Biography
Guitarist Adam Hawley has built recognition as a skilled live performer, session musician, and instructor through his fluid, rhythm-driven style across contemporary jazz and R&B. Following years of steady work alongside prominent jazz and pop figures, he issued his first solo project, the 2016 album Just the Beginning, which yielded three number-one smooth jazz singles: “35th Street,” “Joy Ride,” and “I Don’t Mind.” Subsequent releases such as 2018’s Double Vision, 2020’s Escape, and 2021’s Risin’ Up have kept him inside the Billboard Jazz Top 30. In addition to performing, Hawley earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California and divides his schedule between concerts and faculty positions at Musician’s Institute, Chaffey College, and Saddleback College. His 2024 album Unstoppable contains the smooth jazz chart-topper “Uptop.”
Born in Portland, Oregon, Hawley began music studies at age eight with piano instruction requested by his mother, then began guitar lessons the following year. During his teenage years he performed regularly in church, traveled with a bluegrass group, and fronted his own blues ensemble. A high-school friend’s mixtape introduced him to George Benson’s 1976 single “Breezin’,” which sparked a lasting interest in contemporary jazz. He moved to Los Angeles in 2002 to attend the University of Southern California, where he completed bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in music. Since completing his studies, Hawley has appeared in both concert and recording settings with numerous pop, jazz, and R&B artists, among them Natalie Cole, Jennifer Lopez, Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Rick Braun, Gerald Albright, Manhattan Transfer, Peabo Bryson, and Euge Groove.
Although Hawley first intended to record a solo album in 2005, ongoing live and studio commitments postponed that plan while allowing him to cultivate an audience; in 2015 he signed with Kalimba Records. The resulting full-length debut, Just the Beginning, arrived the next year and included guest contributions from Albright, Groove, Eric Darius, and Michael Lington. Three tracks reached number one on the Billboard Smooth Jazz chart, with “35th St.” holding the top position for five weeks. Hawley toured extensively in support of the record and joined Koz’s road itinerary in 2018.
That same year he delivered his second album, Double Vision, which featured appearances by Jeff Lorber, Darren Rahn, Marcus Anderson, Julian Vaughan, and others, along with a version of Adele’s “Hello.” The project peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. Escape followed in early 2020 and again entered the jazz Top 30. In August 2021 Hawley released Risin’ Up, containing guest spots from Steve Cole, Vincent Ingala, Julian Vaughn, and additional musicians; the album reached the jazz Top 20. During 2024 the guitarist achieved a number-one Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs single with “Uptop,” which appears on his fifth album, Unstoppable, alongside contributions from Judah Sealy, L. Young, and his wife, vocalist Kat Hawley.
Born in Portland, Oregon, Hawley began music studies at age eight with piano instruction requested by his mother, then began guitar lessons the following year. During his teenage years he performed regularly in church, traveled with a bluegrass group, and fronted his own blues ensemble. A high-school friend’s mixtape introduced him to George Benson’s 1976 single “Breezin’,” which sparked a lasting interest in contemporary jazz. He moved to Los Angeles in 2002 to attend the University of Southern California, where he completed bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in music. Since completing his studies, Hawley has appeared in both concert and recording settings with numerous pop, jazz, and R&B artists, among them Natalie Cole, Jennifer Lopez, Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Rick Braun, Gerald Albright, Manhattan Transfer, Peabo Bryson, and Euge Groove.
Although Hawley first intended to record a solo album in 2005, ongoing live and studio commitments postponed that plan while allowing him to cultivate an audience; in 2015 he signed with Kalimba Records. The resulting full-length debut, Just the Beginning, arrived the next year and included guest contributions from Albright, Groove, Eric Darius, and Michael Lington. Three tracks reached number one on the Billboard Smooth Jazz chart, with “35th St.” holding the top position for five weeks. Hawley toured extensively in support of the record and joined Koz’s road itinerary in 2018.
That same year he delivered his second album, Double Vision, which featured appearances by Jeff Lorber, Darren Rahn, Marcus Anderson, Julian Vaughan, and others, along with a version of Adele’s “Hello.” The project peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. Escape followed in early 2020 and again entered the jazz Top 30. In August 2021 Hawley released Risin’ Up, containing guest spots from Steve Cole, Vincent Ingala, Julian Vaughn, and additional musicians; the album reached the jazz Top 20. During 2024 the guitarist achieved a number-one Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs single with “Uptop,” which appears on his fifth album, Unstoppable, alongside contributions from Judah Sealy, L. Young, and his wife, vocalist Kat Hawley.
Albums
Unstoppable
2024
What Christmas Means to Me
2023
Double Vision
2018
Just The Beginning
2016
Just the Beginning
2016
Singles
