Erskine Hawkins is largely forgotten in 2010, perhaps because of a decision he made in the mid-1950s to get off the road, settle down and lead a peaceful life. This is what happened.

Hawk had a very successful big band; it was popular from the beginning, and he was a hit at the age of twenty-two. His big band was one of the most successful in Harlem for nearly twenty years, from 1936, into the early 1950s. He was one of the esteemed Savoy bands, made hundreds of recordings and even generated a few hits, most notably, Tuxedo Junction, which was also a hit for his friend, Glenn Miller. But the big band era faded and Erskine’s band faded quicker than most.

In the mid to late 1950s, he was performing with a sextet, mostly in New York City, but occasionally on the road, if he could get an extended booking. He told me he was offered two weeks in Syracuse, New York sometime in the late 1950s. His agent also asked him to do a one-nighter on the way to Syracuse, but he initially refused, claiming he’d already spent too many days on the bus. His agent begged him to do it, just as a favor, and Hawk reluctantly agreed to perform at a resort in the Catskills as he headed upstate to Syracuse.

The resort was The Concord, the management and patrons loved what they heard and Hqwk was asked to return after his two weeks in Syracuse. He did and essentially vanished into the mountains. He rarely left The Concord and settled in for three plus decades of steady work. I tracked him down in 1987 for my project, The Ghosts Of Harlem.

He was very reluctant to see me but finally agreed to an interview in May 1987. I made my way to the hotel, presented myself at the front desk and asked for Mr. Hawkins. It was as if I’d asked for Frank Sinatra. The manager came out, how could he help, he asked, adding he do anything for Erskine Hawkins. Later, he even helped me move some furniture so I could take a better photograph with my old view camera.

Later that year I convinced Hawk to allow me to assemble a big band for him to lead at our annual Floating Jazz Festival on the S/S Norway. He enjoyed it a great deal, played well and kept the dance floor jumping. He appeared regularly at this festival and Big Bands At Sea. This photograph is from a 1987 festival aboard the S/S Norway.

Hawk died in November 1993. He was scheduled to lead a band one more time at one of our festivals in April 1994. We decided to keep his name on the program and asked his niece, the vocalist Asa Harris, to front the band. It worked because the band was molded and rehearsed by Gerry Mulligan, who loved the Hawk’s charts music and felt it was an honor to play it. I don’t know if anyone has played them again.