Roy Hawkins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roy Hawkins
Background information
Birth name	Roy Theodore Hawkins
Born	(1903-02-07)February 7, 1903 Jefferson, Texas, United States
Origin	Oakland, California, U.S.
Died	March 19, 1974(1974-03-19) (aged 71) Compton, California, U.S.
Genres	Rhythm and blues
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Piano
Years active	c.1945–1960s
Labels	Cava-Tone, Down Town, Modern, RPM, Rhythm, Music City, Kent

Roy Theodore Hawkins (born February 7, 1903 – died March 19, 1974) was an American blues singer, pianist, and songwriter. He became famous with his 1950 song "Why Do Things Happen to Me." This song was inspired by a car accident that affected his right arm. Many of his songs, like "The Thrill Is Gone," were later sung by other famous artists. These included Ray Charles, B.B. King, and James Brown.

Roy Hawkins' Life Story

Hawkins was born in Jefferson, Texas. We don't know much about his early life. By the mid-1940s, he was performing as a singer and piano player. He played in the Oakland, California area. A music producer named Bob Geddins discovered him there. Geddins liked Hawkins' deep, emotional singing style.

Hawkins made his first recordings around 1948. He recorded for small music companies called Cava-Tone and Down Town. His band was called the Four Jacks. It included William Staples on saxophone, Ulysses James on guitar, Floyd Montgomery on bass, and Madison Little on drums.

Becoming a Star: His First Hit Song

In 1949, Roy Hawkins signed with Modern Records in Los Angeles. He stayed with this company until 1954. He had his first big hit song with "Why Do Things Happen To Me." This song is also known as "Why Do Everything Happen To Me."

The song was written after Hawkins was in a car accident. "Why Do Things Happen To Me" became very popular. It reached number 2 on the Billboard R&B chart in early 1950. Later, famous musicians like B.B. King and James Brown recorded their own versions of this song. James Brown's version was called "Strange Things Happen."

More Hit Songs and Later Years

Hawkins kept releasing songs with Modern Records. In 1951, he had his second hit with "The Thrill Is Gone." This song reached number 6 on the R&B chart. Many other artists later recorded "The Thrill Is Gone." It became one of B.B. King's most famous songs. Other artists who sang it included Aretha Franklin and Willie Nelson.

After a few more songs, Hawkins left Modern Records in 1953. He recorded for several other music companies over the next few years. These included Flair, RPM, Rhythm, and Music City. For Music City, he recorded under the name Mr. Undertaker. His last recordings were made in 1961 for Kent Records.

In his later years, Roy Hawkins worked in a furniture store. He passed away in Compton, California, in 1974.

Roy Hawkins' Music (Discography)

Singles (Songs Released Individually)

• "They Raided The Joint" (1947)
• "Christmas Blues" (1948)
• "It's Too Late To Change" (1949)
• "Forty Jive" (1948)
• "Quarter To One" (1949)
• "Easy Going Magic" (1949)
• "West Express" (1949)
• "Sleepless Nights" (1949)
• "Why Do Things Happen To Me" (1950, R&B: #2)
• "On My Way" (1950)
• "My Temper Is Rising" (1950)
• "Just A Poor Boy" (1950)
• "Blues All Around Me" (1951)
• "You're The Sweetest Thing" (1951)
• "The Thrill Is Gone" (1951, R&B: #6)
• "Gloom And Misery All Around" (1951)
• "You're A Free Little Girl" (1952)
• "Highway 59" (1952)
• "The Thrill Hunt" (1952)
• "Bad Luck Is Falling" (1953)
• "I Wonder Why" [a new version of "Why Do Everything Happen To Me"] (1953)
• "If I Had Listened" (1955)
• "Trouble In Mind" (1962)

LP/CD Albums

• Why Do Everything Happen To Me [recorded 1949-54] (Route 66 #KIX-9 [LP], 1979)
• Highway 59 (Ace #CHD 103 [LP], 1984)
• The Thrill Is Gone: The Legendary Modern Recordings (Ace #CHD-754, 2000)
• Bad Luck Is Falling: The Modern, RPM and Kent Recordings, Vol. 2 (Ace #CHD-1096, 2006)

See also

• List of West Coast blues musicians
• West Coast blues