Hawk'

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“Hawk” (aka “Aaron Hawkins”, “AJNevermind”, “Introverted One”), a multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/producer, hails from the musically diverse mid-west city of Cleveland, Ohio (home base of Funk and R&B pioneers such as the Kinsman “Dazz Band”, the mighty Ojays, Levert, Lakeside, Bobby Womack, Martha Reeves, as well as “The Rude Boys”, “Men at Large”, “Bone Thugs n Harmony”, and comedian “Arsenio Hall”). Although from a musically rich family, and the grandson of the first African American female to host a gospel music variety tv show in 1950’s Cleveland, “Hawk” didn’t begin formal music training until age 9, when a relative overheard him playing the guitar solo to the Funkadelics “Knee Deep” on a toy guitar. Since there was no one in the family that played lead guitar, “Hawk” began bass guitar lessons with a multi-instrumental uncle, who boasts extensive live and session work in the 60’s and 70’s with greats such as Buddy Rich, Barry Manilow, Herbie Hancock, and several others. As a young musician, “Hawk” was exposed to many types of music including Classical, Soul, Funk, Gospel, and Classic Rock. At age 14 “Hawk” was hired to play on his first studio recording, a local indie gospel project by Minister Jimmie Bell featuring a Cleveland area guitarist by the name of Michael Hampton (Parliament Funkadelic notoriety). That same year “Hawk” also played the bass on another local gospel music recording by the Cleveland Interfaith gospel choir. In the late 80’s, “Hawk” began collegiate study at the world renown Berklee College of Music, majoring in Professional Music with an emphasis on arranging, advanced harmony, music production and engineering, and some music synthesis. During his time at this prestigious institution of musical higher learning, he’s shared the stage with and /or recorded with other world renown musicians/artists such as John Blackwell (Drummer for Cameo, Prince, Justin Timberlake), Lil John Roberts (Drummer for Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, George Duke, Xscape), Rob Lewis (Keyboardist/Producer/Musical director for Christina Aguilera, Patti Labelle, Babyface, Movement Orchestra), Susan Tedesche (Guitarist/Vocalist), Paula Cole (Jazz/Pop Vocalist), Elisabeth Withers (R&B/Neo-Soul Vocalist). After college, “Hawk” has had the opportunity to play the bass for other world renowned musicians/artists, but most notably Gospel legends Shirley Caesar, Karen Clark-Sheard, and Tramaine Hawkins. Through a relationship with the Dallas Black Academy of Arts and Letters, “Hawk” has been able to play the bass for Gospel Legends Andre’ Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, The Caravans, and R&B vocalist Lil Mo. Also through that same relationship, “Hawk” has played for an annual televised Martin Luther King day concert behind artists such as the great vocalist Lalah Hathaway, vocalist Kelly Price, vocalist Tevin Campbell, and more recently American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino to name a few. “Hawk” has also performed in the Caribbean with contemporary jazz Saxophonist/Flautist “Najee” for the 3rd annual Bet Music and Arts festival in Turks & Caicos. “Hawk”, a Christian multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/producer, proficient on 4 and 5 string electric bass, acoustic bass, lead guitar, piano/keyboards, and drums, possesses the skill set of a bonafide musical director, band leader, and arranger, and is available for session work and tours (Gospel, R&B, Funk, & Smooth Jazz), and is seeking artists (vocalists and horn players) to write for and/or produce under his “Myles-Tone recordings” music production company, under which he’s had the opportunity to write and produce (among several other projects) an urban gospel demo for vocalist (now signed to So So Def recordings) “Dondria Nicole”. Please direct all professional inquiries for session work and touring opportunities to [email protected] and Blessings!