finetune artist: Ted Hawkins

b. Theodore Hawkins Jnr., 28 October 1936, Biloxi, Mississippi, USA, d. 1 January 1995, Los Angeles, California, USA. Hawkins was more of a modern-day "songster" than a bluesman, his repertoire encompassing pop hits, country and folk standards, soul numbers and originals. He grew up with gospel music, and learned to play guitar at the age of 12, taught in the bluesy "Vestapol" (or open C) style by local musicians. He played with such force that he protected his left hand with a glove. As a boy, he was sent to a reformatory, and spent several terms in prison. He left home in the 50s, hoboing first to Chicago, Illinois, then to New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, eventually settling in California. He recorded "Baby"/"Whole Lot Of Women" for the Hollywood-based Money label in 1966; in 1971 he was spotted busking by producer Bruce Bromberg with whom he made an album. Apart from a single "Sweet Baby', the recordings remained unreleased until Rounder Records issued Watch Your Step in 1982. Hawkins continued to perform on street corners and California's Ocean Front Walk; this aspect of Hawkins" career was documented on the Venice Beach Tapes, recorded, ironically, in Nashville, Tennessee in 1985 by H. Thorp Minister, III. Happy Hour consolidated his reputation, particularly in Britain where he had a sizeable following. An upturn in his career when he signed to Geffen Records in the early 90s was sadly curtailed by his death following a stroke. Despite retaining an undoubtedly "rural" feel in performance, Hawkins owed much vocally to his hero Sam Cooke and to the great soul stylists of the 60s. Above all, he was one of the finest contemporary interpreters of melancholic material.

Listen to Ted Hawkins at Finetune.

There Stands the Glass
Biloxi
One Hundred Miles
Watch Your Step
Ain't That Pretty

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