Theodore Hawkins Jr
b. October 28th, 1936 in Biloxi (Mississippi)
d. January 1st, 1995 in Los Angeles (California)
WATCH YOUR STEP
Rounder
Windows on the World
1971 - 1972
Né d'un père alcoolique et d'une mère prostituée, vivant dans une pauvreté terrifiante, enfant maltraité, il se retrouve dans une maison de correction à 12 ans et en prison à 15 ans (pour trois années). A sa libération, il vit successivement à Chicago, Philadelphie et Buffalo avant de se fixer à Los Angeles en 1966. Musicien dans les rues, Ted est enregistré en 1971 par Bruce Bromberg pour ce superbe album entre Blues, Gospel et Soul. Cependant, celui-ci ne sera édité qu'en 1982. En acoustique, a cappella ou en compagnie du groupe de Phillip Walker, Ted chante avec une voix sublime tellement évocatrice qu'elle en est fortement émouvante. Le programme est constellé de moments remarquables : "Watch your step" (en deux versions), "Bring it home daddy", "Don't lose your cool" (avec sa femme Elizabeth), "If you love me", "Sweet baby", "Put in across", "Sorry you're sick". Malheureusement, après ce coup de maitre, Ted Hawkins connait de nouveaux ennuis avec la justice qui le tiennent éloigné de la musique.
Born of an alcoholic father and a prostituted mother, living in terrifying poverty, abused child, he finds himself in a reformatory at 12 years old and in prison at 15 years (for three years). Upon his release, he successively lived in Chicago, Philadelphia and Buffalo before settling in Los Angeles in 1966. Street musician, Ted was recorded in 1971 by Bruce Bromberg for this superb album between Blues, Gospel and Soul. However, it will not be published until 1982. In acoustics, a cappella or in the company of Phillip Walker's backing band, Ted sings with a sublime voice so evocative that it is very moving. The program is studded with remarkable moments : "Watch your step"(in two versions), "Bring it home daddy", "Don't lose your cool" (with his wife Elizabeth), "If you love me", "Sweet baby", "Put in across", "Sorry you're sick". Unfortunately, after this master stroke, Ted Hawkins experiences new problems with the law that keep him away from music.
THE VENICE BEACH TAPES : ON THE BOARDWALK
American Activities
Munich
September 1985
Cet album a été enregistré grâce à Andy Kershaw qui a retrouvé Ted Hawkins. Celui-ci joue toujours dans la rue dans la région de Los Angeles. Seul avec sa guitare, Ted chante de sa voix magnifique de beaux morceaux entre Blues et Folk : "I got what I wanted", "Green green grass of home", "Gypsy woman", "North to Alaska", "There stands a glass".
This album was recorded thanks to Andy Kershaw who found Ted Hawkins. This one still plays on the streets in the Los Angeles area. Alone with his guitar, Ted sings with his magnificent voice beautiful pieces between Blues and Folk: "I got what I wanted", "Green green grass of home", "Gypsy woman", "North to Alaska", "There stands a glass".
THE VENICE BEACH TAPES vol.2 : DOCK OF THE BAY
American Activities
Munich
September 1985
HAPPY HOUR
Rounder
Windows of the World
1985 or 1986
Produit par Bruce Bromberg et Dennis Walker, cet album se place dans la directe continuation du précédent "Watch your step" : belle voix expressive de Ted, superbe musique entre Blues, Soul et Folk. "Don't make me explain it", "My last goodbye", "You pushed my head away" (avec la superbe guitare de "Night Train" Clemons alias Robert Cray), "Gypsy woman" figurent parmi les meilleurs moments de cet excellent opus.
Produced by Bruce Bromberg and Dennis Walker, this album is a direct continuation of the previous "Watch your step" : beautiful expressive voice by Ted, superb music between Blues, Soul and Folk. "Don't make me explain it", "My last goodbye", "You pushed my head away" (with the superb guitar of "Night Train" Clemons alias Robert Cray), "Gypsy woman" are among the best moments of this excellent opus.
THE KERSHAW SESSIONS : LIVE AT THE BBC
Strange Roots
April 1986 - August 1989
THE UNSTOPPABLE TED HAWKINS
Catfish
December 1988
I LOVE YOU TOO
PT
NOWHERE TO RUN
Catfish
January - March 1989
THE FINAL TOUR
Evidence
July - November 1994
THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS
Geffen
1994
Repéré par Todd Sullivan (directeur artistique de Geffen) et Michael Penn (frère de l'acteur Sean Penn), Ted Hawkins est présenté au producteur Tony Berg qui réalise ce dernier album. Ici, Ted Hawkins est accompagné sur tous les titres, ce qui retire peut être un peu d'authenticité à son chant. Le répertoire se situe essentiellement entre Folk et Soul. Un album solide et émouvant inférieur cependant aux albums Rounder. Ce "Next hundred years" remporta un beau succès mais malheureusement Ted mourut peu après sa sortie.
Spotted by Todd Sullivan (Geffen's artistic director) and Michael Penn (brother of actor Sean Penn), Ted Hawkins is presented to producer Tony Berg who realizes this last album. Here, Ted Hawkins is accompanied on all the titles, which perhaps removes a little authenticity from his song. The repertoire is mainly between Folk and Soul. A solid and moving album, however, inferior to Rounder albums. This "Next hundred years" was a great success but unfortunately Ted died soon after his release.