Erskine Hawkins - Biography — Alabama Music Hall of Fame

American trumpeter and big band leader (–)

Erskine Hawkins
Hawkins circa s
Birth name	Erskine Ramsay Hawkins
Born	()July 26, Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Died	November 11, () (aged&#;79) Willingboro Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, blues
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, bandleader
Instrument	Trumpet
Years active	s–s
Labels	Vocalion, 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.

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.

Erskine hawkins biography of martin At the peak of his popularity during the golden age of swing, Erskine Hawkins's trumpet mastery earned him the nickname "The Twentieth Century Gabriel. Ironically, it took another artist, Glen Miller, to make a true smash hit out of Hawkins's most famous composition, "Tuxedo Junction. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Hawkins was surrounded by music during his youth. His father was killed in France in World War I. Along with his three brothers and one sister, Hawkins was exposed to music early by his mother, a schoolteacher.

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 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).

Erskine Hawkins1940 orchestra performance of Swingin in Harlem on youtube.com: 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.

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.

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).

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.

Hawkins biographyat All About Jazz Erskine Hawkins Musician and Birmingham native Erskine Hawkins was a prominent African American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer during the Big Band era of the s and s. Known as the "Twentieth-Century Gabriel" after the angel Gabriel, who is often depicted with a trumpet for his flamboyant style and ability to hit high notes, Hawkins gained fame as a member of the 'Bama State Collegians, one of the finest college bands of its time. Hawkins attended Tuggle from the age of six, excelling in music and athletics. Under the direction of the school's band director, he first played drums, trombone, and saxophone, before concentrating his talents on the trumpet. He was nearly always at the school, either playing music or at the gym, where he played basketball, football, and tennis.

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

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References

External links