The Rhythm and Blues of Erskine Hawkins

Born on 26 July 1914, trumpeter Erskine Hawkins attended high school in Birmingham, Alabama. While in school he formed a band called the Bama State Collegians with which he toured in 1934 including the Savoy Ballroom in Manhattan. He and his Collegians made their first recordings in 1936 in New York City: 'Until the Real Thing Comes Along' / 'I Can't Escape From You' with vocals by Billy Daniels on Vocalion 3280 and 'It Was a Sad Night in Harlem' / 'Without a Shadow of a Doubt' with vocals by Jimmy Mitchell on Vocalion 3289. By 1937 Hawkins and his band were popular enough to feature in the film short, 'Deviled Ham', with vocalist, Gus Van, as the Devil.

'It Was a Sad Night in Harlem'   Erskine Hawkins and His Bama State Collegians

Hawkins' 1st recording to issue

20 July 1936 in NYC   Matrix 19578   Vocalion 3289

Trumpet: Sammy Lowe / Wilbur "Dud" Bascomb / Marcellus Green / Erskine Hawkins

Trombone: Ed Sims / Bob Range

Alto sax: William Johnson / Jimmy Mitchell (vocal)

Tenor sax: Paul Bascomb   Baritone sax: Haywood Henry

Piano: Avery Parrish   Guitar: William McLemore

Upright bass: Leemie Stanfield   Drums: James Morrison

Composition: Al Lewis / Helmy Kresa

'I Can't Escape From You'   Erskine Hawkins and His Bama State Collegians

Hawkins' 2nd recording to issue

20 July 1936 in NYC   Matrix 19580   Vocalion 3280

Trumpet: Sammy Lowe / Wilbur "Dud" Bascomb / Marcellus Green / Erskine Hawkins

Trombone: Ed Sims / Bob Range

Alto sax: William Johnson / Jimmy Mitchell (vocal)

Tenor sax: Paul Bascomb   Baritone sax: Haywood Henry

Piano: Avery Parrish   Guitar: William McLemore

Upright bass: Leemie Stanfield   Drums: James Morrison   Vocal: Billy Daniels

Composition: Richard Whiting as Robin Whiting

'Deviled Ham'   Erskine Hawkins and His Bama State Collegians w Gus Van as the Devil

Musical short released 22 Nov 1937 including:

I've Got What It Takes to Drive Your Blues Away / All God's Chillun' Got Rhythm / Rockin' Chair

'Cherry'   Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra backing Jimmy Mitchell

18 July 1939 in NYC   Matrix: 038420-1   RCA Victor 20-2285 / Bluebird 30-0819

Composition: Don Redman

'Tuxedo Junction'   Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra

18 July 1939 in NYC   Matrix: 038421-1   Bluebird B-10409

Composition: Hawkins / Bill Johnson / Julian Dash

During the latter thirties Hawkin's band had alternated with Chick Webb's operation at the Savoy, having changed the name of his band from the Collegians to his Orchestra in 1938. In the meantime he began to place high on the popularity charts beginning with 'Big John's Special' from his second recording session in September of 1936 reaching #18. Erskine placed several titles in the upper tiers of the charts in the latter thirties until his first Top Ten, 'Dolomite', reached #10 in pop in September 1940. He thereafter placed twelve releases in the Top Ten of the R&B charts [Music VF / not verified]:

   Bicycle Bounce   Sep 1940   #5
   Don't Cry, Baby   Aug 1943   #1
   Cherry   Feb 1944   #5
   Fifteen Years (And I'm Still Serving Time)   1945   #4
   Tippin' In   April 1945   #1 / Hawkins' best-selling title overall
   Caldonia   May 1945   #2
   After Hours   1946   #3
   I've Got a Right to Cry   1946   #2
   Sneakin' Out   1946   #5
   Hawk's Boogie   1947   #2
   Corn Bread   1949   #8
   Tennessee Waltz   1950   #6

'Dolomite'   Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra

27 Feb 1940 in NYC   Matrix: 047277-2   Bluebird B-10812

Composition: Buddy Feyne / William Johnson

'Don´t Cry, Baby'   Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra backing Jimmy Mitchell

27 May 1942 in NYC   Matrix: 073288-1   Bluebird 30-0813

Composition: Sammy Lowe / Jimmy Mitchell

'Bicycle Bounce'   Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra

27 May 1942 in NYC   Matrix: 073289-1   Bluebird B-11547

Composition: Sammy Lowe

'Tippin' In'   Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra

10 Jan 1945 in NYC   Matrix: D5AB-300   Victor 20-1639

Trumpet: Erskine Hawkins / Bob Johnson / Chuck Jones / Sammy Lowe / Bill Moore

Trombone: Don Coles / David "Jelly" James / Norman Greene / Ed Sims

Alto sax: Bobby Smith / Jimmy Mitchell

Tenor sax: Aaron Maxwell / Julian Dash   Baritone sax: Haywood Henry

Piano: Ace Harris   Guitar: Leroy Kirkland

Bass: Leemie Stanfield   Drums: Kelly Martin

Composition: Bobby Smith

'Caldonia'   Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra backing Ace Harris

28 March 1945 in NYC   Matrix: D5VB-168   Victor 20-1659

Composition: Probably Louis Jordan (credited to his wife, Fleecie Moore)

'Hawk's Boogie'   Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra

7 Oct 1946 in NYC   Matrix: D6VB-1956   Victor 20-2169

Trumpet: Erskine Hawkins / Sammy Lowe / Bobby Johnson / Jimmy Harris

Trombone: Bob Range / Booty Wood / Ray Hogan

Alto sax: Bobby Smith / Jimmy Mitchell

Tenor sax: Julian Dash / Stretch Ridley   Baritone sax: Haywood Henry

Piano: Don Michael   Guitar: Leroy Kirkland

Bass: Leemie Stanfield   Drums: Joe Murphy

Composition: Ace Harris / Hawkins

'Corn Bread'   Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra

21 Dec 1948 in NYC   Matrix: D8VB-4090   Victor 20-3326

Composition: Hal Singer

'Tennessee Waltz'   Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra backing Ace Harris

11 Sep 1950 in NYC   Matrix: 76830   Coral 60313

Composition: Pee Wee King / Redd Stewart

Swing jazz having long since begun its evolution toward rhythm and blues in the early forties, in the early fifties Hawkins began working with smaller ensembles.

Side 1 of 'The Hawk Blows at Midnight'   Erskine Hawkins

Album recorded 6/7 July 1960

Trumpet: Erskine Hawkins   Alto sax: Bobby Smith   Piano: Ernie Hayes

Guitar: Leroy Kirkland   Bass: Lloyd Trotman   Drums: Shep Shepherd

'Blues In the Closet'   Erskine Hawkins

From Vol 2 of the album '25 Golden Years of Jazz' on LP9197: Vol 1   Vol 2

Album recorded 19-21 March 1962

Trumpet: Erskine Hawkins   Valve trombone: Bob Brookmeyer

Alto sax: Bobby Smith   Tenor sax: Al Cohn / Norris Turney

Guitar: Kenny Burrell   Bass: Milt Hinton   Drums: Osie Johnson

Composition: Oscar Pettiford

From 1967 to 1993 Hawkins' was the resident band at the Concord Resort Hotel in Kiamesha Lake, New York. Of the 72 recording sessions which Tom Lord's discography lists, his last is traced to May 27, 1971 toward the album, 'Live at Club Soul Sound' on Stang Records ST 1014. He isn't thought to have issued any further recordings although he didn't pass away in his home until November 11 of 1993, yet performing at the Concord [obit]. He is survived by pianist, Erskine Hawkins Jr. and Erskine Hawkins III, also a pianist.

DAHR (Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra / 1938-56)

Tom Lord Jazzography: leading 71 of 72 sessions 1936-71

Other Profiles:

Alabama Music Hall of Fame