The Song of the Hawk: The Life and Recordings of Coleman Hawkins

Coleman Hawkins has been hailed as "the father of the tenor saxophone," the musician who almost single-handedly established the saxophone as a jazz instrument worthy of serious attention. His thorough musicianship, as well as his openness to new styles, enabled him to remain in the vanguard of jazz developments, from the blues to big bands to bop and beyond.

The Song of the Hawk, the first full-length biography of Hawkins, reveals many fascinating details about the life and achievements of this jazz giant. Chilton begins with Hawkins's early life in Saint Joseph, Missouri, where he was given his first saxophone at age nine, and follows Hawkins's lengthy career; his performances with Mamie Smith's Original Jazz Hounds, his work with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, his experiences with his own band, and his participation in Norman Granz's "Jazz at the Philharmonic" tours. His numerous gigs and recording sessions brought him in contact with virtually every great jazz musician in America and Europe. Chilton's descriptions of Hawkins's recordings—which span some forty-five years—together with well-chosen anecdotes gleaned from interviews, letters, articles, books, and liner notes, provide a revealing portrait of a consummate professional at work.