Coleman Hawkins(1904-1969)
- Actor
- Composer
- Music Department
Coleman Hawkins was called "The father of the tenor sax". He was a
pioneer in this instrument, starting his career with the blues singer
Mamie Smith in 1921. In 1923 he played with Fletcher Henderson until
1934. In this orchestra he was a partner of Louis Armstrong in 1924. In
the mid-thirties he went to Europe and played with many musicians, for
example Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli and Benny Carter. In 1939
he returned to the USA and made a classic recording of "Body and Soul".
The next year he formed his own big band. He was in activity until his
death in 1969, in these last years he played with a small group with
the trumpet player Roy Eldridge.
