Profile of Carolyn Hawks
  By Sandra Miller-Long

At four, Carolyn Hawks was belting out show tunes with strolling musicians at the Del Mar Fair. During her teen years she was giving drum lessons to her friends. At 23, she earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance from San Diego State University. By her thirtieth birthday she was staging shows for local colleges often taking on the job of cast vocal coach. Today when she's not singing with various groups or playing the drums, Carolyn is busy teaching piano, voice and drum lessons at her studio and is poised for a challenging new musical business venture in the world of karaoke.
     The burning question: Is Carolyn Hawks really that talented? Well, I'm happy to report in the negative, the answer is a resounding "No!" Carolyn is not as talented as you may have heard, she's even MORE talented! The woman can do it all, and she does it all extremely well. From drums to the keyboard, from vocals to voice instruction, this woman is one incredible multitalented package.
      The singer, obviously experienced in showbizz, does her work expressively and powerfully - even when she sings her ballads. Her voice runs through a fascinating range, masters even high registers seemingly easily. Impressive, above all, her amazing phrasing, which shows her solid background as a musician. Her well-trained roots also accompany Carolyn in her varied musical mixture from rhythm-and-blues, to pop, jazz, classical and country.
     Carolyn Hawks, an only child, was born and raised in San Diego. When she was an infant her parents would sing to her clapping her hands together to teach her to keep time. "I can't remember when I couldn't sing or instinctively feel the beat in a song," admits Carolyn. By the time she was 5 years old, Carolyn's ears were already tuned into music. To expand on her interactivity with kids her own age, she attended dance classes. It wasn't long before Carolyn got to the point where she was reading the choreography charts and soloing. She also became the troop's singer whenever solo work or background narration was needed. She would often practice singing harmonies with her mother while washing the evening dishes. It was about this time (10yrs old) that Carolyn became interested in playing the drums; an interest that later turned into a career.
     From school choirs to playing drums with various bands during her high school days, Carolyn was no stranger to the stage. Whether that stage was in an auditorium or club or even at a backyard party didn't really matter. If there was an audience to perform to you could certainly find Carolyn in front of them singing, dancing or playing her drums.
     But there were periods when Carolyn Hawks was not nearly so confident about where her career was heading. Take the time when she was entering college. Several music professors advised her to change her instrument while others told her they didn't like her voice. Fortunately Carolyn concentrated even more on her playing and musical studies and went on to become the first female graduate from San Diego State with a major in percussion/drums.
     It was shortly after graduation that Carolyn met a woman who would change her life. When she started to notice a significant amount of strain in her voice, Carolyn asked Martha Adair, a renown vocal coach, for some professional advise and instruction. Carolyn remembers, "She didn't think she could still teach voice at 80 years old but she gave it a shot. Mrs. Martha Adair is the reason I still HAVE a voice. I was beginning to tire it out until she showed me what to do and to do it properly. She also got my hands working correctly on the piano and helped me develop the teaching approach that I use to this day. She passed away a few years later or I would still be taking lessons from her."
     Truly a lifestyle artist and musician, Carolyn's talents as a music instructor with Valley Music in El Cajon helped pay the bills in the background while she perused other creative endeavors as singer, musician and business woman. For a time in her life Carolyn tried to balance her own career with marriage to another performer and as mom to four stepchildren.
     "They were trying to grow up and I was still in the process of it myself. Their father was an excellent woodwind player and we met while playing in a local big band. I was the drummer and eventually got to do some vocals." Carolyn went on to add, "It was during this time that we formed The Blue Notes Four, a small quartet of piano, drums and two saxophones. We had our differences and parted company. We remained friends and eventually got back together again. But, we couldn't make it work and had to let it go."
     Following this Carolyn worked with a group called 80's Ladies, a trio based on a single instrumentalist/singer and two vocalists. They performed what she later coined as "tone weaving" using their voices like instruments. Tight harmony and vocal instrumentals were their trademark. They did "arrangements while you wait", meaning they had an open mike night where anyone could come up and sing. The trio would back them up in perfect harmony. Sometimes they would have anywhere from four to six people on stage and just as many parts being sung.
     It wasn't long after that when karaoke started becoming popular reducing the demand for live bands. While some musicians resented it and fought against it, for Carolyn it was a lifesaver. With the advent of karaoke, Carolyn was able to leave the back of the band and come out front. "You can't sell a song from behind the drums, no matter how good the song and no matter how well you do it. You are trapped trying to face the mic and still play your instrument, an instrument that insists on mobility." Carolyn went on to add, "How many times have I bumped my lips and my teeth against a mic screen and felt that little 'zap' if the mic wasn't well grounded. All because I was reaching for a cymbal or trying to do a 'fill' and still sing the lyrics."
     Carolyn with good friend Linda Kick soon formed a duo and set off to entertain at senior citizen homes and Christmas shows with their new sound. Pulling tracks off various karaoke tapes, Carolyn was able to create backup music for the duo. "Linda is the first female singer I ever worked with that heard the harmony parts like I did. She was a joy to play off of and she was versatile enough to do leads, high harmony and some low work too!" said Carolyn.
      Having found the Charcoal House and Gerrie Woo, Carolyn admits she is now in seventh heaven. She acknowledges, "I have not seen Woo's kind of professionalism in music in quite awhile. The way she manages her show reminds me of how things used to be when you took your work seriously and wouldn't think of turning out a sloppy job. I don't think anyone realizes what all it takes to keep the music going smoothly, make the people happy and still keep your cool. She has at least four to five things going on at the same time. Yet, Woo still smiles and gives you top quality music."
      It was quite a few years ago in Charcoal House when I heard Carolyn sing for the first time but I remember it well. The song was "Black Velvet" and I was immediately blown away by her beautiful voice, soft and warm as cashmere. Listen to Carolyn's music, and she’ll send you a snapshot, a moment, an event -- and she’ll uncover the sublime within the mundane. She’s seeking to share everyday life in its most universally experienced capacity -- at an emotional level. "Some of my favorite songs to sing will always be ones that mean something personally to me, so they can change from week to week," she says. "In fact, if I listed all the songs I have done in the past three years you would be able to tell exactly what was going on in my life at the time!"
     It is not just the fact that she is a drummer that makes Carolyn different. Rather it is her interest in helping others achieve their musical goals, her knowledge of what lies behind the melody, and most importantly her passion for singing, which sets her apart. In my opinion, there are very few singers who can match her control, emotion, and conversational ease. It is almost as if she is talking with you through song. Many of today's singers can perform, yet very few can touch your heart like Carolyn Hawks.