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Erskine Hawkins

Erskine Ramsay Hawkins (July 26, 1914 – November 11, 1993) was an American trumpeter and big band leader from Birmingham, Alabama, dubbed "The 20th Century Gabriel". 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.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 26, 1914 (Birmingham), Died November 11, 1993 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1938 - 1960

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet, director, composer, songwriter

Notes: Known as "The 20th Century Gabriel."

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 149 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-041378 10-in. 10/2/1939 You can't escape from me Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-041379 10-in. 10/2/1939 Rehearsal in love Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-041380 10-in. 10/2/1939 Satan does the rhumba Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-041381 10-in. 10/2/1939 More than you know Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-041382 10-in. 10/2/1939 Uptown shuffle Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-045784 10-in. 12/20/1939 I hadn't anyone till you Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-045785 10-in. 12/20/1939 Baltimore bounce Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-045786 10-in. 12/20/1939 Fine and mellow Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-045787 10-in. 12/20/1939 Saboo (Doing the saboo) Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-046786 10-in. 2/5/1940 Tuxedo junction Glenn Miller Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-047277 10-in. 2/27/1940 Dolomite Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-047278 10-in. 2/27/1940 Midnight stroll Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-047279 10-in. 2/27/1940 Whispering grass Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-047280 10-in. 2/27/1940 Gabriel meets the duke Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-050157 10-in. 4/26/1940 Song of the wanderer (Where shall I go?) Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-050158 10-in. 4/26/1940 Too many dreams Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet, director  
Victor BS-050159 10-in. 4/26/1940 You bring me down Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-051260 10-in. 6/10/1940 Junction blues Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet, director, composer  
Victor BS-051261 10-in. 6/10/1940 Sweet Georgia Brown Paul Bascomb ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with tenor saxophone solo instrumentalist, trumpet, director  
Victor BS-051262 10-in. 6/10/1940 Ashes in the tray Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, trumpet, director  
Victor BS-051263 10-in. 6/10/1940 Five o'clock whistle Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet, director  
Victor BS-051264 10-in. 6/10/1940 After hours Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Avery Parrish Jazz/dance band, with piano solo director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-057362 10-in. 11/6/1940 Put yourself in my place Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-057363 10-in. 11/6/1940 Norfolk Ferry Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band director, instrumentalist, trumpet, composer  
Victor BS-057364 10-in. 11/6/1940 Soft winds Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band director, instrumentalist, trumpet  
(Results 26-50 of 149 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hawkins, Erskine," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103922.

Hawkins, Erskine. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103922.

"Hawkins, Erskine." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103922

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