Marshall Hawkins. A treasure to Idyllwild and a legend far beyond it.


Even a few moments with Marshall can be indelible, as anyone who knows him can attest. We’ve had many wonderful conversations through the years, all of them memorable. Time with Marshall is often fleeting, as he is understandably in demand, so getting to spend a couple of hours with him for this photoshoot felt especially meaningful.

Elderly African man wearing beaded necklaces and checkered shirt sits before a large tree trunk.
Elderly person's wrinkled hands gesturing during conversation, wearing blue shirt and jeans, outdoors with blurred background.
Black and white portrait of an elderly man wearing beaded necklaces and a checkered shirt, looking thoughtfully at the camera.
Black and white portrait of an elderly man with a beard wearing a beaded necklace and plaid shirt outdoors.
Elderly musician's weathered hands playing piano keys on a vintage upright piano in warm studio lighting.
Black and white portrait of an elderly man with a gray beard wearing a beaded necklace and checkered shirt.
Elderly Maasai man wrapped in traditional red checkered shuka blanket standing before ancient redwood trees.
Two rustic wooden flutes rest on handwritten sheet music, showcasing traditional craftsmanship and musical notation.
Black and white profile portrait of an elderly bearded man in a checkered shirt standing outdoors near trees.

The intention was simple: to capture something of who he is through the lens, from the deep wisdom beneath the majestic incense cedar to the storied classroom where he shares his gift.


Marshall teaches us as much about life as he does about music.

A whiteboard with musical notation and red handwritten notes displayed under Marshall Hawkins name banners in a music classroom.
Elderly man playing piano in a music room surrounded by instruments and sheet music.
Musician playing a grand piano in a music room surrounded by a marimba, keyboard, and various instruments.
Elderly man playing an upright piano in a vintage music shop filled with instruments and equipment.
Elderly man playing piano in a music studio, wearing a blue shirt and beaded necklace, focused on the keys.
Elderly Black man sitting at a reflective desk in an office with framed photos on the wall behind him.