Roy Hawkins
Roy Theodore Hawkins (born February 7, 1903 in Jefferson , Marion County , Texas , † March 19, 1974 in Compton , California ) was an American blues pianist , singer and songwriter who is part of the West Coast Blues . Little is known about his life.
Born in Texas, Hawkins played in clubs in Oakland and Richmond , California after World War II , where he was discovered by producer Bob Geddins . Hawkins made his first recordings in 1947/48. With " Why Do Everything Happen to Me " (1950) and " The Thrill Is Gone " (1951) he had two hits.
In the song " Why Do Everything Happen to Me " - later re-recorded by James Brown - Hawkins processed a car accident after which his (depending on the source, right or left) arm remained paralyzed. When BB King had a hit in 1970 with “ The Thrill Is Gone ” (number 15 in the US pop charts), the composer was initially given incorrectly. Even Ray Charles had a song by Hawkins - " Bad Luck Is Falling " - Success.
Apart from the recordings that have been preserved, little is known about Roy Hawkins' further life. He died in California in 1974.
literature
- Bob Eagle, Eric S LeBlanc: Blues: a regional experience, Praeger, Santa Barbara, Calif., 2013, p. 311.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Hawkins, Roy |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Hawkins, Roy Theodore (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American blues musician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 7, 1903 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Jefferson , Marion County , Texas , USA |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 19, 1974 |
| Place of death | Compton , California |