![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Maud_Cuney_Hare-155-Erskine_Hawkins.jpg)
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 1-25 of 149 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BS-026855 | 10-in. | 9/12/1938 | (Shango, shango, shangoree) Rockin' rollers' jubilee | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-026856 | 10-in. | 9/12/1938 | I'm madly in love with you | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Merle Turner | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-026857 | 10-in. | 9/12/1938 | Let this be a warning to you, baby | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-026858 | 10-in. | 9/12/1938 | Miss Hallelujah Brown | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-026859 | 10-in. | 9/12/1938 | Weary blues | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-026860 | 10-in. | 9/12/1938 | King Porter stomp | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-027958 | 10-in. | 10/20/1938 | Strictly swing | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | songwriter, instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-027959 | 10-in. | 10/20/1938 | Do you want to jump, children? | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-027960 | 10-in. | 10/20/1938 | (Oh! Oh!) What do you know about love? | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Ida James | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-027961 | 10-in. | 10/20/1938 | A study in blue | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-027962 | 10-in. | 10/20/1938 | Easy rider (I wonder where my easy rider's gone) | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-027963 | 10-in. | 10/20/1938 | Because of you | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter, instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-035719 | 10-in. | 4/8/1939 | "I," the living "I" | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Ida James | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BS-035720 | 10-in. | 4/8/1939 | Let the punishment fit the crime | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BS-035721 | 10-in. | 4/8/1939 | Swing out (Theme song of Erskine Hawkins) | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BS-035722 | 10-in. | 4/8/1939 | Raid the joint | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BS-036943 | 10-in. | 5/14/1939 | Big-wig in the wigwam | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Ida James | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-036944 | 10-in. | 5/14/1939 | Polka dotty (Come out tonight) | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-036945 | 10-in. | 5/14/1939 | No soap | Julius Dash ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with saxophone solo | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-036946 | 10-in. | 5/14/1939 | Swingin' on Lenox Avenue | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, trumpet, director | |
Victor | BS-038418 | 10-in. | 7/18/1939 | Hot platter | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BS-038419 | 10-in. | 7/18/1939 | Gin mill special | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BS-038420 | 10-in. | 7/18/1939 | Cherry | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BS-038421 | 10-in. | 7/18/1939 | Tuxedo Junction | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet | |
Victor | BS-038422 | 10-in. | 7/18/1939 | Weddin' blues | Erskine Hawkins Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hawkins, Erskine," accessed September 4, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103922.
Hawkins, Erskine. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved September 4, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103922.
"Hawkins, Erskine." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 4 September 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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