Erskine Ramsay Hawkins, born on July 26, 1914, in Birmingham, Alabama, was an influential American trumpeter and big band leader renowned for his high-note trumpet playing, earning him the nickname "The 20th Century Gabriel." Hawkins began his musical journey as a drummer at age seven, later transitioning to trombone, and finally settling on the trumpet at thirteen. He attended Industrial High School in Birmingham, where he was mentored by the esteemed music teacher J.T. “Fess” Whatley. Hawkins furthered his education at Alabama State Teachers College in Montgomery, where he became the leader of the 'Bama State Collegians band.

In 1934, Hawkins took the band to New York City, where they gained popularity at the Savoy Ballroom. By 1938, the band had evolved into the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra. Hawkins is best remembered for composing the jazz standard "Tuxedo Junction" in 1939, which became a major hit during World War II. His orchestra's version reached No. 7 on the charts, while the Glenn Miller Orchestra's rendition climbed to No. 1.

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Hawkins' orchestra was a staple in the jazz and swing scenes, featuring vocalists like Ida James, Delores Brown, and Della Reese. His later recordings leaned towards rhythm-and-blues, influencing artists such as Ray Charles. Hawkins continued to perform and record music until the 1980s and was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1978. He passed away on November 11, 1993, in Willingboro Township, New Jersey, at the age of 79.