Erskine Hawkins And His Orchestra

Erskine Hawkins July 26 1914 – November 11 1993 Was An American Trumpet Player And Big Band Leader From Birmingham Alabama Dubbed "The 20th Century Gabriel". He Is Most Remembered For Composing The Jazz Standard "Tuxedo Junction" 1939 With Saxophonist And Arranger Bill Johnson. The Song Became A Popular 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. Erskine Ramsay Hawkins Was Named After Alabama Industrialist Erskine Ramsay Who Was Rewarding Parents With Savings Accounts For Them For Doing So. Hawkins Attended Councill Elementary School And Industrial High School Now Known As Parker High School In Birmingham Alabama. At Industrial High School He Played In The Band Directed By Fess Whatley A Teacher Who Trained Numerous African-American Musicians Many Of Whom Populated The Bands Of Famed Band Leaders Such As Duke Ellington Lucky Millinder Louis Armstrong And Skitch Henderson Of The NBC Orchestra. Hawkins Was Trumpeter And Band Leader In The Lobby Bar And Show Nightclub At The Concord Resort Hotel In Kiamesha Lake New York. From 1967 To 1993 With His Last Performing Group Joe Vitale Piano Dudly Watson Bass Sonny Rossi Vocals & Clarinet And George Leary Drums . Hawkins Died In Willingboro New Jersey In November 1993 After A Brief Visit With His Sister In Alabama Before He Was Able To Return To Resume Playing With His Band At The Concord At The Age Of 79. He Is Buried In Elmwood Cemetery Alongside His Sister In Birmingham Alabama.
In 1978 Erskine Hawkins Became One Of The First Five Artists Inducted Into The Alabama Jazz Hall Of Fame. In 1989 He Was Inducted Into The Alabama Music Hall Of Fame. Hawkins Was A Contemporary Of Another Birmingham Jazz Musician Sun Ra. The Story Of The Hawkins Legacy Continues To Be Told Today During Tours Of The Alabama Jazz Hall Of Fame Museum By Ray Reach Director Of Student Jazz Programs And Frank Adams Director Of Education Emeritus At The Alabama Jazz Hall Of Fame. read less