Jazz drummer. Played first concert for the Left Bank Jazz Society in 1964 in a group that included Jimmy Wells (guitar), Tom Baldwin (piano), and Donald Bailey (bass). Hawke also played in Hank Levy’s band.
The Ted Hawke Trio featuring Wells and Bailey was house band at the Baltimore Playboy Club and the Blues Back Alley in 1960s.
Hawke toured and recorded with jazz vibraphonist/percussionist Dave Pike. He appears on Pike’s albums “Times Out of Mind” (1975 Muse), “On A Gentle Note” (1977 Muse), and “Let the Minstrels Play” (1978 Muse). Hawke also worked with jazz trombonist Kai Winding and is featured on the albums “Jazz Showcase” (1977 Gateway GLSP 7022), and “Lionel Hampton Presents Kai Winding” (1977 Philips 9123606).
The following courtesy of Sharon Peyton:
Ted Hawk Biography (1938-2001)
Although Ted Hawk was originally from Baltimore, he moved to New York as a teenager. Eventually, he earned his way into the orchestra pits of 45 Broadway musicals and played in many famous venues such as the Apollo. Jazz, however, was always his first love since hearing Charlie Parker at age 10.
As a jazz musician he worked with major artists such as Milt Jackson, Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy Heath, John Patitucci and Kenny Durham. Additionally, his talent as a back-up musician for singers led to gigs with Sarah Vaughan and Tony Bennett, tours with Carmen McRae and television specials with Shirley MacLaine.
He performed with the full Henry Mancini orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl and master guitarist Lenny Breau at Donte’s. He appeared in the movie “New York, New York” opposite Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro and also played on the soundtrack album.
In Baltimore he played in all the major clubs and with many other notable local musicians such as Albert Daily, Jimmy Wells and Donald Bailey. In the 1960’s his Ted Hawk Trio was the house band at the Playboy Club and Blues Back Alley after-hours club. After traveling all over North America, Europe and Japan, in 1994 Ted Hawk made Paris his home. Ted passed his musical torch to his son, Guy Hawke who is also now a jazz drummer.
