Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. One of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument, as Joachim E. Berendt explained: "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn". Hawkins biographer John Chilton described the prevalent styles of tenor saxophone solos prior to Hawkins as "mooing" and "rubbery belches". Hawkins cited as influences Happy Caldwell, Stump Evans, and Prince Robinson, although he was the first to tailor his method of improvisation to the saxophone rather than imitate the techniques of the clarinet. Hawkins' virtuosic, arpeggiated approach to improvisation, with his characteristic rich, emotional, and vibrato-laden tonal style, was the main influence on a generation of tenor players that included Chu Berry, Charlie Barnet, Tex Beneke, Ben Webster, Vido Musso, Herschel Evans, Buddy Tate, and Don Byas, and through them the later tenormen, Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, Flip Phillips, Ike Quebec, Al Sears, Paul Gonsalves, and Lucky Thompson. While Hawkins became known with swing music during the big band era, he had a role in the development of bebop in the 1940s. Fellow saxophonist Lester Young, known as the "President of the Tenor Saxophone", commented, in a 1959 interview with The Jazz Review: "As far as I'm concerned, I think Coleman Hawkins was the president, first, right? As far as myself, I think I'm the second one." Miles Davis once said: "When I heard Hawk, I learned to play ballads." |
Birth and Death Data: Born November 21, 1904 (St. Joseph), Died May 19, 1969 (New York City)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1958
Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone, leader, saxophone, composer, bass saxophone, director, alto saxophone, songwriter
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BVE-57064 | 10-in. | 11/5/1929 | Plain dirt | McKinney's Cotton Pickers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | BVE-57065 | 10-in. | 11/5/1929 | Gee, ain't I good to you | McKinney's Cotton Pickers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | BVE-57066 | 10-in. | 11/6/1929 | I'd love it | McKinney's Cotton Pickers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | BVE-57067 | 10-in. | 11/6/1929 | The way I feel today | McKinney's Cotton Pickers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | BVE-57068 | 10-in. | 11/6/1929 | Miss Hannah | McKinney's Cotton Pickers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | BVE-57139 | 10-in. | 11/7/1929 | Peggy | McKinney's Cotton Pickers | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | BVE-57140 | 10-in. | 11/7/1929 | Wherever there's a will, baby | McKinney's Cotton Pickers ; Don Redman | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, clarinet, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | BVE-57145 | 10-in. | 11/14/1929 | Hello Lola | Mound City Blue Blowers | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | BVE-57146 | 10-in. | 11/14/1929 | One hour | Mound City Blue Blowers | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | BS-041408 | 10-in. | 9/11/1939 | Hot mallets | Lionel Hampton Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | BS-042933 | 10-in. | 10/11/1939 | Meet Doctor Foo | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, saxophone, composer | |
Victor | BS-042934 | 10-in. | 10/11/1939 | Fine dinner | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, saxophone, composer | |
Victor | BS-042935 | 10-in. | 10/11/1939 | She's funny that way | Thelma Carpenter ; Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | leader, instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | BS-042936 | 10-in. | 10/11/1939 | Body and soul | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader, instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | BS-046156 | 10-in. | 1/3/1940 | When day is done | Coleman Hawkins' All-Star Octet | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | BS-046157 | 10-in. | 1/3/1940 | The sheik of Araby | Coleman Hawkins' All-Star Octet | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | BS-046158 | 10-in. | 1/3/1940 | My blue heaven | Coleman Hawkins' All-Star Octet | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | BS-046159 | 10-in. | 1/3/1940 | Bouncing with Bean | Coleman Hawkins' All-Star Octet | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, saxophone | |
Victor | BS-060331 | 10-in. | 1/16/1941 | Bugle call rag | Metronome All Star Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | BS-060332 | 10-in. | 1/16/1941 | One o'clock jump | Metronome All Star Band | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D7VB-2647 | 10-in. | 12/10/1947 | How did she look | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra ; Leslie Scott | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D7VB-2648 | 10-in. | 12/10/1947 | Under a blanket of blue | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra ; Leslie Scott | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D7VB-2649 | 10-in. | 12/10/1947 | Never in a million years | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra ; Leslie Scott | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D7VB-2650 | 10-in. | 12/10/1947 | You were meant for me | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra ; Leslie Scott | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Victor | D7VB-2659 | 10-in. | 12/11/1947 | April in Paris | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | Instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader | |
Victor | D7VB-2660 | 10-in. | 12/11/1947 | How strange | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | Instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader | |
Victor | D7VB-2661 | 10-in. | 12/11/1947 | Half step down, please | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | Instrumental ensemble | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader, songwriter | |
Columbia | 81916 | 10-in. | 8/19/1924 | Mississippi Delta blues | Bessie Brown | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with tenor saxophone and piano | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Columbia | 81924 | 10-in. | 8/19/1924 | Pork chop blues | Bessie Brown | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with tenor saxophone and piano | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Columbia | 81931 | 10-in. | 8/19/1924 | Deep blue sea blues | Clara Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with tenor saxophone and piano | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Columbia | 81932 | 10-in. | 8/19/1924 | Texas moaner blues | Clara Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with tenor saxophone and piano | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Columbia | W140586 | 10-in. | 5/6/1925 | The Yellow Dog blues | Fletcher Henderson’s Hot Six ; Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with jazz/dance ensemble | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Columbia | W141207 | 10-in. | 10/28/1925 | No man's mamma | Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with bass saxophone, cornet, and piano | instrumentalist, bass saxophone | |
Columbia | W141209 | 10-in. | 10/28/1925 | Maybe not at all | Ebony Four ; Ethel Waters | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with bass saxophone, cornet, and piano | instrumentalist, bass saxophone | |
Columbia | 141303 | 10-in. | 11/23/1925 | Florida stomp | Dixie Stompers | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
Columbia | W143568 | 10-in. | 3/2/1927 | Alexander's ragtime band | Blue Boys [Bessie Smith ensemble] ; Bessie Smith | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental quintet | instrumentalist, clarinet | |
Columbia | W143569 | 10-in. | 3/2/1927 | Muddy water | Bessie Smith and her Band | Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with instrumental sextet | instrumentalist, clarinet | |
Columbia | W152703 | 10-in. | 2/2/1934 | Ol' Pappy | Benny Goodman Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Columbia | W265135 | 10-in. | 9/22/1933 | Queer notions-1 | Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet, composer | ||
Columbia | W265136 | 10-in. | 9/22/1933 | It's the talk of the town | Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet | ||
Columbia | W265137 | 10-in. | 9/22/1933 | Night life-3 | Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet | ||
Columbia | W265138 | 10-in. | 9/22/1933 | Nagasaki-2 | Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, clarinet | ||
Columbia | W265144 | 10-in. | 9/29/1933 | Jamaica shout-1 | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Columbia | W265150 | 10-in. | 10/3/1933 | Happy feet | Horace Henderson Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Columbia | W265151 | 10-in. | 10/3/1933 | I'm rhythm crazy now-1 | Horace Henderson Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Columbia | W265152 | 10-in. | 10/3/1933 | Old man river | Horace Henderson Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Columbia | W265153 | 10-in. | 10/3/1933 | Minnie the moocher's wedding day-1 | Horace Henderson Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Columbia | W265154 | 10-in. | 10/3/1933 | Ain't cha glad?-1 | Horace Henderson Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Columbia | W265155 | 10-in. | 10/3/1933 | I've got to sing a torch song | Horace Henderson Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Columbia | W265173 | 10-in. | 3/8/1934 | I ain't got nobody | Coleman Hawkins ; Buck Washington | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Columbia | W265175 | 10-in. | 3/19/1934 | On the sunny side of the street | Coleman Hawkins ; Buck Washington | Saxophone | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Columbia | W351052 | 10-in. | 6/30/1931 | Darktown Strutters' Ball | Mound City Blue Blowers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Columbia | W365050 | 10-in. | 6/30/1931 | You rascal you | Mound City Blue Blowers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
OKeh | 73738 | 10-in. | 10/26/1925 | Squeeze me | Clarence Williams’ Blue Five ; Eva Taylor | Instrumental sextet, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
OKeh | 73739 | 10-in. | 10/26/1925 | You can't shush Katie (The gabbiest girl in town) | Eva Taylor | Female vocal solo, with instrumental sextet | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
OKeh | W404566 | 10-in. | 12/3/1930 | Goodbye blues | Chocolate Dandies | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
OKeh | W404596 | 10-in. | 12/30/1930 | Cloudy skies | Chocolate Dandies | Jazz/dance band | composer, instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
OKeh | W404597 | 10-in. | 12/30/1930 | Got another sweetie now | Chocolate Dandies ; Jimmy Harrison | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
OKeh | W404598 | 10-in. | 12/30/1930 | Bugle call rag | Chocolate Dandies | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
OKeh | W404599 | 10-in. | 12/30/1930 | Dee blues | Chocolate Dandies | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Gramophone | 0LA1742 | 10-in. | 4/28/1937 | Honeysuckle rose | Coleman Hawkins All-Star Jam Band | Jazz/dance band | director | |
Gramophone | 0LA1743 | 10-in. | 4/28/1937 | Crazy rhythm | Coleman Hawkins All-Star Jam Band | Jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |
Decca | 81483 | 10/19/1951 | (It's a) Sin | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 81484 | 10/19/1951 | And so to sleep again | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 82231 | 1/31/1952 | Spellbound | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 82232 | 1/31/1952 | Amber | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 82233 | 1/31/1952 | Lost in a fog | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 82234 | 1/31/1952 | Carioca | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 82327 | 2/26/1952 | Trust in me | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 82328 | 2/26/1952 | Wishin' | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 82329 | 2/26/1952 | Lonely wine | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 82330 | 2/26/1952 | Midnight sun | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 83245 | 7/30/1952 | If I could be with you | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 83246 | 7/30/1952 | I can't get started | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 84387 | 4/27/1953 | Ruby | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 84388 | 4/27/1953 | The song from Moulin Rouge | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 84389 | 4/27/1953 | Lucky duck | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 84390 | 4/27/1953 | Bye 'n bye | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 88966 | 11/7/1955 | Beans again | Coleman Hawkins Quartet | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 88967 | 11/7/1955 | The man I love | Coleman Hawkins Quartet | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 88968 | 11/7/1955 | Foolin' around-1 | Coleman Hawkins Quartet | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 88969 | 11/7/1955 | Time on my hands | Coleman Hawkins Quartet | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 105804 | 10/13/1958 | Ornithology | Tony Scott and the All Stars | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 105805 | 10/13/1958 | Body and soul-1 | Tony Scott and the All Stars | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 105806 | 10/13/1958 | Unlisted blues | Tony Scott and the All Stars | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Signature | T-1905 | 10-in. | 12/8/1943 | Voodte | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Signature | T-1906 | 10-in. | 12/8/1943 | How deep is the ocean | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Signature | T-1907 | 10-in. | 12/8/1943 | Hawkins barrelhouse | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Signature | T-1908 | 10-in. | 12/8/1943 | Stumpy | Coleman Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Signature | T-1917 | 12/18/1943 | Lover come back to me | Coleman Hawkins Quartet | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Signature | T-1918 | 10-in. | 12/18/1943 | Indiana | Coleman Hawkins Quartet | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Signature | T-1923 | 10-in. | 12/23/1943 | Crazy rhythm | Coleman Hawkins Swing Four | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Signature | T-1924 | 10-in. | 12/23/1943 | Get happy | Coleman Hawkins Swing Four | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Signature | T-19001 | 12/18/1943 | Blues changes | Coleman Hawkins Quartet | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Signature | T-19002 | 12/18/1943 | These foolish things | Coleman Hawkins Quartet | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Signature | T-19005 | 12-in. | 12/23/1943 | The man I love | Coleman Hawkins Swing Four | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Signature | T-19006 | 12-in. | 12/23/1943 | Sweet Lorraine | Coleman Hawkins Swing Four | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | AM 177 | 10-in. | 8/26/1935 | Chicago | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | AM 178 | 10-in. | 8/26/1935 | Meditation | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | AM 179 | 10-in. | 8/26/1935 | What Harlem is to me | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | AM 180 | 10-in. | 8/26/1935 | Netcha's dream | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | AM 397 | 10-in. | 8/18/1937 | Somebody loves me | Benny Carter Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | AM 399 | 10-in. | 8/18/1937 | Pardon me pretty baby | Benny Carter Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | AM 400 | 10-in. | 8/18/1937 | My buddy | Benny Carter Orchestra | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | AM 401 | 10-in. | 8/18/1937 | Star dust | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | AM 402 | 10-in. | 8/18/1937 | Well alright then | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | CE 6741 | 10-in. | 11/18/1934 | Lost in a fog | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | CE 6742 | 10-in. | 11/18/1934 | Honeysuckle rose | Coleman Hawkins | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hawkins, Coleman," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103427.
Hawkins, Coleman. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103427.
"Hawkins, Coleman." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Coleman Hawkins
Discogs: Coleman Hawkins
Allmusic: Coleman Hawkins
Apple Music: Coleman Hawkins
Grove: Coleman Hawkins
IMDb: Coleman Hawkins
Britannica: Coleman Hawkins
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Hawkins, Coleman - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n81150284
Wikidata: Coleman Hawkins - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q217812
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/7574109
MusicBrainz: Coleman Hawkins - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5c8cb181-38fe-4300-8153-650b2ed0258f
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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