1. John Christopher Hawken was an English keyboard player, best known as a member of The Nashville Teens, Renaissance, and the Strawbs.
17 Facts About John Hawken
1. 2.
John Hawken played in Spooky Tooth, Third World War, Vinegar Joe and Illusion, as well as being a session musician.
3.
John Hawken trained in classical piano from the age of 5 until 18, prompted by his mother Dorothy Constance Hawken, who was formally trained as both a pianist and painter from an early age.
4.
In early 1969 John Hawken got a telephone call from McCarty asking if he was interested in the new project.
5.
John Hawken turned up at McCarty's house in Thames Ditton, along with bass player Louis Cennamo, Dreja and Cole.
6.
John Hawken formed a new lineup of the band with former Nashville Teens members Terry Crowe, Michael Dunford, and Neil Korner, as well as session drummer Terry Slade.
7.
John Hawken was contacted by Spooky Tooth in October 1970 with an offer to join the band.
8.
Hawken accepted, helping his successor in Renaissance, John Tout, to integrate with the band before leaving.
9.
John Hawken joined Spooky Tooth for a three-month European tour in support of their album The Last Puff.
10.
In 1971, John Hawken joined Third World War, with whom he recorded one album.
11.
John Hawken worked as a session musician, playing on Spooky Tooth bandmate Luther Grosvenor's solo album, as well as projects by Claire Hamill and The Sutherland Brothers.
12.
In late 1975, John Hawken left the band after disagreements over the more commercial direction that the other members wanted to go in.
13.
John Hawken appeared briefly in the David Essex film That'll Be the Day as the keyboard player in the band led by Stormy Tempest, which featured Keith Moon on drums.
14.
On 29 October 1979, John, his wife Alexandra and their sons Barnaby and Jody moved to the United States from the UK, and Hawken went into a temporary retirement from music.
15.
On 26 June 2008, John Hawken announced his retirement from touring.
16.
In October 2011, John Hawken came out of retirement to perform with Jim McCarty and Jann Klose at Hugh's Room and This Ain't Hollywood, Ontario, for two Chamber Pop Summits.
17.
John Hawken died from melanoma at his home in Metuchen, New Jersey, on 15 May 2024, six days after his 84th birthday.