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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

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103427

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