Erskine Hawkins III
Erskine Hawkins III is a music director, producer and pianist based in Dallas Texas. Inspired by his father, gospel and jazz pianist Erskine Hawkins Jr., Hawkins' started playing the piano by 13 years of age, leading bands at age 14 and was quickly labeled a prodigy. His pianistic influences have included Ahmad Jamal, Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Robert Glasper, and Jamar Jones.
Hawkins attended the University of North Texas, where he studied under Stefan Karlsson, Dan Haerle, and Dr. Steven Harlos. There, he met Jazz vocalist Tatiana Mayfield. Together, they have performed in jazz festivals around the country to include Jazz in the Grove in Bay Springs, Mississippi; Texas Jazz Festival in Corpus Christi, TX; Gulf Coast Ethnic & Heritage Jazz Festival in Mobile, Alabama; Jazz By the Boulevard in Fort Worth, Texas; The Cottonwood Jazz Festival in Richardson, TX; and the Texas State Fair Main Stage in Dallas.
Erskine is the producer and arranger of his 2009 debut album "From All Directions". It's an amazing array of styles from Swing and Blues, to Latin, Gospel, and Contemporary that people from all ages can enjoy. It has received great reviews by Jazz Times Magazine and jazz journalist Scott Yanow; author of ten books including The Jazz Singers, Trumpet Kings, Jazz On Film and Jazz On Record 1917-76.
Now working on his Master's degree in Jazz Piano Performance, Hawkins continues to perform in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex area with several world renown artists of varying styles. He is currently the auxiliary keyboardist/organist of the Potter's House Church in Dallas, Texas under the direction of legendary Bishop T.D Jakes, keyboardist for Neo-Soul Artist Vivian Green, and Musical Director for R&B artist Chrisette Michele