St. Joseph in Buchanan County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Coleman Randolph "Hawk" Hawkins

November 21, 1904 - May 19, 1969

— "Body and Soul" —

Coleman Randolph "Hawk" Hawkins Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., April 6, 2013

1. Coleman Randolph "Hawk" Hawkins Marker

Inscription.

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, Coleman Hawkins got his first saxophone at age nine and was traveling coast to coast, recording with Mamie Smith and the Jazz Hounds while still in his teens. Credited with making the sax a solo jazz instrument, "Hawk" was the dominant jazz saxophonist for four decades, through the periods of hot jazz, swing and bop, fronting his own bands and working with all the greats including Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis. With his distinctive, full-bodied sound, Coleman Hawkins' recordings remain revered today by jazz lovers around the world. The bronze image, created by Herb Mignery, was unveiled June 20, 2008, on the tenth anniversary of the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival.

Erected 2008 by Coleman Hawkins Jazz Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical date for this entry is June 20, 1892.

Location. 39° 46.017′ N, 94° 51.096′ W. Marker is in St. Joseph, Missouri, in Buchanan County. Marker is at the intersection of Felix Street and 7th Street, on the left when traveling east on Felix Street. Monument is in Coleman Hawkins Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Joseph MO 64501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

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distance of this marker. Kirkpatrick Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Christ Episcopal Church (within shouting distance of this marker); German-American Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Krug Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Ballinger Building (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); "Queen of the River Towns • King of the Trails" (about 600 feet away); Donnell Court Building (about 600 feet away); The Pony Express (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Joseph.

Also see . . .
1. Coleman Hawkins. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on April 25, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Coleman Hawkins: Father of the Tenor Saxophone. Black Then website entry (Submitted on July 1, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

3. Coleman Randolph "Hawk" Hawkins. YouTube video (2m 42s) (Submitted on April 25, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Coleman Hawkins image. Click for full size.

via Wikipedia, c.1945

2. Coleman Hawkins

Coleman Randolph "Hawk" Hawkins Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., April 6, 2013

3. Coleman Randolph "Hawk" Hawkins Monument

Coleman Randolph "Hawk" Hawkins Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., April 6, 2013

4. Coleman Randolph "Hawk" Hawkins Statue

Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 730 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 1, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 2. submitted on April 25, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4. submitted on July 1, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.