Album Notes

"..a unique, cerebral sound which can be described as at once historically soulful yet progressively hip. " - GoldenSpins e-zine

"Hawk’s yearning tenor compliments his emotional lyrics, which are layered with complex thoughts as likely to be political as personal." - mcall.com

"Hawk has a sweet and special vocal quality...a talented singer, with an extensive range " - Splendid e-zine

"...jazzy with a funk feel, smooth but rhythmic, maybe a bit like Steely Dan, and with a hint of gospel. Like all good original music, it is hard to describe." - David Howell, Morning Call.

Doug Hawk's music eschews the typical thematic content of the modern pop catalog -- aligning instead with the more yearning, deeply personal sentiments of rebel and protest music. Consequently, his compositions are more positive affirmation than they are songs. His affirming lyrical content is supported by a beautiful, uniquely-refined accompaniment , utilizing melodies and chord changes that travel beyond the usual and expected. This is intelligent, inspiring, grooving music that not only makes you think but move, as well. Comparisons to artists such as Stevie Wonder, Jamiroquai, Steely Dan and Gil Scott-Heron are accurate but in a purely derivative sense. Hawk has emphatically forged his own unique sound.

Doug Hawk graduated from Moravian College in 1998 with a BA in Music. During his time there, Hawk was the featured soloist in numerous opera, jazz and choral ensembles, performed at the Villanova Jazz Festival, toured England and Scotland with the College choir, and was a catalyst in the school’s development of a major in jazz voice.

After graduation, Hawk began performing regularly with award-winning funk/jazz/R&B group Rhino Campground and experimental/pop/jazz trio ThreeMonKs. Both groups released multiple, well-received recordings and maintained busy performance schedules, including opening for Bob Marley’s Wailers. Largely because of his work with these groups, he won the 2002 & 2007 Lehigh Valley Music awards for Best Male Vocalist. Groups of which he has been a part of have also opened for the likes of such luminaries as Steely Dan and Michael McDonald. His newest outlet, The Doug Hawk Proposition, is his ultimate mouthpiece -- highlighting his refined message, his evolving instrumental and compositional skills, and the increasing blur between his artistry and his personal life.

Hawk continues to hone his unique vocal and composition skills. He has "hung" with saxophone greats Dave Liebman and Jimmy Heath as well as jazz vocal legend Mark Murphy, who praised his “flights into fine improv and musical delights.” Other studies with groundbreaking vocalist J.D. Walter, improvisational guru Rhiannon and pianist/composer/educator Skip Wilkins figure prominently in his style.