Ted Hawkins

Ezra "Ted" Hawkins (November 14, 1894—February 4, 1985) was an American old-time musician, mandolinist, and country musician from Atlanta, Georgia. He also played the mandolin, banjo and guitar.

Ted Hawkins was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 14, 1894. He had a brother, William Haygood "Boss" Hawkins, a guitarist.

Hawkins spent most of his life in his hometown Atlanta, Georgia, where he played music with his friends. Between 1913 and 1935, he was a regular participant in the Atlanta Fiddler's Conventions and won several prizes in the banjo competition.

In the late 1910s, Hawkins played music with his friends, fiddlers Clayton McMichen (1900—1970) and Lowe Stokes (1898 or 1900—1983). In 1918, McMichen formed a band called "The Hometown Boys" with fiddler Charles Whitten, Ted Hawkins on mandolin, and guitarists Mike Whitten and Boss Hawkins (Ted's brother). The Hometown Boys made their radio debut on September 18, 1922.

With The Hometown Boys and various other musicians, Hawkins was often on the radio programs on WSB, a commercial AM radio station in Atlanta, Georgia.

With his brother, Boss Hawkins, and Mike Whitten, he played in another band called Hapeville String Band.

In August 1923, during a Hometown Boys tour, Hawkins participated in a fiddler's contest in Macon, Georgia, and won the first prize. In the 1920s, he accompanied a blind guitarist Riley Puckett on nationwide tours. Since Puckett was blind, Hawkins had to drive him to their performances. In 1925, the two musicians had a car accident, in which Hawkins and Puckett were seriously injured. Hawkins had to stay in the hospital for a total of six months.

In April 1927, Hawkins played with fiddlers Bert Layne, Bob Nichols, Fate Norris, Riley Puckett, and Gid Tanner at a fiddler's convention in Georgia. In 1928, he played with guitarist/banjoist Arthur Tanner.

In the 1930s, Hawkins, with various local bands, had engagements with radio stations in Atlanta. In 1931, he was heard on WGST radio with the Atlanta Ramblers, and in 1932, he performed with Mountaineers on WJTL. Between 1930 and 1931, he played for the Columbia Records.

Around that time, there was another string band in Georgia called The Skillet Lickers, founded in 1926 by another Georgia fiddler, Gid Tanner with guitarist Riley Puckett, fiddler Clayton McMichen, and banjoist Fate Norris. The group disbanded at some point in 1931 but reformed in 1934. Hawkins also joined this revival as a mandolinist. In March 1934, The Skillet Lickers had a recording session for Bluebird Records in San Antonio, Texas. They made their biggest-selling record, "Down Yonder/Back Up and Push," with Hawkins on mandolin.

Some of Hawkins' recordings for Bluebird were also made available on the British label Regal-Zonophone Records.

When Hawkins didn't play music, he worked as a carpenter and roofer to make ends meet.

In 1935, Hawkins recorded "What's the reason (I'm not pleasin' you)" with Riley Puckett on Victor Records (BS-94377). After 1935, he disappeared from the music scene.

• April 1927: performed with Bert Layne, Bob Nichols, Fate Norris, Riley Puckett, and Gid Tanner, at a fiddler's convention in Georgia
• April 1928: "Disappointed Lover" and "Sleep on, Blue Eyes" with guitarist and banjoist Arthur Tanner on Columbia Records (W146108 and W146109)
• December 1930: "Sanford Barnes" and "Mandolin Rag" with Mountaineers on Columbia Records (W151059 and W151060)
• December 1930: performed with Tom Dorsey (aka Dan Hornsby), Bert Layne, Clayton McMichen, Bob Nichols, Riley Puckett, Lowe Stokes, and Gid Tanner at a fiddler's convention in Georgia
• November 1931: tracks "Memories of Mother", "Hawkins Rag", "When the lilies bloom again in Old Kentucky", and "Roamin' Jack " with Mountaineers on Columbia Records (W152004, W152003, W152002, and W152001, respectively)
• March 1934: "Soldiers' joy", "Flop-eared mule" with The Skillet Lickers
• 1934: "Down In The Valley" and "Zelma" on Bluebird Records with Riley Puckett, Gid Tanner, and Gordon Tanner (son of Gid Tanner)
• August 1935: "What's the reason (I'm not pleasin' you)" with Riley Puckett

Hawkins was married to Dossie Harper (August 23, 1898—August 2, 1984), also from Georgia.

Hawkins died in Fulton County, Georgia, on February 4, 1985, at age 90. He is buried in the city cemetery in Jonesboro, Georgia.

Hawkins was one of the first mandolinists in the history of country music and had a lasting influence on the coming generation of musicians, including Bill Monroe, the father of Bluegrass. Hawkins is often associated as a guitar teacher for Riley Puckett, one of the most influential guitarists in old-time music.