Newspaper photo and caption for a homecoming show by Erskine Hawkins at Birmingham's Masonic Temple. "'Hawk', as are all the rest of his men are Birmingham products, most of whom were trained under 'Fess' John T. Whatley."Weekly Review, July 11,…
Erskine Hawkins performs with the Birmingham Heritage Band at the annual Function at the Junction in Ensley, Alabama, July 23, 1988. Amos Gordon conducts in the band. Henry Blankenship sings.
Begun in 1985 in Ensley's Tuxedo Junction Park, the…
Inaugural inductees to the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Birmingham, Alabama, 1978. From left to right: Sammy Lowe (trumpeter, arranger), Erskine Hawkins (trumpeter, bandleader), Frank Adams (reeds, educator), Amos Gordon (reeds, educator), Haywood…
Erskine Hawkins (1914 – 1993), publicity photo, c. 1939. The Erskine Hawkins Orchestra, begun at Alabama State Teachers’ College as the ‘Bama State Collegians, developed into one of Black America’s leading dance bands. Nearly all the band’s members…