Gregory A. Hawkes (born October 22, 1952) is an American musician who is most notable as a founding member and the keyboardist of the American new wave band the Cars.
Hawkes has played in various bands, including Martin Mull and his Fabulous Furniture and Richard and the Rabbits. He was the last band member to join the Cars. Hawkes is credited with helping popularize new wave and synth-pop in American popular music through his work with the Cars. In 2018, Hawkes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Cars.
Hawkes was also a member of the New Cars. He has done solo musical work and has worked as a session musician.
Early life, education, and early career
Hawkes was born on October 22, 1952.[1] A native of Fulton, Maryland, he attended Atholton High School, where he played in a band called Teeth. He then attended Berklee College of Music for two years, majoring in composition and flute. He left college to play in various bands, including Martin Mull and his Fabulous Furniture, in which he played flute, saxophone, and clarinet. He also played in a band called Richard and the Rabbits, which included future Cars bandmates Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr.[2]
The Cars
Hawkes in 1984Hawkes performing with the Cars at the Riviera Theatre in May 2011
Hawkes is most notable for his work as a keyboardist for the Cars.[citation needed] He was the last member to join the Cars[3] and was a founding member of the band.[citation needed] Hawkes is credited with helping popularize new wave and synth-pop in American popular music as a member of the Cars.[4] His signature sounds include the Prophet-5 "sync" sound heard on "Let's Go" and "Hello Again" as well as arpeggiated and syncopated synth lines such as on "Shake it Up" and "Heartbeat City."
In 2010, Hawkes reunited with the surviving original members of the Cars to record their first album in 24 years, Move Like This, which was released on May 10, 2011.
Hawkes also played with Ric Ocasek as a solo artist, often playing both keyboards and bass guitar.
Hawkes received a writing credit for "Service with a Smile" on Virginia-based progressive rock band Happy the Man's second album, Crafty Hands, in 1978.
In 1989, Chris Hughes asked Hawkes to come to England to record a new Paul McCartney song. He was featured on "Motor of Love" from the Flowers in the Dirt album,[2] recorded at McCartney's own recording studio in a vintage windmill just south of London.
In 1995, Hawkes was a member of the Sky Dwellers, which also included Perry Geyer of Manufacture.[6]
Since 2001, Hawkes has been playing and experimenting with the ukulele, including renditions of the Cars songs "My Best Friend's Girl", "Drive", "Tonight She Comes" and "You Might Think". In 2008, he released The Beatles Uke CD on Solid Air Records. The album consists of instrumental versions of 15 Beatles songs, in what he calls a “UKEsymphonic” style, using multi-tracked recordings to create a ukulele orchestra. Among other instruments, Hawkes owns and plays a Talsma custom ukulele.
Hawkes was a member of the New Cars,[7] a quasi-reformation of the Cars that also featured original guitarist Elliot Easton. Filling in for other original Cars members were singer/guitarist Todd Rundgren, Utopia bassist/vocalist Kasim Sulton and former Tubes drummer Prairie Prince. Atom Ellis filled in at bass when Sulton was touring with Meat Loaf. The band toured throughout 2006–2007. A live album with three new studio tracks, It's Alive!, was released in June 2006.
In 2009, Hawkes contributed synth to several tracks on the album Invisible Embraces by Boston-based new wave band New Collisions.[8]
On May 8, 2014, Hawkes appeared onstage with Californian comedy rock/new wave band the Aquabats at Boston's Paradise Rock Club, where he joined the band in playing synthesizer for a cover of the Cars' "Just What I Needed".[10]
In 2016, Hawkes produced Boston rock band Eddie Japan's 2017 album Golden Age. In 2017 and 2018, he joined the band to perform “Moving in Stereo”, “Bye, Bye Love”, “Let’s Go”, and cover songs at multiple shows. Starting in 2019 and continuing through 2025, Hawkes and Eddie Japan have performed a full night of music by the Cars throughout the North East and Mid Atlantic areas.[11][bettersourceneeded]
In 2017, Hawkes toured with Todd Rundgren on his White Knights: The Chivalrock Tour, playing keyboards and saxophone.
Hawkes also appeared in the children's television series Yo Gabba Gabba!, in segments instructing the viewer in playing certain instruments. In one appearance where he taught viewers the ukulele, he performed the Cars' hit single "You Might Think".
Hawkes also plays guitar, percussion instruments, saxophone, and clarinet.
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