Greg Hawkes

Greg Hawkes (born October 22, 1952) is an American musician best known as the keyboardist for the new wave band The Cars.

Hawkes, a native of Fulton, Maryland, attended Atholton High School where he played in a band called Teeth. He then attended Berklee College of Music for two years, majoring in composition and flute. He left to play in various bands, including Martin Mull and his Fabulous Furniture, where he played flute, saxophones and clarinet. He also played in a band called Richard and The Rabbits, which included future Cars bandmates Ric Ocasek and ben orr.

Greg Hawkes’ most notable involvement was with The Cars. Hawkes pushed the limits of available technology and sequencing helping to forge the sound of the 80’s. His signature sounds include the Prophet V Touch Sync sound heard on Let’s Go and Hello Again as well as arpegiated and syncopated synth lines such as on Shake it Up and Heartbeat City.

Hawkes also played with Ric Ocasek as a solo artist, often playing both keyboards and bass guitar. He also did a solo album, Niagara Falls, which was released in 1983. He also plays guitar, percussion instruments, saxophone, clarinet and ukulele.

Hawkes lives in Boston, where he works as a session musician. He is a member of The New Cars, a quasi-reformation of The Cars also featuring original guitarist Elliot Easton. Filling in for other original Cars members are singer/guitarist Todd Rundgren, Utopia bassist/vocalist Kasim Sulton and former Tubes drummer Prairie Prince. Atom Ellis fills in at bass when Kasim is touring with Meatloaf. The band is touring through the 2006–2007 season. A new live album with three studio tracks, It’s Alive!, was released in June 2006.