lucky Millinder, Louis Armstrong and Skitch Henderson (of the NBC Orchestra).

    Headliner years

    During through , Hawkins recorded for Vocalion Records as "Erskine Hawkins and his 'Bama State Collegians".[3] In , he signed with RCA Victor and began recording on their Bluebird label as, simply, "Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra".

    In the late s, Hawkins and his Orchestra were one of the house bands at the Savoy Ballroom.[3] They alternated with the Chick Webb band, and often used "Tuxedo Junction" as their sign-off song before the next band would take the stage, so that the dancing would continue uninterrupted.

    See full list on bhamwiki.com As bebop, played by smaller combos, became the predominant form of jazz, the venues became smaller, and Hawkins decided to strip his orchestra down to an eight-piece ensemble, mostly out of financial necessity. Sindi, B. New York Times, November 13, , p. Perhaps the existence of such divergent opinions is the best evidence of an artist's importance.

    Hawkins also engaged in "battles of the bands" with such bandleaders as Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, and Lionel Hampton.[4]

    In , a Hawkins concert caused trouble in Little Rock, Arkansas: "3, Negroes jammed into the Exhibition Hall to dance to the music of Hawkins and his crew became unruly and began to push white police all over the floor.

    Police brandished their guns and blackjacks and attempted to quiet the crowd--but only after Hawkins and his boys broke into the national anthem did the dancers settle down." A city "ban on dances for Negroes" followed the event, meaning that "bookers of Negro orchestras for dances here may just as well take up another profession."[5]

    In the mid s, he was transferred to the main RCA Victor label, recording many of his greatest hits for both labels during this decade.

    He remained with them until when he switched over to Coral Records. He continued to record for many years.

    Later years

    Hawkins was trumpeter and band leader in the lobby bar and show nightclub at The Concord Resort Hotel in Kiamesha Lake, New York from to with his last performing group Joe Vitale (piano), Dudly Watson (bass), Sonny Rossi (vocals and clarinet), and George Leary (drums).

    Erskine Hawkins1940 orchestra performance of Swingin in Harlem on youtube.com: In he married Florence Browning. Several members of Hawkins's first serious professional ensemble had been childhood friends. Its leader at the time was J. Hawkins's recordings were also received enthusiastically in Europe.

    Hawkins died at his home in Willingboro Township, New Jersey, in November , at the age of [1] He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, alongside his sister, in Birmingham, Alabama.

    Personal life

    Flo Hawkins, who appeared in the film That Man of Mine, was his wife. They eventually became estranged and she worked in The Catskills.[6]

    Induction into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

    In , Erskine Hawkins became one of the first five artists inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

    In , he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.[1] Hawkins was a contemporary of another Birmingham jazz musician, Sun Ra.

    Chart singles

    [7][8]

    References

    1. ^ abc"The Dead Rock Stars Club - ".

      Erskine hawkins biography of rory Hawks and Eagles: Accipitridae. He contended that the Hawkins band "leave[s] an impression of crude strength and undeveloped talent At thirteen he started to play the trumpet. July 22,

      . Retrieved January 25,

    2. ^Yanow, Scott. "Erskine Hawkins: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved January 20,
    3. ^ abColin Larkin, ed. (). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First&#;ed.).

    4. Erskine Hawkins: Profiles in Jazz - The Syncopated Times
    5. Erskine Hawkins - Biography — Alabama Music Hall of Fame
    6. Erskine Hawkins - Wikipedia
    7. Erskine Hawkins - Encyclopedia of Alabama

      8. Guinness Publishing. pp.&#;/6. ISBN&#;.

    8. ^Wanser, Jeff (8 October ). "Erskine Hawkins". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Alabama Humanities Foundation. Archived from the original on 18 June Retrieved August 4,
    9. ^Belford, Jr. John. "Negro Dances under Ban in Little Rock." DownBeat, October 1, p.

      Hawkins biographyat Allmusic.com Later years [ edit ]. Alabama Humanities Foundation. Facebook-f Instagram Twitter. He had started out as an altoist, playing with the Charleston Nighthawks in and working with Hawkins during although he left the band before they made their first recordings.

      2

    10. ^"New York Beat". Jet. July 22, p.&#;
    11. ^Whitburn, Joel (). Pop Memories. Record Research Inc. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
    12. ^Whitburn, Joel (). Top 40 R&B and Hip-Hop Hits. Billboard Books. p.&#; ISBN&#;.

    External links