fbpx
Wikipedia

Erskine Hawkins

Erskine Ramsay Hawkins (July 26, 1914 – November 11, 1993)[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" (1939) 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.

Erskine Hawkins
Hawkins circa 1940s
Background information
Birth nameErskine Ramsay Hawkins
Born(1914-07-26)July 26, 1914
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
DiedNovember 11, 1993(1993-11-11) (aged 79)
Willingboro Township, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresJazz, blues
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, bandleader
Instrument(s)Trumpet
Years active1930s–1980s
LabelsVocalion, RCA

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).

Headliner years

During 1936 through 1938, Hawkins recorded for Vocalion Records as "Erskine Hawkins and his 'Bama State Collegians".[3] In 1938, he signed with RCA Victor and began recording on their Bluebird label as, simply, "Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra".

In the late 1930s, 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 1943, a Hawkins concert caused trouble in Little Rock, Arkansas: "3,000 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 1940s, 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 1950 when he switched over to Coral Records. He continued to record for many years.

Later years

 
Erskine Hawkins

Hawkins was trumpeter and band leader in the lobby bar and show nightclub at The Concord Resort Hotel in Kiamesha Lake, New York from 1967 to 1993 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 1993, at the age of 79.[1] He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, alongside his sister, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Personal life

Flo Hawkins, who appeared in the 1946 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 1978, Erskine Hawkins became one of the first five artists inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. In 1989, 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]

Year Single Chart positions
Pop US
R&B
1936 "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" 20
"Big John's Special" 18
1937 "Way Down Upon the Swanee River" 17
1939 "Do You Wanna Jump, Chillun?" 16
"Tuxedo Junction" 7
1940 "Whispering Grass" 13
"Dolemite" 10
"Five O Clock Whistle" 15
1941 "Song of the Wanderer" 21
"Nona" 17
1942 "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" 23
"Bicycle Bounce" 5
1943 "Don't Cry Baby" 11 1
1944 "Cherry" 15 5
1945 "Tippin' In" 9 1
"Caldonia" 12 2
"Fifteen Years (And I'm Still Serving Time)" 4
1946 "Sneakin' Out" 5
"I've Got A Right to Cry" 2
"After Hours" 3
1947 "Hawk's Boogie" 2
1948 "Gabriel's Heater" 28
1949 "Corn Bread" 8
1950 "Tennessee Waltz" 6

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1992 - 1993". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  2. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Erskine Hawkins: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 1105/6. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  4. ^ Wanser, Jeff (8 October 2007). "Erskine Hawkins". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Alabama Humanities Foundation. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  5. ^ Belford, Jr. John. "Negro Dances under Ban in Little Rock." DownBeat, October 1, 1943: p. 2
  6. ^ "New York Beat". Jet. July 22, 1954. p. 63.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories. Record Research Inc. p. 201. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2006). Top 40 R&B and Hip-Hop Hits. Billboard Books. p. 236. ISBN 0-8230-8283-0.

External links

  • at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame website
  • Erskine Hawkins biography at Allmusic.com
  • Interview with Brownie McGhee [Tapes #010 & 011 - Discovers Erskine Hawkins with TB in sanatorium, forms band at 27:00 minutes

erskine, hawkins, erskine, ramsay, hawkins, july, 1914, november, 1993, american, trumpeter, band, leader, from, birmingham, alabama, dubbed, 20th, century, gabriel, best, remembered, composing, jazz, standard, tuxedo, junction, 1939, with, saxophonist, arrang. Erskine Ramsay Hawkins July 26 1914 November 11 1993 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 1939 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 Erskine HawkinsHawkins circa 1940sBackground informationBirth nameErskine Ramsay HawkinsBorn 1914 07 26 July 26 1914Birmingham Alabama U S DiedNovember 11 1993 1993 11 11 aged 79 Willingboro Township New Jersey U S GenresJazz bluesOccupation s Musician composer bandleaderInstrument s TrumpetYears active1930s 1980sLabelsVocalion RCA Contents 1 Early years 2 Headliner years 3 Later years 4 Personal life 5 Induction into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame 6 Chart singles 7 References 8 External linksEarly years EditErskine 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 Headliner years EditDuring 1936 through 1938 Hawkins recorded for Vocalion Records as Erskine Hawkins and his Bama State Collegians 3 In 1938 he signed with RCA Victor and began recording on their Bluebird label as simply Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra In the late 1930s 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 1943 a Hawkins concert caused trouble in Little Rock Arkansas 3 000 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 1940s 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 1950 when he switched over to Coral Records He continued to record for many years Later years Edit Erskine Hawkins Hawkins was trumpeter and band leader in the lobby bar and show nightclub at The Concord Resort Hotel in Kiamesha Lake New York from 1967 to 1993 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 1993 at the age of 79 1 He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery alongside his sister in Birmingham Alabama Personal life EditFlo Hawkins who appeared in the 1946 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 EditIn 1978 Erskine Hawkins became one of the first five artists inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame In 1989 he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame 1 Hawkins was a contemporary of another Birmingham jazz musician Sun Ra Chart singles Edit 7 8 Year Single Chart positionsPop USR amp B1936 Until the Real Thing Comes Along 20 Big John s Special 181937 Way Down Upon the Swanee River 171939 Do You Wanna Jump Chillun 16 Tuxedo Junction 71940 Whispering Grass 13 Dolemite 10 Five O Clock Whistle 151941 Song of the Wanderer 21 Nona 171942 Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams 23 Bicycle Bounce 51943 Don t Cry Baby 11 11944 Cherry 15 51945 Tippin In 9 1 Caldonia 12 2 Fifteen Years And I m Still Serving Time 41946 Sneakin Out 5 I ve Got A Right to Cry 2 After Hours 31947 Hawk s Boogie 21948 Gabriel s Heater 281949 Corn Bread 81950 Tennessee Waltz 6References Edit a b c The Dead Rock Stars Club 1992 1993 Thedeadrockstarsclub com Retrieved January 25 2020 Yanow Scott Erskine Hawkins Biography Allmusic Retrieved January 20 2011 a b Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music First ed Guinness Publishing pp 1105 6 ISBN 0 85112 939 0 Wanser Jeff 8 October 2007 Erskine Hawkins Encyclopedia of Alabama Alabama Humanities Foundation Retrieved August 4 2014 Belford Jr John Negro Dances under Ban in Little Rock DownBeat October 1 1943 p 2 New York Beat Jet July 22 1954 p 63 Whitburn Joel 1986 Pop Memories Record Research Inc p 201 ISBN 0 89820 083 0 Whitburn Joel 2006 Top 40 R amp B and Hip Hop Hits Billboard Books p 236 ISBN 0 8230 8283 0 External links EditErskine Hawkins biography at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame website Erskine Hawkins biography at Allmusic com Interview with Brownie McGhee Tapes 010 amp 011 Discovers Erskine Hawkins with TB in sanatorium forms band at 27 00 minutes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Erskine Hawkins amp oldid 1124228087, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.