Ernie Hawkins

Infobox musical artist
Name = Ernie Hawkins


Img_capt = Ernie Hawkins performing on July 12, 2008.
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Ernest Leroy Hawkins
Born = 1947 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Died =
Origin =
Instrument = guitar, vocals.
Genre = Blues
Occupation = Musician, Guitarist, Singer.
Years_active = 1965 - Present
Label = Orchard, Say Mo'
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.erniehawkins.com/

Ernest Leroy Hawkins (born 1947 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an acoustic blues guitar player, singer, recording artist, and educator, who has a Ph.D. in phenomenological psychology. Hawkins, like Jorma Kaukonen, Stefan Grossman, and Roy Book Binder, studied with blues legend Reverend Gary Davis in New York City in 1965 and 1966. Over the years, Hawkins learned a variety of styles, including Piedmont blues, Delta blues, country blues, ragtime, and gospel. In 1969, Hawkins moved back to his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, and earned a degree in philosophy. In 1973, Hawkins moved to Dallas for graduate school and earned a Ph.D. in phenomenological psychology at the University of Dallas, however, he remained active in music, and was able to perform with bluesmen such as Mance Lipscomb, Robert Pete Williams, Fred McDowell, and Robert "Nyles" Jones (Guitar Gabriel). In 1978, Hawkins decided to put aside his psychology career and become a full-time musician. In the mid 1980s, Hawkins returned to Pittsburgh, and for the next ten years played lead guitar with the local R&B act Gary Belloma and the Blues Bombers. Over the years, Hawkins has played with blues greats such as Son House, Mance Lipscomb, Fred McDowell, Jim Brewer, Reverend Gary Davis and many others, and has been featured in Sing Out!, Fingerstyle Guitar, Dirty Linen, Acoustic Guitar, Blues Revue and Vintage Guitar magazines. He has appeared on "A Prairie Home Companion", "Mountain Stage" , "WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour" and XM Satellite Radio. Hawkins appears on Maria Muldaur's Grammy and Handy nominated album "Richland Woman Blues" (2001), and was the guitarist for the national support tour. Ernie Hawkins lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and continues to perform, record, teach, and advocate blues music.

Discography

*"Ragtime Signatures", 1980
*"Blues Advice" Orchard, 1996
*"Bluesified" Say Mo', 2000
*"Mean Little Poodle" Say Mo', 2002
*"Rags and Bones" Say Mo', 2005

External links

* [http://www.erniehawkins.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wcfrxqqkld6e~T1 allmusic entry]