Born October 10, 1930 in El Paso, Texas, Hawthorne grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. Music studies at the University of Utah were interrupted by being drafted into the army in the early 1950s. By the mid '50s Hawthorne moved to Chicago to study at the Roy C. Knapp School of Percussion. In Chicago he enjoyed a busy career as a studio, symphonic, jazz musician and teacher. Moving to Miami in 1968, he joined the percussion faculty part time in the 1970s and full time in 1981 at the University of Miami, the first university to offer drum-set instruction to music majors. Hawthorne was widely admired as a percussion instructor by both classical and jazz students, and continued to perform throughout his career in a variety of professional settings. Some of his former students include UM alumni Lou Abbott, Eddie Bayers, Brendan Buckley, Chris Garges, Bruce Jacoby, Jack Lees, Mike Malanin, Marko Marcinko, Sean Reinert, Steve Roitstein, and many more.
Hawthorne formally retired from full time teaching in 2001. He subsequently joined UM Frost’s professional staff as ensemble librarian and served in that capacity until his passing last month. Professor Thomas Sleeper, director of orchestral activities at the Frost School of Music and conductor of the Frost Symphony Orchestra, described Hawthorne as a “giver” who will be “deeply missed.”
Alumnus Chris Garges, B.M. ’95, recalls, “Harry was a superb teacher. He was always quick with a joke, but serious when he needed to be. His teaching often focused on practical stuff for making a living as a musician. Sure, he taught mallet technique and snare drum rudiments and whatnot, but he also frequently did clinics on how to be a good teacher or how to make sure you get paid.”
Steve Roitstein, B.M. ’82, M.M. ’84, remembers Hawthorne as “a great guy who made a positive impact on so many, myself included.”
Harry Hawthorne is survived by his son, New York based drummer-producer Graham Hawthorne, B.M. ’84, a UM Frost alumnus.
A musical tribute for Harry Hawthorne was held at the University of Miami on May 10. The intimate gathering included warm reminiscences from alumni, family and friends. Graduating senior Maria Chlebus performed several marimba and percussion solos, while Frost faculty including pianist Vince Maggio, bassist Chuck Bergeron, and drummer Steve Rucker played favorite jazz standards.
