Coleman Hawkins
1904 – 1969

Coleman Hawkins

American jazz saxophonist (1904–1969)

saxophonistjazz musicianmusiciancomposer
Born
1904-11-21, St. Joseph
Died
1969-05-19
Birthplace state
Missouri

Biography

Coleman Randolph Hawkins was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on November 21, 1904, and died on May 19, 1969. A tenor saxophonist and jazz musician, he was among the first to establish the saxophone as a jazz instrument, developing an improvisational method suited to the saxophone itself rather than adapting clarinet techniques. His approach to improvisation, marked by arpeggiated passages and a rich, vibrato-laden tone, shaped the playing of numerous tenor saxophonists including Chu Berry, Ben Webster, and Illinois Jacquet, and influenced later performers in the instrument's development through the swing and bebop eras.

Occupation

Coleman Hawkins is recorded as a saxophonist, a jazz musician, a musician and a composer, born in Missouri (1904–1969).

Connections to Missouri

Coleman Hawkins was born in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1904. Explore other notable figures from Missouri, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from MissouriMissourihistory ›Historic sites in Missouri
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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Points of Interest
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More notable figures from Missouri

Other historical figures born in Missouri, ranked by historical prominence.

Mark Twain
Mark Twain
American author and humorist (1835–1910)
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
president of the United States from 1945 to 1953; politician (1884–1972)
T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot
US-British poet (1888–1965)
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
American poet, author, and civil rights activist (1928–2014)
Edwin Hubble
Edwin Hubble
American astronomer (1889–1953)
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
American author and aeronautical engineer (1907–1988)
Dale Carnegie
Dale Carnegie
American writer and lecturer (1888-1955)

Frequently asked about Coleman Hawkins

Who was Coleman Hawkins?
Coleman Hawkins was American jazz saxophonist (1904–1969), born in Missouri (1904 – 1969).
When and where was Coleman Hawkins born?
Coleman Hawkins was born on 1904-11-21 in St. Joseph.
When did Coleman Hawkins die?
Coleman died on 1969-05-19.
What was Coleman Hawkins known for?
Coleman Hawkins is recorded as a saxophonist, a jazz musician, a musician and a composer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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