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in the early 1970s, for treatment for alcohol abuse, Hawkins largely withdrew from songwriting and published poetry. He opted instead to spend over thirty five years as a taxi driver in Ottawa, where he was ultimately sufficiently successful to be able to purchase his own "plate", or taxi license,
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and otherwise. Wiffen, as a member of 3's a Crowd, sang the lead vocal on
Hawkins' best known song, "Gnostic Serenade". Hawkins describes the "amazing instrument" of Wiffen's voice as being in his head when he wrote many of the songs to which Hawkins was paid tribute on
450:, Hawkins' sixth collection of poems. This was the first publication of the poems as a separate book; they had previously been included in a 1980 anthology edited by Patrick White, poet and founder of Anthos Press. Also in 2010, Apt. 9 Press published
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Hawkins' music has been described as being "timeless" and associated with "a beautiful melancholy". He has been described as "a writer of supremely melodic songs, filled with stark despair and raw self-loathing, mixed with dark humour."
802:...the house lights went up and I saw all these 14- and 15-year old kids screaming, and suddenly I felt out of place. I was twice their age. I turned to Bruce (Cockburn) as we walked off the stage and said, 'I'm finished'.
461:, edited and with a comprehensive introduction by Cameron Anstee. Hawkins' last public performance was a reading from the collection, on November 28, 2015, under the auspices of the Ottawa International Writers Festival.
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374:. In this publication, Hawkins collected poems contained in his five books published between 1964 and 1974, plus new poems. Shortly thereafter, in 2007, Hawkins published a small collection of new poems,
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Hawkins' original interests were as a poet, which he addressed in the summer of 1963, through attending an intensive writing course for aspiring poets offered by the
English department of the
171:. The course became known as the Vancouver 1963 Poetry Conference, which took place over three weeks in July and August, and involved approximately sixty attendees. The course, designed by
281:, in which Glatt had an economic interest and which Hawkins and his then wife later managed. While they never released a record, within months of their formation The Children were playing
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Hawkins gradually returned to music and poetry. In 1997, with the assistance of Ottawa musician Victor
Nesrallah as producer/ musical accompanist, Hawkins independently released
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277:, who also became their manager. It was Glatt who first encouraged Hawkins to set his poems to music. The band developed a local prominence as resident performers at
454:, which included a descriptive bibliography of Hawkins' work, as well as reproductions of posters on which Hawkins' work had appeared, plus historical news clippings.
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In 1965, Hawkins commenced his music career as a member of The
Children, a seminal Canadian band, based out of Ottawa. In addition to Hawkins, band members included
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Being the poems contained in
Hawkins's five books published between 1964 and 1974, plus new poems. Preface by Bruce Cockburn; introduction by Roy MacSkimming. See
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also recorded "Gnostic
Serenade" for her 1972 album "Esther Ofarim". This was re-released in 2009 as " Esther Ofarim in London" and is currently available on CD.
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99:(May 20, 1940 – July 4, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter, poet, musician and journalist, most notable for his contributions in the 1960s to Canadian
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214:. In addition, Hawkins became known for hosting and participating in poetry readings by major Canadian poets of the time, including
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949:; www.cbc.ca. Wiffen's current circumstances are not publicly known. The significance of "Gnostic Serenade" was recognized on
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391:, in which various artists interpreted twenty-two of Hawkins' songs. The artists contributing to the tribute album included
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289:. It was this particular performance that caused Hawkins to decide to cease performing publicly. The band also opened for
359:. The album was a collection of Hawkins singing his own songs, plus versions of his songs as recorded by 3s a Crowd and
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One long poem by each author. Hawkins' contribution was a 36-page poem, "Louis Riel", influenced by the biography of
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in the 1920s. Three of
Hawkins' poems were included in the anthology. See "poetry and words" at www.wmhawkins.com.
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Hawkins encountered increasing problems with substance abuse, particularly alcohol. After a period of time in the
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in Ottawa, while successor bands performed
Hawkins' songs at the 1968 electoral victory party for Prime Minister
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206:
Hawkins commenced publishing his poems in 1964, and enjoyed early success. Three of his poems were selected by
600:(ed. Peter Brent, Seamus Heaney; Heinemann, Plymouth). Two of Hawkins' poems were included in the anthology.
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742:. In addition, several of Hawkins' songs, developed with The Children, were later recorded by 3s a Crowd.
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In 2008, at the instigation of Harvey Glatt, who had first encouraged
Hawkins over forty years earlier,
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Though one of
Hawkins' songs, "It's A Dirty Shame", became a hit for another band, the Ottawa-based
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363:. The album was a precursor to the later tribute album to Hawkins, recorded and released in 2008.
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883:"Esther Ofarim - Esther and Abi Ofarim - Esther & Abi Ofarim - Ofraim אסתר עופרים"
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William Hawkins (2008), describing his withdrawal from popular music and publication.
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through the inclusion of two versions, one by Titcomb and another by Stevenson.
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and as a solo artist. His songs were also covered by other artists, such as
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When I started writing songs, it was to put music to Bill Hawkins' lyrics.
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In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Hawkins' songs were popularized by
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Being a collection of significant Canadian poetry since the rise of
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recording, Hawkins released a compendium of his poetry in 2005, as
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Notice of Reading by William Hawkins and Others, November 28, 2015
443:. Many of these artists first worked with Hawkins in the 1960s.
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Rush had also popularized Wiffen's song "Driving Wheel" on the
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Folk legends Cockburn, Tamblyn record tribute to Ottawa cabbie
270:. The group had been formed at the encouragement of local
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I just dropped out sometime in 1971, when I woke up in the
322:, who recorded a version of "Gnostic Serenade" on his
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Poetry magazine; three new poems by Hawkins included.
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New Wave Canada: The New Explosion in Canadian Poetry
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966:(Apt. 9 Press, 2010) Anstee founded Apt. 9 Press.
480:Shoot Low, Sheriff, They're Riding Shetland Ponies
103:and to Canadian poetry. His best known song is "
338:Withdrawal from songwriting and published poetry
210:for inclusion in his prestigious 1967 anthology,
1034:. See "poetry and words" at www.wmhawkins.com.
1017:. See "poetry and words" at www.wmhawkins.com.
347:rather than renting plate rights from others.
932:Noticeably absent from the collaboration was
446:In 2010, Ottawa-based Apt. 9 Press published
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552:The Gift of Space: Selected Poems 1960-1970
838:Ian Tamblyn, producer of and performer on
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607:(ed. Ray Souster; Contact Press, Toronto).
387:, a two CD tribute album, was released on
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464:Hawkins died in Ottawa, on July 4, 2016.
351:Return to music and poetry; tribute album
297:, as well as in the movie soundtrack for
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1000:Ottawa International Writers Festival,
962:Cameron Anstee, "A Note on the Text".
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565:(Cauldron Books and Broken Jaw Press )
384:Dancing Alone: Songs of William Hawkins
977:"Patrick White - Poet, Writer, Artist"
570:The Collected Poems of William Hawkins
459:The Collected Poems of William Hawkins
366:Subsequent to the release of the 1997
910:"Still Dancing after all these years"
844:"Still Dancing after all these years"
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895:On "Railroad Bill" Records, being a
285:, in Toronto, as an opening act for
132:(2005), Preface to William Hawkins,
1045:catalogue entry of Broken Jaw Press
457:In 2015, Chaudière Books published
1195:21st-century Canadian male writers
1145:20th-century Canadian male writers
664:"William Hawkins - who'se hawkins"
107:Serenade", originally recorded by
90:1963-1972; sporadically thereafter
32:William Hawkins and his taxi, 2009
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842:, as reported by Peter Langston,
784:"William Hawkins: Lost and Found"
701:Songwriters Magazine, Fall, 2008.
815:"William Hawkins - making music"
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699:William Hawkins: Lost and Found
527:the black prince of bank street
376:the black prince of bank street
169:University of British Columbia
74:Poet, Songwriter and Performer
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563:Dancing Alone: Selected Poems
529:(above/ground press, Ottawa;
372:Dancing Alone: Selected Poems
134:Dancing Alone: Selected Poems
1058:"Welcome to Chaudiere Books"
793:. Songwriters Magazine. 2008
598:Young Commonwealth Poets '65
586:(above/ground press, Ottawa)
191:. Other attendees included
1155:21st-century Canadian poets
1140:20th-century Canadian poets
899:frequently used by Hawkins.
497:; Patrician Press, Toronto)
300:Christopher's Movie Matinee
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1170:Canadian male songwriters
1106:Hawkins reading from his
964:Sweet & Sour Nothings
641:The William Hawkins Folio
572:(Chaudiere Books, Ottawa)
538:Sweet & Sour Nothings
452:The William Hawkins Folio
448:Sweet & Sour Nothings
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1004:. Retrieved 2016-07-04.
325:Wrong End of the Rainbow
258:and, in later versions,
1190:Canadian folk musicians
1013:A 56-page self-stapled
620:Oxford University Press
584:Peter F. Yacht Club #11
246:Songwriter and musician
643:(Apt. 9 Press, Ottawa)
540:(Apt. 9 Press, Ottawa)
522:(S.A.W. Press, Ottawa)
486:; Independent, Ottawa)
314:, both as a member of
97:William Alfred Hawkins
1200:Canadian taxi drivers
1175:Musicians from Ottawa
612:Modern Canadian Verse
577:Periodical inclusions
279:Le Hibou Coffee House
212:Modern Canadian Verse
1047:; www.brokenjaw.com.
1032:George F. G. Stanley
715:"Slought Foundation"
591:Anthology inclusions
504:(weed/flower Press,
473:Sole or joint author
254:, Sandy Crawley and
1180:Writers from Ottawa
1150:Canadian male poets
515:(Nil Press, Ottawa)
403:, Terry Gillespie,
287:The Lovin' Spoonful
240:John Robert Colombo
1185:Poets from Ontario
1062:Chaudierebooks.com
945:; see uncredited,
923:, October 2, 2008.
915:2012-11-07 at the
857:, October 2, 2008.
849:2012-11-07 at the
389:True North Records
283:Maple Leaf Gardens
755:. Xtreme Musician
405:Murray McLauchlan
344:Donwood Institute
268:Richard Patterson
232:Gwendolyn MacEwan
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983:. 1998-03-28
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670:. 2008-09-30
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616:A.J.M. Smith
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62:(2016-07-04)
60:July 4, 2016
48:May 20, 1940
1135:2016 deaths
1130:1940 births
938:3's a Crowd
622:, Toronto).
545:Collections
421:Ian Tamblyn
316:3's a Crowd
224:Louis Dudek
109:3's a Crowd
79:Nationality
1124:Categories
1067:2016-07-20
1028:Louis Riel
987:2016-07-20
825:2016-07-20
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759:2016-07-20
725:2009-09-19
695:Greg Quill
674:2016-07-20
648:References
558:, Toronto)
409:Lynn Miles
272:impresario
71:Occupation
44:1940-05-20
1091:modernism
1015:paperback
556:New Press
506:Kitchener
413:Ana Miura
401:Mike Evin
913:Archived
869:Tom Rush
847:Archived
740:Esquires
531:chapbook
320:Tom Rush
82:Canadian
897:moniker
513:Hawkins
115:History
105:Gnostic
493:(with
482:(with
478:1964
787:(PDF)
639:2010
634:Folio
625:1973
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57:Died
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