Quick Facts
Biography
Leonard Hawkins was an American Jazz trumpeter who played with Billy Eckstine, Gene Ammons, Eddie Safranski, and Dexter Gordon, among others.
Hawkins' first recordings came in the mid-1940s. In 1946, he played (uncredited) on Cousin Joe and Pete Brown's recordings of "Weddin-Day Blues"/"You Got It Comin To You" alongside Leonard Gaskin (bass), Arthur Herbert (drums), Jimmy Shirley (guitar), and Ray Abrams (tenor saxophone).
The same year, he recorded with Dexter Gordon and Billy Eckstine. With Gordon, he recorded "Dexter Digs In"/"Long, Tall, Dexter" (Savoy Records) with bassist Curley Russell, drummer Max Roach, and pianist Bud Powell. With Eckstine, he recorded "Jelly-Jelly" (written by Billy Eckstine and Earl Hines) alongside Sonny Stitt (alto saxophone); Cecil Payne (baritone saxophone); Tommy Potter (bass); Art Blakey (drums); Connie Wainwright (guitar); Linton Garner (piano); Gene Ammons (tenor saxophone); Alfred "Chippy" Outcalt; and Hobart Dotson, King Kolax, and Miles Davis (trumpet).
After recording "My Silent Love"/"In a Sentimental Mood" with Eckstine in 1948, Hawkins recorded in 1950 with Tommy Turk And His Orchestra alongside Cecil Payne (baritone saxophone), Ray Brown (bass), Buddy Rich (drums), Flip Phillips (tenor saxophone), Frank Rosolino (trombone).
In 1956, Hawkins' trumpet was heard on Eddie Heywood At The Piano And His Orchestra's album Lightly And Politely (Decca Records) with Ernie Powell (alto saxophone); William Taylor Jr. (son of bassist Billy Taylor Sr.) and Ernie Shepard Jr. (bass); William "Keg" Purnell (drums); and Henry Coker and Vic Dickenson (trombone).
Hawkins also worked with bassist Eddie Safranski on Loaded alongside Gene Roland (trombone); Lem Davis (alto saxophone); Vido Musso (tenor saxophone); Sanford Gold (piano); and Denzil Best (drums).