The golden-throated Hawkins was a bluesman in the songster tradition: a roots-based interpreter of many styles following in the footsteps of Lead Belly and Mance Lipscomb. Hawkins' gigantic repertoire covered soul, pop, rock, country, calypso, and folk standards, as well as his own tunes incorporating all those influences. Happy Hour, recorded in 1986 after producer Bruce Bromberg discovered the Mississippi native performing on the streets of Venice Beach, California, puts the accent on Hawkins' own tunes, although the singer's dark-hued take on Curtis Mayfield's "Gypsy Woman" is a highlight. Hawkins' lyrics, like the slightly quivering, openhearted sound of his big, bold voice, reflect his lifelong search for freedom and happiness. The audible joy and pain in his singing more than compensates for his rudimentary guitar.