Erskine Hawkins Orchestra

The Bama State Collegians is a student jazz orchestra made up of students at Alabama State University. This group was organized in the late 1920s by Len Bowden, Fess Whatley, and Paul Bascomb. Bowden went on to direct the Navy's music program at Camp Robert Smalls during World War II. John Tuggle "Fess" Whatley (1895-1972) was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and has a K-8 school in Birmingham named after him.

The Bama State Collegians have been directed by a number of notable musicians, including Tommy Stewart and Erskine Hawkins.

The group also holds an important place in jazz history. In 1934, the entire group travelled to New York and became the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra, recording hit records such as Tuxedo Junction, which rose to No. 7 nationally by Erskine Hawkins and No. 1 by Glenn Miller. Members of this band worked with the NBC Orchestra, the Lucky Millinder Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Louis Armstrong and others.

Among those who have played with the orchestra are Dud Bascomb, Paul Bascomb, Avery Parrish, and Haywood Henry.

In 2011, the story of Erskine Hawkins and his start in the Bama State Collegians was the subject of a Florida State University Film School MFA Thesis Film "The Collegians", written and directed by Alabama State University alumn Bryan Lewis.

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1938 - 1956

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 135 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 Musical group  
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 Musical group  
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 Musical group  
Victor BS-026858 10-in. 9/12/1938 Miss Hallelujah Brown Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BS-026859 10-in. 9/12/1938 Weary blues Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BS-026860 10-in. 9/12/1938 King Porter stomp Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BS-027958 10-in. 10/20/1938 Strictly swing Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
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 Musical group  
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 Musical group  
Victor BS-027961 10-in. 10/20/1938 A study in blue Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BS-027962 10-in. 10/20/1938 Easy rider (I wonder where my easy rider's gone) Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BS-027963 10-in. 10/20/1938 Because of you Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BS-035719 10-in. 4/8/1939 "I," the living "I" Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Ida James Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo Musical group  
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 Musical group  
Victor BS-035721 10-in. 4/8/1939 Swing out (Theme song of Erskine Hawkins) Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BS-035722 10-in. 4/8/1939 Raid the joint Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
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 Musical group  
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 Musical group  
Victor BS-036945 10-in. 5/14/1939 No soap Julius Dash ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with saxophone solo Musical group  
Victor BS-036946 10-in. 5/14/1939 Swingin' on Lenox Avenue Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BS-038418 10-in. 7/18/1939 Hot platter Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BS-038419 10-in. 7/18/1939 Gin mill special Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BS-038420 10-in. 7/18/1939 Cherry Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BS-038421 10-in. 7/18/1939 Tuxedo Junction Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Victor BS-038422 10-in. 7/18/1939 Weddin' blues Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Jazz/dance band Musical group  
(Results 1-25 of 135 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Erskine Hawkins Orchestra," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111954.

Erskine Hawkins Orchestra. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111954.

"Erskine Hawkins Orchestra." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/111954

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