Hello friends. Welcome. Come on in and fill your glass. Close those mutha’ luvin’ eyes and try to let go of your daily worries. Take a trip with Ellington Hawk…and imagine another place, another time. A time when men were “men.” When smokey after hours clubs filled the air with whiskey burnt hoodlums and free livin' dolls... and from the dim lit alleys of the city, the sounds of jumpin' jazz and raw blues could be heard above the roar of the local underground dice game. Welcome to the other side of the tracks. This is where we have chosen to live, breathe and bleed. Please join us on our adventure and escape from these troubled modern times.
—Ellington Hawk
Biography
Ellington Hawk is American music: a Rock & Roll approach to Jazz, Blues and Folk. It’s got a cool vibe with gritty baritone vocals and growling saxophone. The dramatic live performance touches the soul on a journey through the music. It is in the spirit of “Sinatra's Rat Pack” with the passion of Johnny Cash and the settings of a prohibition era "Speakeasy".” Ellington Hawk's sexy, exciting and heartfelt delivery creates a retrospective mood helping the audience forget about the stresses of modern life.
Ellington Hawk is the musical and theatrical creation of lead vocalist, song writer and saxophonist Obie Hughes. Beginning as an artistic side project, the first song he wrote “Two Sixteen” has a bit of a gospel feel and was released in 2017 to honor the life of Obie’s dad who passed on 2-16-2012. From there Obie’s vision grew into the artistic inception of the alias “Ellington Hawk.” With the addition of the theatrical live performances which often included a burlesque dancer and spoken word, Ellington Hawk performed to sold out shows across Southern California. At this time he and the band of all star musicians were not necessarily a touring act but more of a special event attraction reminsent of the vaudevillian era.
After releasing the first full length album “Beatnik Bound” in 2018, Ellington Hawk moved the act to Austin Texas and took on a few residencies in small clubs downtown. A year later he was back in SoCal to release the EP “Under Cover” as well as a full length music video for the song “Peter Gunn.” At this point, it was 2020 and the world as we knew it came to a stop. Live performances were non existent for over a year. This aloud Ellington Hawk to spend time reflecting and writing several all original songs. In 2021, the single “World Gone Crazy” was released along with a poetic black and white music video . With this song it seemed Ellington Hawk honed in on a unique “sound” and the music took on a new life.
This brings us to the current release “ Hard Man,” a gritty rockin jump blues song with plenty of attitude. This is the 2nd single which will be part of the future all original album to be titled and released on vinyl soon.
Ellington Hawk is ready to retun to live perfmances and will be announcing dates soon.
Band leader Obie Hughes aka Ellington Hawk
With over 20 years experience performing, saxophonist/vocalist Obie Hughes has embraced a full and exciting career in music. He is a former member of the renowned American Roots Rock n Roll band Rumble King. Obie recorded five full length albums, several singles and an award winning short film music video with the group. He has shared the stage as the opening act for legendary artists such as Chuck Berry, BB King, Kenny Loggins, Joe Cocker, James Brown and also performed behind numerous known acts including Rock n Roll originators Lloyd Price and Roddy Jackson. Obie regularly performs with soulful rhythm & blues band Abby Girl & The Real Deal having just finished recording a full length album with the group. You can also catch him on occasion as guest baritone sax player for American artists The Reverend Horton Heat, Nick Waterhouse and U.K artist Jackson Sloan.
Through the years Obie has maintained working relationships with a countless number of musicians, nightclub owners and casinos, including over a decade with Disneyland Entertainment... and now Obie has created Ellington Hawk, his first venture as a solo artist and band leader. Under the Ellington Hawk name, he performs mostly in the western United States to many sold out shows in Southern California and has released one full length album, two EPs and three singles, all available through digital streaming platforms.
The Players
Ellington Hawk
Current touring band line up:
Obie Hughes - Saxophone & Vocals
Joe Perez- Drums
Geoff Gurrola- guitar
Charles Glenn - bass
Recording Studio Musicians:
Obie Hughes - Saxophone & Vocals
Joe Perez- Drums
Geoff Gurrola- guitar
Charles Glenn - electric bass
Lakshmi Ramirez- upright bass
Jerry Borge’- piano and keyboards
Abby Girl- featured back up vocals
Carol Hatchett- featured back up vocals
