Cale Hawkins is a 17-year old musician from Bemus Point, NY. Although his main instruments are keyboards and guitar, he also plays drums, bass, percussion, and several other instruments, in addition to singing.

At age 14, Cale Hawkins won the Memphis Bound Blues Competition in Buffalo, NY, recognizing him as the best solo blues musician in the area. He represented Western New York in the 2008 International Blues Challenge as a solo artist.

Cale also released his first full-length all-original CD in 2007, entitled "Chrome". "Chrome" incorporated a variety of genres into its original tracks, including rock, jazz, the blues, and R&B. Cale played every instrument on the CD and sang as well. "Chrome" received honors as the CD of the Year at the Chautauqua County Music Awards and from the Chautauqua WORD magazine.

At age 15, Cale Hawkins joined the Bluesers, a Toronto based band featuring fellow 15-year old Chris Cotton on guitar. The Bluesers competed in Memphis, TN's International Blues Challenge, drawing the attention of many blues artists and gaining exposure. In July 2009, the Bluesers took first place in the Tremblant International Blues Festival's "Galaxie Rising Stars Competiton", a showcase of youth blues bands. A dual disc album is also in the works for the Bluesers which will be released later in 2009.

May 2009 saw the release of the latest Cale Hawkins original album, "Random Acts of Confusion". Mixed by Soulive drummer Alan Evans and mastered by Brooklyn, NY's Paul Gold. Completely self-produced, the CD was heavily rock and R&B influenced, and has gained airplay on many indie, blues, jazz, and R&B radio shows and podcasts. As with "Chrome", Cale Hawkins played all the instruments on "Random Acts of Confusion".

Early 2009 also saw the origination of the Cale Hawkins Trio, featuring Steve Davis on keys/bass and Daniel Witherspoon on drums. The trio plays original music from "Random Acts of Confusion" as well as R&B/soul/funk covers.

The Bluesers returned to Memphis for the Blues Challenge in January 2010 and once again drew attention from crowds at B.B. King's Blues Club. After placing second in their venue, the Bluesers were invited to compete in the "Beale Street Blues Kings" competition for all second place bands.

Cale was the organist at Blackwell Chapel AME Zion Church from 2006-2010.

In February 2010, Cale was accepted to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston and was also awarded a half scholarship.  He now resides in Boston and is completing his studies at Berklee.

August 2010 saw the release of a new EP entitled "Cale Hawkins Presents: Beat Down." The album is a collection of instrumental urban hip-hop beats and is available as a free download at http://calehawkins.bandcamp.com.

Cale was the feature of Keyboard Magazine's monthly feature "Majorminor" in the September 2010 issue.

RECOGNITIONS

2007

Memphis Bound Solo/Duo Regional Winner

2008

International Blues Challenge Participant - Solo
Chautauqua WORD Solo Artist of the Year
Chautauqua WORD Album of the Year - "Chrome"
WNY Blues Society Muddy Award - Best Upcoming Artist
Chautauqua County Singer/Songwriter of the Year
Chautauqua County Album of the Year - "Chrome"

2009

International Blues Challenge Participant - The Bluesers
International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase - The Bluesers
Member of International Blues Foundation "Blues Youth Advisory Group"
Chautauqua County Youth Artist of the Year
1st Place in Galaxie Rising Stars Competition - The Bluesers

2010

International Blues Challenge Venue 2nd Place - The Bluesers
Blues Kings of Beale Street Competition Participant - The Bluesers
International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase - The Bluesers
Accepted at Berklee School of Music
Featured in Keyboard Magazine's "Majorminor" Column

VENUES

Cale Hawkins has had the opportunity of performing at various large venues and festivals such as: the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Beale Street Hard Rock Cafe, B.B. King's Blues Club, Memphis's Old Daisy Theatre, the Reg Lenna Civic Center, the Canal Bank Shuffle, the Oakville Waterfront Festival, the Orangeville Jazz and Blues Festival, the Billstown Blues Festival, the Canadian National Exhibition, and the Tremblant International Blues Festival.

THANKS

I'd like to thank the following people for their support, guidance, and advice over the years: Chris and Shane Hawkins, Steve and Sharon Roberts, Joyce and Dave Hawkins, the Hawkins family, the Roberts family, Ron Graham, the Infinity Performing Arts Program, Jamie Haight, Don Walter, Leah Renswick, Eric Pearson, Fred Dixon, Steve Davis, Jim Foley, Drew Minton, Bill Ward, Jim Blomquist, Tom Swanson, Jim Foti, Mark Alpaugh, Rich Leeper, Anthony Scott, Julie Cotter, Graham Riggle, Fernando Jones, Mason Riggle, Michael Salamone, Todd Thomas, Steve Gustafson, Jeff Erickson, Dennis Drew, Daniel Witherspoon, Stephanie Rogers, Steve Lundsten, Samuel Teresi, Larry LZ Dillon, Homemade Jamz Blues Band, the Perry family, the Bluesers, the Cotton family, John Cotton, Chris Cotton, Prakash John, Christopher and Sherri Kowal, the Western New York Blues Society, Rev. Annette Hood, Jackie Witherspoon, Blackwell Chapel AME Zion Church, Jon Regen, Gary Peters Jr., Alan Evans, D'Arcy McGilligan, Mike Cotton Sr., everyone from Maple Grove Jr./Sr. High School, and the countless others who have helped keep the music alive!