Q&A with Musician Steve Hawkins

Q. How did you get your start as a musician?

When I was about six or seven, I remember some of my dad’s buddies coming out to our liquor store with their great big Gibson J-200s and playing rockabilly tunes (Elvis, Jerry Lee, etc.). I was captivated by the sound and songs. They let me hold their guitars, but I couldn’t even get my hand around the neck. Shortly after, I started watching the Ozzie and Harriet Show that would sometimes feature their son, Ricky Nelson, in front of a gymnasium full of screaming girls. Behind him was this guitar player playing a smaller guitar that looked like it would fit me. Of course, I know your readers already know that was a Telecaster being played by James Burton. I told my dad I wanted that guitar. He said OK, but first, I had to learn a Chet Atkins song he liked called “Under the Double Eagle.” All I had was a $17 Airline acoustic, the album, and my mom’s Magnavox console stereo. It took me a year of picking the needle arm up and putting it back down on the record and learning parts, but I did it. I presented it to my dad, and the next day we drove to St. Joe to Wilson’s Music and bought a Fender Duo Sonic and a white knobbed Princeton. I slept with that guitar for a month.

Q. How would you describe your personal musical style?

Blues/Country based with a periodic jazz lock thrown in.

Q. What other musicians do you admire the most? Who else have you created music with?

Lots of players. Danny Gatton, Duane Allman, Chet, Jerry Reid (stop me; I could go on and on). I’ve written a lot of tunes with several folks. I’m a terrible lyricist, but can write hooks all day long.