Morning Open Thread is a daily, copyrighted post from a host of editors and guest writers. We support our community, invite and share ideas, and encourage thoughtful, respectful dialogue in an open forum.
I’ve come to think of this post as one where you come for the music and stay for the conversation—so feel free to drop a note. The diarist gets to sleep in, and may show up long after the post is published. So you know, it's a feature, not a bug. Join us, please.
Ted Hawkins (1936-1995) was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. By the time he was twelve, he got in trouble with the law and was sent to the infamous Oakley Training School. By happenstance, legendary New Orleans bluesman Professor Longhair visited Oakley. His visit had a profound impact on young Ted Hawkins. Ted developed an interest in the guitar, and learned to play. Upon leaving Oakley, he was sent to Parchman State Penitentiary. He spent thirty months and nine days at Parchman. He was released at age 19.
Upon release from prison, he drifted around the country, playing and singing for subsistence. He was discovered by several recording companies, making several albums. Eventually, he ended up in Venice, California. He became a fixture in Venice, busking for enough to live on. He was found by international talent scouts, going to Europe where he recorded more songs. His playing and singing delighted tourists who had no idea he was an internationally renowned recording artist.
He stayed in and out of trouble, and at one time began using heroin. He was the image of a man who managed to “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory” several times.
In 1987, Nick Shaw, a documentary film maker, wanted to produce a profile of his life and times. To that end, he followed Hawkins closely for about 24 months. The documentary was eventually taken up by the Arts Council of Great Britain, but it has not been released. Some of the footage was included in the film Amazing Grace, produced by David Geffen.
Despite the number of songs recorded by Burns Lass,For some inexplicable reason, Amazing Grace has never been remastered from VHS tape to DVD. The old tapes are becoming harder to find.
Ted Hawkins had a stroke in 1995, passing away at that time.
The recording below is a clip from the film Amazing Grace. Toward the end of the video, he explains what happened in his life. His voice has been described as, “...coming from the center of the Earth.”
There Stands the Glass is a powerful expression of the siren call of alcohol, something with which Ted Hawkins was all too familiar. This version give a glimpse of his dynamic range as a singer.
His song Green Eyed Girl, was recorded live. It is on this video his producer described him as having a voice that revealed a century of memories, both good and bad.
Here are a couple of my favorites.
Come on in, sit a spell. What is happening in your corner of the world?