I-435 West KC-KS in Kansas City in Wyandotte County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Coleman "Hawk" Hawkins

Tenor Saxophonist

— Kansas City Jazz —

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

Photographed By Jason Voigt, May 26, 2022

1. Coleman "Hawk" Hawkins Marker

Inscription. The Father of Jazz Saxophone, Coleman "Hawk" Hawkins, was born November 21, 1904 in St. Joseph, Missouri. By age nine he played piano, cello, and tenor sax. At college in Topeka, Kansas, Hawkins studied music. In 1921, while Hawkins was playing with Jesse Stone and His Blues Serenaders in a Kansas City theatre, Mamie Smith asked him to join and tour with her group, The Jazz Hounds. Hawkins was one of the few Hot Jazz musicians who shifted to Be Bop in the 1940s.

Erected by Legends Outlets.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is November 21, 1904.

Location. 39° 7.589′ N, 94° 49.678′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Kansas, in Wyandotte County. It is in I-435 West KC-KS. Marker can be reached from Village West Parkway. Marker is on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets shopping/entertainment complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1859 Village West Pkwy, Kansas City KS 66109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bennie Moten (a few steps from this marker); "Jay" McShann (a few steps from this marker); Merle Evans (a few steps from this marker); Charlie "Bird' Parker (within shouting

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distance of this marker); Eva Jessye (within shouting distance of this marker); Big Joe Turner/Pete Johnson (within shouting distance of this marker); The Golden Mean (within shouting distance of this marker); Mary Lou Williams (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kansas City.

Regarding Coleman "Hawk" Hawkins. This is one of several sidewalk plaques placed on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets shopping/entertainment complex, which highlight notable people and inventions that came from the state of Kansas.

Also see . . . Coleman Hawkins on Wikipedia. (Submitted on July 8, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed By Jason Voigt, May 26, 2022

2. Coleman "Hawk" Hawkins Marker

Marker is on the grounds of Kansas Legends Outlets complex.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 8, 2022, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.