BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Walter Hawkins (May 18, 1949 – July 11, 2010) was an American gospel music singer, and a pastor. He was consecrated to the bishopric in 1992.
Biography
Hawkins was the brother of Edwin Hawkins, Daniel Hawkins (Marcia), Feddie Hawkins Smith, Carol Hawkins Kemp and Lynette Hawkins-Stephens. Bishop Hawkins was married to Tramaine Hawkins, they had two children, a son Walter "Jamie" Hawkins, Jr., who is married to Myiia "Sunny" Davis-Hawkins, and a daughter Trystan Hawkins. Bishop Hawkins also had a granddaughter, Jahve Hawkins, and a grandson, Jamie Daniel Hawkins.[citation needed]
Bishop Hawkins started his career in one of his brother's chorales, "The Northern California State Youth Choir" of the Church of God in Christ. Later, he accompanied his brother Edwin and founded The Edwin Hawkins Singers. This collaborative effort produced the hit song "Oh Happy Day", which became one of the first gospel songs to cross over onto mainstream music charts.[citation needed]
Walter Hawkins left The Edwin Hawkins Singers in the early 1970s to establish the Love Center Church in Oakland, California. He and his Love Center Choir had considerable success with their "Love Alive" series of recordings, which sold well over a million copies from the 1970s through the 1990s. "Love Alive IV", released in 1990, was No. 1 on the Billboard Gospel Album charts, where it stayed for 33 weeks. In all, Walter Hawkins produced and/or collaborated on 116 hit songs which were listed on the Billboard Gospel Music charts.[citation needed]
Walter Hawkins and his groups were frequent musical collaborators, and recorded with Van Morrison, Diahann Carroll, Sylvester, Jeffrey Osborne, among many others.[citation needed]
One of those who regularly attended the Love Center church was Sylvester, who had been introduced to it in the early 1980s by Jeanie Tracy.[1]
Death
On July 11, 2010, Bishop Walter Hawkins died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 61.
Discography
Albums
- 1972: Do Your Best (solo album)
- 1975: Love Alive - Love Center Choir
- 1977: Jesus Christ Is the Way - The Hawkins Family (Light)
- 1978: Love Alive 2 - Love Center Choir (Light)
- 1980: The Hawkins Family Live (Light)
- 1982: Gospel (Savoy)
- 1982: I Feel Like Singing (Light)
- 1984: Love Alive 3 - Love Center Choir (Light)
- 1988: Special Gift Hawkins Family (Light)
- 1989: Love Alive Reunion (Light)
- 1990: Love Alive 4 - Love Center Choir (Malaco)
- 1996: New Dawning - Hawkins Family (Bellmark)
- 1997: Ooh Wee - Hawkins Family
- 1998: Love Alive, Vol. 5: 25th Anniversary Reunion - Love Center Choir (Interscope)
- 2000: Take Courage - Hawkins Family (Bellmark)
- 2005: A Song In My Heart (solo) (Coda/Red-Sony)
Compilation albums
- 1990: Only The Best (Light)
- 1995: Light Years (Light)
- 1995: The Hawkins Family Collection (Platinum)
- 2002: The Best of Love Alive (Light)
- 2002: Legends of Gospel (Light)
- 2002: Mega 3 Collection: Love Alive (Light)
- 2005: The Very Best of Walter Hawkins and the Hawkins Family (Artemis Gospel)
Appearances on other albums
- 1976: David Soul – David Soul
- 1980: The Lord's Prayer - Various artists; duet with Tramaine Hawkins on "Thy Kingdom Come" (Light)
- 1982: Imagine Heaven - The Edwin Hawkins Singers
- 1983: The Search Is Over - Tramaine Hawkins
- 1986: Hand in Hand - The Williams Brothers (producer, keyboards)
- 1986: Just Daryl - Daryl Coley (background vocals, keyboards)
- 1987: The Hunger – Michael Bolton (background vocals)
- 1987: Touch the World - Earth, Wind & Fire
- 1990: Face to Face - Edwin Hawkins
- 1990: Live - Tramaine Hawkins (producer, choir director, keyboards)
- 1991: Gospel Music Workshop of America
- 1991: Gentlemen of Gospel, Vol. 2
- 1992: A Salute to The Caravans - Various artists (performer on “Where Is Your Faith in God”)
- 1993: It Remains to Be Seen - The Mississippi Mass Choir (producer)
- 1994: Choirs En Masse - Various artists (performer, producer)
- 1994: Job Bay Area Mass Choir
- 1995: On & On Jennifer Holliday (producer, background vocals, piano)
- 1996: Music in Me Larry Coleman (producer)
- 1996: Be Encouraged - Los Angeles Chapter of the G.M.W.A.
- 1997: Jesus Loves Me - The Western Michigan Mass Choir
- 1997: Leaning on Jesus - Cogic International Mass Choir
- 1997: Live Gospel Experience, Vol. 3 - Various artists
- 1997: Live Gospel Experience, Vol. 4 - Various artists
- 1997: Keepers - Merl Saunders & Friends (background vocals)
- 1998: Love Is the Only Way Edwin Hawkins
- 1998: I Get Lifted - Kelli Williams (producer, keyboards)
- 1998: Unconditional Love - Darlene Love
- 1999: World Class Gospel Experience, Vol. 1 - Various artists
- 2002: Go Get Your Life Back - Donald Lawrence
- 2005: Get Thee Behind Me - Sacramento Metropolitan GMWA
- 2006: Praise & Worship - Daryl Coley (producer)
- 2008: The Sound - Mary Mary
- 2010: The Gospel Music Celebration: Tribute to Bishop G.E. Patterson - Various artists (“What is This”)
- 2010: The Gospel Music Celebration, Pt. 2: Tribute To Bishop G.E. Patterson - Various artists (“I Love You, Lord”)
Video
- 1982: Gospel
- 1983: Oh Happy Day
- 1991: Love Alive, Vol. 4 (Malaco)
- 1998: Walter Hawkins & The Hawkins Family (Monterey Video)
- 1998: Love Alive, Vol. 5: 25th Anniversary Reunion, Vol. 1 (Interscope)
- 1999: Love Alive, Vol. 5: 25th Anniversary Reunion, Vol. 2 (Interscope)
- 2006: Song in My Heart (Coda)
Awards
Hawkins was nominated for nine Grammy Awards, and won the 1981 Grammy for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational for the special project album The Lord's Prayer.
Hawkins won three Gospel Music Association Dove Awards:
- 1980: Soul Gospel Album of the Year for Love Alive II; Walter Hawkins and the Love Center Choir
- 1982: Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year for The Hawkins Family Live
- 1991: Traditional Song of the Year for “The Potter’s House” (co-songwriter)
He won two Stellar Awards:
- 2006: Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year
- 2006: Traditional CD of the Year for A Song In My Heart
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