[2] Hawkes, a native of Fulton, Maryland, United States, attended Atholton High School where he played in a band called Teeth.

He also played in a band called Richard and the Rabbits, which included future Cars bandmates Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr.

In 2010, Hawkes reunited with the surviving original members of the Cars to record their first album in 24 years, titled Move Like This, which was released on May 10, 2011.

Hawkes received a writing credit for "Service with a Smile" on Virginia-based progressive rock band Happy the Man's second album Crafty Hands in 1978.

Filling in for other original Cars members were singer/guitarist Todd Rundgren, Utopia bassist/vocalist Kasim Sulton and former Tubes drummer Prairie Prince.

Starting in 2019 and continuing through 2024, the two perform a full night of music by the Cars, curated by Greg, throughout the North East and Mid Atlantic areas.

[11] Since 2001 Hawkes has been playing and experimenting with the ukulele, including renditions of the Cars songs "My Best Friend's Girl", "Drive", "Tonight She Comes" and "You Might Think".

The album consists of instrumental versions of 15 Beatles classics, in what he calls a “UKEsymphonic” style, using multi-tracked recordings to create a ukulele orchestra.