The Hawkes

Derived from the hearts of a couple country boys, one from Dublin, Texas (Neal Cowan) the other from Venus, Texas (Joshua Ward), The Hawkes came together in 2005. The Hawkes pride themselves as an original Texas Music group who got its start playing open mic nights and singer songwriter competitions from which they received an amazing response from listeners. The next step toward becoming a band would come when the group picked up Tracy Neff as bassist. Tracy was a high school friend of Neals and was a perfect fit with The Hawkes. Tracy brought a great groove to the music Josh was writing and Neal’s guitar licks. Tracy also brought his sense of humor…if you’ve spent any time at all with Tracy or The Hawkes, you know that “Chief Big Smoke” (aka Tracy Neff) will be getting someone to laugh somewhere. The Hawkes were making good music, but they needed someone to keep that rock solid beat. There was a little place over in Grand Prairie, Texas where different musicians could come and audition with different bands and The Hawkes auditioned two drummers. “When we walked in, there was a drummer playing with a rock band and I told Josh…that’s the guy we need!” said Neal, and “that guy” was Brandon Wallace. Brandon was a drummer who had been playing as a professional drummer for several years. The boys got up and played together for the first time and it was pure magic. The Hawkes were on their way. Over the next couple of years The Hawkes would hone their craft and gain respect from their peers through “paying their dues” on the Texas Music scene. In 2008 a veteran steel guitar player, Scott Jenkins, began playing with The Hawkes. Scott brings a much needed dimension to the group that gives that secret ingredient to their great country sound. The Hawkes perform around the Texas and Oklahoma area and have been heard around the world. The Hawkes newly released album (August 2008 with Smith Entertainment) is a diverse arrangement of songs that emulate the soul of Texas music. Their self titled album marks the bands first studio recording since they've been together. "We wanted to build a strong connection and vibe between us before we went in and began recording, so we gave the band, and the songs, a year to stew" says Joshua Ward. "We believe that great music is captured when great friends are having fun!" From the opening track titled "Gone Like the Wind" with an edgy rawke'n Texas country sound to their buckle polishing country tune "Heart Take The Wheel" on through to the Marvin Gaye style of "What You Do to Me", The Hawkes show their varied backgrounds and talents. Each member brings their own stylistic medium to the pallet to create what we have all come to know as The Hawkes music and that music summed up with, a very country minded, "Rawke Out!"



JUNE 6th 2009 HAWKES OPEN FOR DARYL LEE RUSH AT WILLIE'S NIGHT LIFE THEATER.GEN ADMISSION 12.00.