Roy Hawkins

Roy Hawkins (February 7, 1903, Jefferson, Texas - March 19, 1974, Compton, California) was an American pianist, songwriter and blues musician. After working in clubs and recording unsuccessful singles, he broke through with his song "Why Do Everything Happen to Me?," inspired by an auto accident which paralyzed his right arm. His later years were spent working in a furniture store.

Career

Hawkins first began recording in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1948 for Cava-Tone and Down Town Records. He signed with Modern Records the following year and stayed with that label until 1954. Singles released include "Why Do Everything Happen To Me" (1950) and "The Thrill Is Gone" (1951). A few later singles were released by Flair Records (1953), RPM Records (1955), Rhythm Records (1958), and Kent Records (1962). He died in 1974. Several of his songs were covered by later artists, including "Bad Luck Is Falling" (Ray Charles), "Why Do Everything Happen To Me" (B.B. King and James Brown), and "The Thrill Is Gone" (B.B. King).

Discography

Singles

• "They Raided The Joint" (1947)
• "Christmas Blues" (1948)
• "It's Too Late To Change" (1949)
• "Forty Jim" (1949)
• "Quarter To One" (1949)
• "Easy Going Magic" (1949)
• "West Express" (1949)
• "Sleepless Nights" (1949)
• "Why Do Everything Happen To Me" (1950, R&B: #2)
• "On My Way" (1950)
• "My Temper Is Rising" (1950)
• "Just A Poor Boy" (1950)
• "Blues All Around Me" (1951)
• "You're The Sweetest Thing" (1951)
• "The Thrill Is Gone" (1951, R&B: #6)
• "Gloom And Misery All Around" (1951)
• "You're A Free Little Girl" (1952)
• "Highway 59" (1952)
• "The Thrill Hunt" (1952)
• "Bad Luck Is Falling" (1953)
• "I Wonder Why" [re-make of "Why Do Everything Happen To Me"] (1953)
• "If I Had Listened" (1955)
• "Trouble In Mind" (1962)

LP/CD releases

• Why Do Everything Happen To Me [rec. 1949-54] (Route 66 #KIX-9 [LP], 1979)
• Highway 59 (Ace #CHD 103 [LP], 1984)
• The Thrill Is Gone: The Legendary Modern Recordings (Ace #CHD-754, 2000)
• Bad Luck Is Falling: The Modern, RPM and Kent Recordings, Vol. 2 (Ace #CHD-1096, 2006)

See also

• List of West Coast blues musicians
• West Coast blues