Erskine Hawkins

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 51-75 of 149 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-057365	10-in.	11/6/1940	Nona	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-057724	10-in.	11/20/1940	Rifftime	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-057725	10-in.	11/20/1940	I know a secret	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-057726	10-in.	11/20/1940	S'posin'	Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-057727	10-in.	11/20/1940	To-night you belong to me	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-060404	10-in.	1/22/1941	Keep cool fool	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-060405	10-in.	1/22/1941	No use squawkin'	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-060406	10-in.	1/22/1941	Who's beatin' my time with you?	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Ida James	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-065727	10-in.	5/15/1941	Uncle Bud	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-065728	10-in.	5/15/1941	Blackout	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-065729	10-in.	5/15/1941	Blue sea	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-065730	10-in.	5/15/1941	I love you truly	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Ida James ; Jimmy Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with mixed vocal quartet	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-065731	10-in.	5/15/1941	Shipyard ramble	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet, director, composer
Victor	BS-065908	10-in.	5/27/1941	Hey Doc!	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-065909	10-in.	5/27/1941	So long, Shorty	Wilbur Bascomb ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Ida James	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo and trumpet solo	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-065910	10-in.	5/27/1941	I'm in a low down groove	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-065911	10-in.	5/27/1941	Night after night	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Ida James	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-067546	10-in.	8/8/1941	Someone's rocking my dream boat	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-067547	10-in.	8/8/1941	Jumpin' in a julep joint	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Ida James	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-068712	10-in.	12/22/1941	Sometimes	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-068713	10-in.	12/22/1941	I don't want to walk without you	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Ida James	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-068714	10-in.	12/22/1941	Wrap your troubles in dreams (and dream your troubles away)	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-068715	10-in.	12/22/1941	[Unknown title(s)]	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-073288	10-in.	5/27/1942	Dont cry, baby	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director
Victor	BS-073289	10-in.	5/27/1942	Bicycle bounce	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, trumpet

(Results 51-75 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.