Coleman Randolph Hawkins, nicknamed Hawk and sometimes "Bean" (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He was one of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument. As Joachim E. Berendt explained, "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn". While Hawkins is most strongly associated with the swing music and big band era, he had a role in the development of bebop in the 1940s. Fellow saxophonist Lester Young, who was called "Pres", in a 1959 interview with The Jazz Review, said: "As far as I'm concerned, I think Coleman Hawkins was the President first, right? As far as myself, I think I'm the second one." Miles Davis once said: "When I heard Hawk, I learned to play ballads." Hawkins died on May 19, 1969 from pneumonia brought on by chronic alcohol consumption. Coleman Randolph Hawkins, nicknamed Hawk and sometimes "Bean" (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He was one of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument. As Joachim E. Berendt explained, "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn". While Hawkins is most strongly associated with the swing music and big band era, he had a role in the development of bebop in the 1940s. Fellow saxophonist Lester Young, who was called "Pres", in a 1959 interview with The Jazz Review, said: "As far as I'm concerned, I think Coleman Hawkins was the President first, right? As far as myself, I think I'm the second one." Miles Davis once said: "When I heard Hawk, I learned to play ballads." Hawkins died on May 19, 1969 from pneumonia brought on by chronic alcohol consumption. false 2025-11-07 18:52:14 0 Jazz 116259 5c8cb181-38fe-4300-8153-650b2ed0258f /media/data/media5/Music/Coleman Hawkins/folder.jpg /media/data/media5/Music/Coleman Hawkins/backdrop3.jpg /media/data/media5/Music/Coleman Hawkins/fanart.jpg 1960 1961 1986 1987 1988 1988 1991 1991 1994 1997 1997 2006 2012 Coleman Hawkins