By the mid-1940s he was performing as a singer and pianist in the Oakland, California area,[2] where he was discovered by musician and record producer Bob Geddins, who was impressed by Hawkins' "soulful, doom-laden style".

[1][4] His band, the Four Jacks, included saxophonist William Staples, guitarist Ulysses James, bassist Floyd Montgomery, and drummer Madison Little.

[7] Hawkins continued to release singles on Modern and had his second hit in 1951 with "The Thrill Is Gone", again co-credited to Bihari but in fact co-written with Rick Darnell.

The record featured Maxwell Davis (saxophone), Willard McDaniel (piano) and Johnny Moore (guitar), and reached number 6 on the R&B chart.

[8] After several less successful singles, including "Gloom and Misery All Around", an early song by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller,[6] Hawkins left Modern in 1954.