(b. Harold Franklin Hawkins, 22 December 1921, Huntingdon, West VA,  d. 5 March 1963)

In 1942, he performed on radio in Manila when stationed in the Phillippines. After his discharge, he signed with King Records and did well with Sunny Side Of The Mountain, which became his signature tune.  In 1948 he became one of the first country artists to appear on network television. He had US country hits with Pan American, I Love You A Thousand Ways, I’m Just Waiting For You and Slow Poke  In 1963 Hawkins released his best-known recording, Justin Tubb’s song Lonesome 7-7203. The song entered the US country charts three days before Hawkins died on 5 March 1963 in a plane crash which also claimed Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas.  Lonesome 7-7203 was his only number 1 record in the US country charts.  His wife, country singer Jean Shepard, was pregnant at the time and their son was named Harold Franklin Hawkins II in his memory. Barnes and Noble on Hawkins