Erskine Hawkins

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 26-50 of 149 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-041378	10-in.	10/2/1939	You can't escape from me	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-041379	10-in.	10/2/1939	Rehearsal in love	Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-041380	10-in.	10/2/1939	Satan does the rhumba	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-041381	10-in.	10/2/1939	More than you know	Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-041382	10-in.	10/2/1939	Uptown shuffle	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-045784	10-in.	12/20/1939	I hadn't anyone till you	Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-045785	10-in.	12/20/1939	Baltimore bounce	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-045786	10-in.	12/20/1939	Fine and mellow	Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-045787	10-in.	12/20/1939	Saboo (Doing the saboo)	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-046786	10-in.	2/5/1940	Tuxedo junction	Glenn Miller Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer
Victor	BS-047277	10-in.	2/27/1940	Dolomite	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-047278	10-in.	2/27/1940	Midnight stroll	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-047279	10-in.	2/27/1940	Whispering grass	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-047280	10-in.	2/27/1940	Gabriel meets the duke	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	composer, director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-050157	10-in.	4/26/1940	Song of the wanderer (Where shall I go?)	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Jimmy Mitchell	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-050158	10-in.	4/26/1940	Too many dreams	Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-050159	10-in.	4/26/1940	You bring me down	Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-051260	10-in.	6/10/1940	Junction blues	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet, director, composer
Victor	BS-051261	10-in.	6/10/1940	Sweet Georgia Brown	Paul Bascomb ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with tenor saxophone solo	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-051262	10-in.	6/10/1940	Ashes in the tray	Dolores Brown ; Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-051263	10-in.	6/10/1940	Five o'clock whistle	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	instrumentalist, trumpet, director
Victor	BS-051264	10-in.	6/10/1940	After hours	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra ; Avery Parrish	Jazz/dance band, with piano solo	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-057362	10-in.	11/6/1940	Put yourself in my place	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, trumpet
Victor	BS-057363	10-in.	11/6/1940	Norfolk Ferry	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, trumpet, composer
Victor	BS-057364	10-in.	11/6/1940	Soft winds	Erskine Hawkins Orchestra	Jazz/dance band	director, instrumentalist, trumpet

(Results 26-50 of 149 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hawkins, Erskine," accessed November 19, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103922.

Hawkins, Erskine. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 19, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/103922.

"Hawkins, Erskine." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 November 2024.