Hampton Hawes (1928-1977) was one of the greatest bebop pianists. But at the time of his celebration as New Star of the Year by Down Beat magazine in 1956, Hawes was already struggling with a heroin addiction that would lead to his arrest and imprisonment, and the interruption of a brilliant career that had intersected with the greatest players of his day, including Miles Davis, Kenny Clarke, Billy Eckstine, Stan Getz, Jimmy Rushing, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson and Clifford Brown. In 1963 President Kennedy granted Hawes an executive pardon. In eloquent and humourous language, Hampton Hawes tells of a life of suffering and redemption that reads like an improbable novel.

Gary Giddins, in his introduction to the book, has called it "a major contribution to the literature of jazz."

Raise Up Off Me was a winner of the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award, the most prestigious industry award bestowed on books about music and musicians.

back to previous page

back to previous page

read an essay on the life and career of Hampton Hawes