A Blues Legend
Ernest Leroy Hawkins was born in Pittsburgh PA in 1947. In the ’50’s he had a paper route, a beagle and a Roy Rodgers harmonica (which he still has somewhere).
He first learned country guitar, mandolin, banjo and bones from a guy named Pete who worked on his Uncle’s farm. Ernie was already playing blues as a teenager when he heard a fellow passing through town play Gary Davis’ “Let Us Get Together”, and he was hooked! Somewhere along the way he earned a PhD in phenomenological psychology, but since the 1980’s he’s devoted himself to ragtime, the country blues, and players like Davis, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Blake, Willie Johnson, Skip James, John Hurt, Leadbelly…
Ernie Hawkins is an important link in the unbroken chain of blues and gospel artists. His guitaristry and love of the style is incomparable. From the Rev. Gary Davis into the future with his own style Ernie is one of the special ones! — Jorma Kaukonen
SongSpace is located at:
605 Morewood Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Click here for a map and directions
Tickets are available now!