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 101-125 of 149 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | D6VB-1956 | 10-in. | 10/7/1946 | Hawk's boogie | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, trumpet, composer | |
Victor | D6VB-1957 | 10-in. | 10/7/1946 | Sammy's nightmare | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, trumpet, composer | |
Victor | D6VB-2841 | 10-in. | 9/11/1946 | Somebody loves me | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Erskine Hawkins | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | D6VB-2842 | 10-in. | 9/11/1946 | I had a good cry | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band and trombone solo | director, instrumentalist, trumpet, composer | |
Victor | D7VB-0296 | 10-in. | 4/30/1947 | My baby didn't even say goodbye | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Erskine Hawkins | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | D7VB-0297 | 10-in. | 4/30/1947 | Coast to coast | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Erskine Hawkins | Jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, trumpet, composer | |
Victor | D7VB-0298 | 10-in. | 4/30/1947 | Ain't I losin' you? | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | D7VB-1570 | 10-in. | 8/26/1947 | Fool that I am | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | D7VB-1572 | 10-in. | 8/26/1947 | I'm so doggone melancholy | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell | Vocal solo with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet, director, songwriter | |
Victor | D7VB-2672 | 10-in. | 12/18/1947 | Needle points | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Erskine Hawkins | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet, composer | |
Victor | D7VB-2847 | 10-in. | 12/18/1947 | Big fat Sam | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell | Male vocal solo, with vocal chorus and jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | D7VB-2848 | 10-in. | 12/18/1947 | Sad eyes | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Laura Washington | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | D7VB-2849 | 10-in. | 12/18/1947 | Lazy blues | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Erskine Hawkins | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet, composer | |
Victor | D7VB-2949 | 10-in. | 12/23/1947 | Gabriel's heater | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Erskine Hawkins | Jazz/dance band | director | |
Victor | D7VB-2950 | 10-in. | 12/23/1947 | I'd love to make love to you | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Erskine Hawkins ; Laura Washington | Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | director | |
Victor | D8VB-4090 | 10-in. | 12/21/1948 | Corn bread | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | D8VB-4091 | 10-in. | 12/21/1948 | Bewildered | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | D8VB-4092 | 10-in. | 12/21/1948 | Cold hearted woman | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | D8VB-4093 | 10-in. | 12/21/1948 | Brooklyn bounce | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | director, instrumentalist, trumpet, composer | |
Victor | D9VB-0280 | 10-in. | 3/11/1949 | Texas hop | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | D9VB-0281 | 10-in. | 3/11/1949 | I wish somebody cared enough to cry | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Decca | 76827 | 9/11/1950 | so long, goodbye blues | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
Decca | 76828 | 9/11/1950 | Skippin' and hoppin' | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
Decca | 76829 | 9/11/1950 | Down beat | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | |||
Decca | 76830 | 9/11/1950 | Tennessee waltz | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hawkins, Erskine," accessed November 24, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103922.
Hawkins, Erskine. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103922.
"Hawkins, Erskine." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Erskine Hawkins
Discogs: Erskine Hawkins
Allmusic: Erskine Hawkins
Grove: Erskine Hawkins
IMDb: Erskine Hawkins
Britannica: Erskine Hawkins
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Hawkins, Erskine, 1914-1993 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n82153068
Wikidata: Erskine Hawkins - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q355481
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/34643384
MusicBrainz: Erskine Hawkins - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5c2c3f4b-fc35-4851-971b-6baa5c114da0
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