Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Coleman Hawkins

Role / Field:

Pioneering American jazz tenor saxophonist, known for his rich, emotional style.

Born:

1904-11-21

Died:

1969-05-19

Century / Era:

1904s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. One of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument, as Joachim-Ernst Berendt explained, "There were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn." Hawkins biographer John Chilton described the prevalent styles of tenor saxophone solos prior to Hawkins as "mooing" and "rubbery belches". Hawkins denied being first and noted his contemporaries Happy Caldwell, Stump Evans, and Prince Robinson, although he was the first to tailor his method of improvisation to the saxophone rather than imitate the techniques of the clarinet. Hawkins's virtuosic, arpeggiated approach to improvisation, with his characteristic rich, emotional, and vibrato-laden tonal style, was the main influence on a generation of tenor players that included Chu Berry, Charlie Barnet, Tex Beneke, Ben Webster, Vido Musso, Herschel Evans, Buddy Tate, and Don Byas, and through them the later tenormen Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, Flip Phillips, Ike Quebec, Al Sears, Paul Gonsalves, and Lucky Thompson.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

While Hawkins became known with swing music...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alejo Carpentier — Contemporary (Born in 1904) (1904): Influential Cuban novelist, essayist, and musicologist of the Latin American Boom.
• Alice Rahon — Contemporary (Born in 1904) (1904): French-born Mexican poet and painter whose work bridged surrealism and abstraction.
• Ancel Keys — Contemporary (Born in 1904) (1904): Pioneering physiologist who studied diet's influence on health, notably fat replacement.
• Adam Gilchrist — Contemporary (Born in 1969) (1969): Legendary Australian cricketer, redefining the wicket-keeper-batsman role with aggressive flair.
• Adam Riess — Contemporary (Born in 1969) (1969): Astrophysicist known for evidence of accelerating universe expansion via supernovae.
• Adrian Goldsworthy — Contemporary (Born in 1969) (1969): Prominent British historian specializing in the military aspects of Roman antiquity.
• Abdus Salam — Shared historical date (11-21 · Died) (1996): Pioneering Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate.
• Almaz Ayana — Shared historical date (11-21 · Born) (1991): Ethiopian long-distance runner known for Olympic and World Championship success.
• Abraham Pais — Shared historical date (05-19 · Born) (1918): Pioneering physicist and acclaimed science historian of modern physics.
• Alan Young — Shared historical date (05-19 · Died) (2016): Esteemed British actor, celebrated for voicing Scrooge McDuck and starring in variety shows.
• 1904 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1904
• November 21 (11-21) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 21
• 1969 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1969
• May 19 (05-19) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 19

Frequently Asked Questions about Coleman Hawkins