Erskine Hawkins

Erskine Hawkins

Erskine Ramsay Hawkins (July 26, 1914November 11, 1993) was a trumpet player and big band leader from Birmingham, Alabama, dubbed "The 20th Century Gabriel". He is most remembered as the composer of the jazz standard, "Tuxedo Junction" (1939), which became a popular hit during World War II, rising to #7 nationally (version by the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra) and to #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. (See Erskine Hawkins biographies at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame website and at AllAboutJazz.com.)

Early Years

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 trained numerous African-American musicians, many of which populated the bands of famed band leaders such as Duke Ellington, Lucky Millinder, Louis Armstrong and Skitch Henderson (of the NBC Orchestra.)

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. He died in 1993 in Willingboro, New Jersey. Hawkins was an exact contemporary of another Birmingham jazz great, Sun Ra.

References

* [http://www.alamhof.org/hawkinse.htm Erskine Hawkins biography] at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame website
* [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=2677 Erskine Hawkins biography] at All About Jazz
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:7q5tk60x9krw Erskine Hawkins biography] at Allmusic.com

Persondata
NAME=Hawkins, Erskine
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=jazz composer and bandleader
DATE OF BIRTH=July 26, 1914
PLACE OF BIRTH=Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
DATE OF DEATH=November 11, 1993
PLACE OF DEATH=Willingboro, New Jersey, United States of America


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Erskine Hawkins — Erskine Ramsay Hawkins (* 26. Juli 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama; † 11. November 1993 in Willingboro, New Jersey) war ein US amerikanischer Jazzmusiker (Trompeter), Arrangeur und Bandleader des Swing. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben und Werk …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Erskine Hawkins — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Hawkins. Erskine Hawkins (né le 26 juillet 1914 à Birmingham (Alabama), mort le 11 novembre 1993 à New York)[1] est un musicien de jazz, trompettiste et compositeur. Il est connu comme étant le compositeur du… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Hawkins — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Coleman Hawkins, saxophoniste de jazz Courtney Hawkins (1967 ), athlète américain Dale Hawkins, chanteur américain Erskine Hawkins, trompettiste de jazz… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Hawkins, Erskine — ▪ 1994       U.S. bandleader and trumpeter (b. July 26, 1914, Birmingham, Ala. d. Nov. 11, 1993, Willingboro, N.J.), headed a popular swing band in the 1930s and 40s. He took up music as a child and graduated (1934) from Alabama State Teachers… …   Universalium

  • David Erskine, 2nd Baron Erskine — David Montagu Erskine, 2nd Baron Erskine (12 August 1776 – 19 March 1855) was a British diplomat and politician. Contents 1 Background and education 2 Political and diplomatic career 3 Family 4 …   Wikipedia

  • Chronological Classics complete discography — Chronological Classics was a French compact disc reissue label. The original owner Gilles Pétard intended to release the complete master takes of all jazz and swing artists that were issued on 78 rpm records. By the time the label suspended… …   Wikipedia

  • Bama State Collegians — The Bama State Collegians is a student jazz orchestra made up of students at Alabama State University. This group, founded in the 1930s, has been directed by a number of notable musicians, including Tommy Stewart and Erskine Hawkins. The group… …   Wikipedia

  • Tuxedo Junction — Infobox Song Name = Tuxedo Junction Border = Caption = Type = Artist = alt Artist = Album = Published = Released = track no = Recorded = Genre = Language = Length = Writer = Buddy Feyne Composer = Erskine Hawkins Label = Producer = Tracks = prev …   Wikipedia

  • Liste der Biografien/Hav–Haz — Biografien: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Don't Cry Baby — is a song written by Saul Bernie, James P. Johnson, and Stella Unger. The song was originally performed in 1929 by Bessie Smith. Cover versions In 1943, Erskine Hawkins recorded his version, with vocals by Jimmy Miitchelle. This version went to… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”