David Hawkins is a highly skilled and versatile drummer, composer, producer and bandleader based in New York City. As an up and coming face on the global music scene, he is quickly becoming renowned for his adaptability, creativity, and earnest approach to expression and communication through music. In just a short amount of time, he has become a highly sought-after young voice, in a wide range of genres, exploring and exhibiting the connectedness of them all.

David started banging on pots and pans at the age of two in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, finally being introduced to a drum set at age four. His first experiences playing with and for others were in church (his father is a pastor), while much of his early listening spanned to any and everything that attracted his ear.  His deep gospel roots and diverse tastes heavily influence his sound to this day. He owes much of his musical development to his mentor and teacher Dana Murray (Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Witherspoon, Wax Poetic w/ Norah Jones).

Hawkins has performed and collaborated alongside some of the most respected artists and bands on the music scene, including Branford Marsalis, ELEW (Eric Lewis), Philip Harper, JD Allen, Joey Calderazzo, Bobby Watson, Johnny O’Neal, Calvin Keys, Sharay Reed, Nicholas Semrad (Cory Henry), and Jocelyn (in support of Darius Rucker), among others. He has the privilege of touring the world , and regularly appears at iconic venues such as Birdland, Sony Hall, Dizzy’s, Smalls, Minton’s Playhouse, and Nublu in NYC, (among countless others nationwide and abroad).

In addition to his live performance work, he has contributed to numerous recordings as a drummer and producer, lending his unique sound to both independent projects and label releases (Origin Records, BJU Records). He is also a co-founder of a new NYC-based music collective, VERACITY, whose ethos is centered around channeling and upholding the integrity of what has come before them while pursuing artistic innovation.

David is also passionate about education and mentoring the next generation of musicians. When he's not on stage or in the studio, he teaches privately at Harlem School of the Arts, and is deeply involved with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s “Jazz for Young People” program. David is also an Artistic Advisor and Teaching Artist for North Omaha Music and Arts—a non-profit organization and music academy in his hometown of Omaha, NE.

He brings a depth and conviction with him into every environment that is extremely palpable and sets him apart as an artist to watch.