Roy Theodore Hawkins, also known as Roy Hawkins, born February 7, 1903, in Jefferson, Texas, was an American blues singer, pianist, and songwriter. By the mid-1940s, he performed in Oakland, California, and made his first recordings at age 45 for Cava-Tone and Down Town in 1948. His breakthrough came with "Why Do Things Happen to Me" (1950), which reached number 2 on the Billboard R&B chart. Hawkins' second hit, "The Thrill Is Gone" (1951), peaked at number 6 on the R&B chart and became a signature song for B.B. King. After leaving Modern Records in 1954, he recorded for various labels until 1961. Hawkins died in Compton, California, on March 19, 1974.
