Explore Black History

1948-1958

A black-and-white photograph of Disc Jockey Bill “Hawk” Hawkins with members of his fan club. Hawkins is depicted standing just right of center with a large group of teenage fans, arranged in roughly a semicircle, during a jam session inside a school gymnasium. A silver tone microphone stand is in front of Hawkins. He is depicted in full length, wearing a medium-toned, double-breasted suit, white collared shirt, and a polka dot bowtie. He is smiling and looking towards a boy in a plaid coat and jeans playing a tambourine, depicted in profile on the far left. Standing to the left of Hawkins, at the center of the crowd, is a teenage boy and girl holding drumsticks and soft mallets over a large drum. To the left of the drummers, is a boy playing an acoustic guitar. A girl on the far right, wearing a plaid jacket and a head scarf, holds a metallic gourd shaped object. And one boy, wearing a flat cap, sits with his legs crossed on an amplifier at the center front of the group. In the background are a few teenagers standing and sitting on the bleachers. In the background are four large windows covered with metal mesh. The photograph has a white border that is thicker along the left and bottom edges and a landscape orientation. The back of the photograph is white and plain with a photographer’s stamp at the center and an inscription at the top center. The black ink stamp reads [MITCHELL STUDIOS, INC / 9101 CEDAR AVENUE / RANDOLF 7611 / CLEVELAND 6, OHIO]. The black ink inscription near the top center edge reads [Fan Club \ Jam Session].

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Photographs and Still Images

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of W. Allen Taylor, son of "Walkin' Talkin' Bill Hawkins," The First Black Disc Jockey of Cleveland, Ohio

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2018.91.2.20

gelatin silver prints
portraits

Unknown – Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper

H x W (Sheet): 7 7/8 × 9 7/8 in. (20 × 25.1 cm)

Object Name • Photograph of Disc Jockey Bill “Hawk” Hawkins and his fan club in a jam session

nmaahc_2018.91.2.20

NMAAHC

PHOTOGRAPH OF DISC JOCKEY BILL “HAWK” HAWKINS AND HIS FAN CLUB IN A JAM SESSION

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1940s • 1950s

Hawkins, Bill • Mitchell Studios, Inc. • Central High School

United States • North and Central America • Ohio • Cleveland • Cuyahoga County

Photography • Education • Band (Music) • Radio • Children • Instrumentalists (Musicians)

City • Cleveland • County • Cuyahoga County • State • Ohio • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

Portraits • Photographs

Images

Unknown - Restrictions Possible