Erskine hawkins biography of rory
Erskine Hawkins
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. 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).
See full list on bhamwiki.com Trove DDB. Hawkins, Coleman Record Research Inc. Authority control databases.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.
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
- ^ abc"The Dead Rock Stars Club - ".
. Retrieved January 25,
- ^Yanow, Scott. "Erskine Hawkins: Biography".Erskine hawkins biography of rory He contended that the Hawkins band "leave[s] an impression of crude strength and undeveloped talent Its leader at the time was J. Get in Sync! Critic Barry Ulanov wrote the Hawkins band off as the "most slavish imitator" of the Lunceford Band, a swing group popular with black audiences.
Allmusic. Retrieved January 20,
- ^ abColin Larkin, ed. (). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First&#;ed.).Hawkins biographyat Allmusic.com During the s and s he led small groups in New York clubs and hotels while also appearing at festivals. He contended that the Hawkins band "leave[s] an impression of crude strength and undeveloped talent Hawkes, Rechelle —. The band became a regular attraction at the Savoy, and Hawkins became the de facto house bandleader.
Guinness Publishing. pp.&#;/6. ISBN&#;.
- ^Wanser, Jeff (8 October ). "Erskine Hawkins". Encyclopedia of Alabama.Hawkins biographyat All About Jazz Hawkins, Mary Ann — Composed by pianist Avery Parrish, the tune was also largely created on the spot in the recording studio. Yellowknife Centre. Personal life [ edit ].
Alabama Humanities Foundation. Archived from the original on 18 June Retrieved August 4,
- ^Belford, Jr. John. "Negro Dances under Ban in Little Rock." DownBeat, October 1, p. 2
- ^"New York Beat". Jet. July 22, p.&#;
- ^Whitburn, Joel (). Pop Memories.
Erskine Hawkins1940 orchestra performance of Swingin in Harlem on youtube.com: Hawkins, Mary — He continued to perform with a smaller group while occasionally assembling the big unit for special events. In Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra made its first official appearance. Throughout this period, Hawkins worked primarily with a small band behind him, although occasional jazz festivals and cruise ship gigs would find him again fronting a full big band like those of his glory years.
Record Research Inc. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
- ^Whitburn, Joel (). Top 40 R&B and Hip-Hop Hits. Billboard Books. p.&#; ISBN&#;.