Roy Hawkins

Roy Theodore Hawkins (February 7, 1903 – March 19, 1974) was an American blues singer, pianist, and songwriter. After working in clubs, he broke through with his 1950 song "Why Do Things Happen to Me" inspired by an auto accident which paralyzed his right arm. Several of his songs, most notably "The Thrill Is Gone", were covered by later artists, including Ray Charles, B.B. King, and James Brown.

Biography Hawkins was born in Jefferson, Texas. where he was discovered by musician and record producer Bob Geddins, who was impressed by Hawkins' "soulful, doom-laden style".

He signed with Modern Records in Los Angeles the following year,

Hawkins continued to release singles on Modern and had his second hit in 1951 with "The Thrill Is Gone", again co-credited to Bihari but in fact co-written with Rick Darnell. The record featured Maxwell Davis (saxophone), Willard McDaniel (piano) and Johnny Moore (guitar), and reached number 6 on the R&B chart. The song was later recorded by many other artists, including B. B. King – whose signature song it became – Aretha Franklin, and Willie Nelson.

After several less successful singles, including "Gloom and Misery All Around", an early song by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller,

Discography

Singles "They Raided The Joint" (1948) "Christmas Blues" (1948) "It's Too Late To Change" (1949) "Forty Jive" (1949) "Quarter To One" (1949) "Easy Going Magic" (1949) "West Express" (1949) "Sleepless Nights" (1949) "Why Do Things Happen To Me" (1950, R&B: number 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: number 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" [reissue 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 (Route 66 #KIX-9 [LP], 1979) Highway 59 (Ace #CHD 103 [LP], 1984) The Thrill Is Gone: The Legendary Modern Recordings (Ace #CDCHD-754, 2000) Bad Luck Is Falling: The Modern, RPM and Kent Recordings, Vol. 2 (Ace #CDCHD-1096, 2006)