Roy Theodore Hawkins (February 7, 1903 – March 19, 1974)[1] was an American blues singer, pianist, and songwriter. After working in clubs, he broke through with his 1950 song "Why Do Things Happen to Me" inspired by an auto accident which paralyzed his right arm. Several of his songs, most notably "The Thrill Is Gone", were covered by later artists, including Ray Charles, B.B. King, and James Brown.
Hawkins was born in Jefferson, Texas.[1] Little is known of the early part of his life. By the mid-1940s he was performing as a singer and pianist in the Oakland, California area,[2] where he was discovered by musician and record producerBob Geddins, who was impressed by Hawkins' "soulful, doom-laden style".[3] Hawkins seems to have made his first recordings when about 45 years old, for the Cava-Tone and Down Town record labels in 1948.[1][4] His band, the Four Jacks, included saxophonist William Staples, guitarist Ulysses James, bassist Floyd Montgomery, and drummer Madison Little.[5][6]
He signed with Modern Records in Los Angeles the following year,[4] and stayed with that label until 1954. He had his first chart hit with "Why Do Things Happen To Me" (also known as "Why Do Everything Happen To Me"). Though the song had been written by Geddins while Hawkins was hospitalized after his auto accident, he sold it to Jules Bihari at Modern, and the record was released with the songwriting credit given jointly to Bihari (as "Jules Taub") and Hawkins.[3] "Why Do Things Happen To Me" reached number 2 on the BillboardR&B chart in early 1950, and was later recorded by both B. B. King and James Brown (as "Strange Things Happen").[7]
Hawkins continued to release singles on Modern and had his second hit in 1951 with "The Thrill Is Gone", again co-credited to Bihari but in fact co-written with Rick Darnell. The record featured Maxwell Davis (saxophone), Willard McDaniel (piano) and Johnny Moore (guitar), and reached number 6 on the R&B chart. The song was later recorded by many other artists, including B. B. King – whose signature song it became[3] – Aretha Franklin, and Willie Nelson.[8]
After several less successful singles, including "Gloom and Misery All Around", an early song by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller,[6] Hawkins left Modern in 1953. He recorded for a series of labels over the next few years including Flair, RPM, Rhythm, and Music City, for whom he recorded as Mr. Undertaker.[1] His last recordings were made for Kent Records in 1961.[5]
His later years were spent working in a furniture store. Hawkins died in Compton, California in 1974.[1][4]
^ abRoy Hawkins, Illustrated Discography, wirz.de. Retrieved 5 November 2016
^ abJ C Marion, "Easy Going Magic : Roy Hawkins", Jamm Up, 2004. Retrieved 4 November 2016
^"Why Do Things Happen to Me", SecondhandSongs.com. Retrieved 5 November 2016
^"The Thrill Is Gone", SecondhandSongs.com. Retrieved 5 November 2016
External linksedit
Illustrated Roy Hawkins discography
January 01, 1970
hawkins, theodore, hawkins, february, 1903, march, 1974, american, blues, singer, pianist, songwriter, after, working, clubs, broke, through, with, 1950, song, things, happen, inspired, auto, accident, which, paralyzed, right, several, songs, most, notably, th. Roy Theodore Hawkins February 7 1903 March 19 1974 1 was an American blues singer pianist and songwriter After working in clubs he broke through with his 1950 song Why Do Things Happen to Me inspired by an auto accident which paralyzed his right arm Several of his songs most notably The Thrill Is Gone were covered by later artists including Ray Charles B B King and James Brown Roy HawkinsBackground informationBirth nameRoy Theodore HawkinsBorn 1903 02 07 February 7 1903Jefferson Texas United StatesOriginOakland California U S DiedMarch 19 1974 1974 03 19 aged 71 Compton California U S GenresRhythm and bluesOccupation s Singer songwriterInstrument s PianoYears activec 1945 1960sLabelsCava Tone Down Town Modern RPM Rhythm Music City Kent Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 2 1 Singles 2 2 LP CD releases 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBiography editHawkins was born in Jefferson Texas 1 Little is known of the early part of his life By the mid 1940s he was performing as a singer and pianist in the Oakland California area 2 where he was discovered by musician and record producer Bob Geddins who was impressed by Hawkins soulful doom laden style 3 Hawkins seems to have made his first recordings when about 45 years old for the Cava Tone and Down Town record labels in 1948 1 4 His band the Four Jacks included saxophonist William Staples guitarist Ulysses James bassist Floyd Montgomery and drummer Madison Little 5 6 He signed with Modern Records in Los Angeles the following year 4 and stayed with that label until 1954 He had his first chart hit with Why Do Things Happen To Me also known as Why Do Everything Happen To Me Though the song had been written by Geddins while Hawkins was hospitalized after his auto accident he sold it to Jules Bihari at Modern and the record was released with the songwriting credit given jointly to Bihari as Jules Taub and Hawkins 3 Why Do Things Happen To Me reached number 2 on the Billboard R amp B chart in early 1950 and was later recorded by both B B King and James Brown as Strange Things Happen 7 Hawkins continued to release singles on Modern and had his second hit in 1951 with The Thrill Is Gone again co credited to Bihari but in fact co written with Rick Darnell The record featured Maxwell Davis saxophone Willard McDaniel piano and Johnny Moore guitar and reached number 6 on the R amp B chart The song was later recorded by many other artists including B B King whose signature song it became 3 Aretha Franklin and Willie Nelson 8 After several less successful singles including Gloom and Misery All Around an early song by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 6 Hawkins left Modern in 1953 He recorded for a series of labels over the next few years including Flair RPM Rhythm and Music City for whom he recorded as Mr Undertaker 1 His last recordings were made for Kent Records in 1961 5 His later years were spent working in a furniture store Hawkins died in Compton California in 1974 1 4 Discography editSingles edit They Raided The Joint 1947 Christmas Blues 1948 It s Too Late To Change 1949 Forty Jive 1948 Quarter To One 1949 Easy Going Magic 1949 West Express 1949 Sleepless Nights 1949 Why Do Things Happen To Me 1950 R amp B 2 On My Way 1950 My Temper Is Rising 1950 Just A Poor Boy 1950 Blues All Around Me 1951 You re The Sweetest Thing 1951 The Thrill Is Gone 1951 R amp B 6 Gloom And Misery All Around 1951 You re A Free Little Girl 1952 Highway 59 1952 The Thrill Hunt 1952 Bad Luck Is Falling 1953 I Wonder Why re make of Why Do Everything Happen To Me 1953 If I Had Listened 1955 Trouble In Mind 1962 LP CD releases edit Why Do Everything Happen To Me rec 1949 54 Route 66 KIX 9 LP 1979 Highway 59 Ace CHD 103 LP 1984 The Thrill Is Gone The Legendary Modern Recordings Ace CHD 754 2000 Bad Luck Is Falling The Modern RPM and Kent Recordings Vol 2 Ace CHD 1096 2006 See also editList of West Coast blues musicians West Coast bluesReferences edit a b c d e Eagle Bob LeBlanc Eric S 2013 Blues A Regional Experience Santa Barbara Praeger Publishers p 311 ISBN 978 0313344237 Whitburn Joel 1996 Top R amp B Hip Hop Singles 1942 1995 Record Research p 186 a b c Ted Carroll Roy Hawkins The Thrill Is Gone Ace Records Retrieved 5 November 2016 a b c Allmusic biography a b Roy Hawkins Illustrated Discography wirz de Retrieved 5 November 2016 a b J C Marion Easy Going Magic Roy Hawkins Jamm Up 2004 Retrieved 4 November 2016 Why Do Things Happen to Me SecondhandSongs com Retrieved 5 November 2016 The Thrill Is Gone SecondhandSongs com Retrieved 5 November 2016External links editIllustrated Roy Hawkins discography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Roy Hawkins amp oldid 1218447024, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
