Coleman Hawkins

Coleman Hawkins was born Coleman Randolph Hawkins on November 21, 1904 in Saint Louis, Missouti. He started out playing piano and cello and switched to the saxophone at the age of nine. He attended high school first in Chicago and then in Topeka, Kansas.

In 1923 Coleman settled in New York City and joined Fletcher Henderson's Band. He remained with Henderson until 1934. In late 1934 he played with Jack Hylton's Band in London and toured Europe as a soloist until 1939. Hawkins returned to the U.S. and on October 11, 1939 he recorded "Body and Soul" which would become his signature song.

During the early 1940's "Hawk" led a combo at Kelly's Stables on New York's famous 52nd Street which consisted of Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Oscar Pettiford, and Max Roach. He later toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic.

In the 1950's Hawkins performed with more traditional musicians, such as Henry "Red" Allen and Roy Eldridge with whom he appeared at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival. That same year he recorded "Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster." Coleman continued to record during the 1960's and his last recording was in 1967.

Coleman Hawkins died from Pneumonia on May 19, 1969 and is buried at Woodlawn Cemetary in the Bronx.

Earlier today I listened to a Coleman Hawkins' compilation titled "Greatest Hits," a RCA Victor release. This is a very nice sampler of the "Hawk" playing with both small groups and big bands.

The selections include "Body and Soul," "April in Paris," "There Will Never Be Another You," "Sugar Foot Stomp," "When The Lights Are Low," "My Blue Heaven," "I Love Paris," and "Sweet Lorraine," among others. There are 16 tracks on this album.




Here's a video of Coleman Hawkins playing "Body and Soul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfJ5UtPoMcg&feature=player_detailpage