Dubbed 'The World's Greatest Street Performer', Ted Hawkins led a troubled, eccentric life, but his sweet, soulful voice and heartfelt renditions of folk, gospel, pop and R&B songs took him from busking in Los Angeles to tours of Europe with a string of acclaimed albums to his name.

Born into a poor, dysfunctional family in Mississippi, he spent his childhood in and out of reform schools and was imprisoned at 19, but his love of Sam Cooke and Professor Longhair gave him an outlet for his struggles. He drifted to California during the 1960s folk boom to find stardom but after a few minor recording sessions ended up sitting on a milk crate on the end of Venice Beach boardwalk playing for change and sleeping rough. His song writing talent and beautifully soft rasp of a voice didn't go unnoticed though, and Grammy winning producer Bob Bromberg recorded him in 1971. A decade of heroin addiction and trouble with the law prevented the release of the album 'Watch Your Step' however, until 1982. The record received great critical acclaim and a five star review from Rolling Stone magazine, and follow-up 'Happy Hour' in 1985 was heavily championed by BBC Radio One DJ Andy Kershaw in Britain, who helped him move over to the UK and set up gigs in Europe and Asia. He was eventually deported back to the US and returned to strumming on the streets, but his unique style and authentic Americana stories made him a cult figure and he recorded the album 'The Next Hundred Years' for Geffen Records in 1994. He died a year later, aged 58, from a stroke, but his legend lived on and artists including Mary Gauthier, Gurf Morlix and James McMurty recorded a tribute album of his songs, 'Cold and Bitter Tears', in 2009.

Ted Hawkins

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