Erskine Hawkins & His Orchestra

Born on July 26, 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama, Erskine Hawkins was a trumpeter and big band leader who has been referred to as ‘the 20th Century Gabriel’. He is best-known for co-writing the jazz classic “Tuxedo Junction” with saxophonist Bill Johnson. The song became a hit during World War II - the Glenn Miller Orchestra’s version reaching Number 1 while the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra climbed to Number 7. Erskine Hawkins’s musical journey began at the age of 13, after already learning to play drums and trombone, he started playing trumpet. Influenced by Louis Armstrong, he became a flamboyant and popular player. He began leading the ‘Bama State Collegians. Between 1936 and 1938, he was signed to Vocalion Records and recorded under the name Erskine Hawkins and his ‘Bama State Collegians. He then signed with Bluebird/RCA Records and began recording as Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra. The became one of the house bands at the prestigious Savoy Ballroom and would regularly partake in ‘battle of the bands’ shows with Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and Lionel Hampton. The ensemble released a series of Top 20 singles including “Do You Wanna Jump, Chillun?” (1939), “Tuxedo Junction” (1939), “Dolemite” (1940), “Five O’Clock Whistle” (1940), “Bicycle Bounce” (1942) and “TIppin’ It” (1945). Many of the band’s finest tracks were gathered onto compilation albums including Tuxedo Junction (1947), Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra (1976) and more. Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra survived longer than most big bands, many of whom broke up at the end of 1946 and the beginning of 1947, the financial stress of keeping the band active in the 1950s was too much and he had to downsize the ensemble. He continued working with small bands throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and into the 1980s. Erskine Hawkins died on November 11, 1993.

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