Walter Hawkins
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Walter Lee Hawkins (May 18, 1949 – July 11, 2010) was an American
gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...
singer Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define singi ...
,
songwriter A songwriter is a person who creates musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music genre and film scoring. ...
,
composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...
, and
pastor A pastor (abbreviated to "Ps","Pr", "Pstr.", "Ptr." or "Psa" (both singular), or "Ps" (plural)) is the leader of a Christianity, Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutherani ...
. An influential figure in
urban contemporary gospel Urban/contemporary gospel, also known as urban gospel music, urban gospel pop, or just simply urban gospel, is a modern subgenre of gospel music. Although the style developed gradually, early forms are generally dated to the 1970s, and the gen ...
music, his career spanned more than four decades. He was consecrated to the bishopric in 2000.


Biography

The 7th of 8 children born to the late Dan Lee and Mamie Vivian Hawkins, Walter Lee Hawkins was born on May 18, 1949, in Oakland, California. Hawkins was the brother of Edwin Hawkins (d. 2018), Marava Ladale Hawkins (d. 1988), Carol Lee Hawkins (d. 2020), Feddie Joyce Hawkins, Jervis Ersell Hawkins (d. 1952), Daniel Lee Hawkins (Marcia) and Lynette Gail Hawkins-Stephens (Reginald). 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 The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) is an international Christian perfection#Holiness Pentecostalism, Holiness–Pentecostal Christian denomination, and a large Pentecostal denomination in the United States. Although an international and multi ...
. The choir recorded an album in 1968 as a local fundraiser. When a song from that album, "Oh Happy Day", became a crossover hit, Buddah Records purchased the master and released it as "the Edwin Hawkins Singers". This led to him accompanying his brother Edwin to establish the Edwin Hawkins Singers. 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. Walter Hawkins and his groups were frequent musical collaborators, and recorded with
Van Morrison Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison (born 31 August 1945) is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician whose recording career started in the 1960s. Morrison's albums have performed well in the UK and Ireland, with more than 40 reaching the UK ...
,
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,
Sylvester Sylvester or Silvester is a name derived from the Latin adjective ''silvestris'' meaning "wooded" or "wild", which derives from the noun ''silva'' meaning "woodland". Classical Latin spells this with ''i''. In Classical Latin, ''y'' represented a ...
, and
Jeffrey Osborne Jeffrey Linton Osborne (born March 9, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and lyricist. He is the former drummer and lead singer of the American R&B/soul group L.T.D. (band), L.T.D., with whom he began his musical career in 1970. B ...
, among many others. 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.


Personal life

Bishop Hawkins was married to Tramaine Hawkins from 1971 until their divorce in 1994. They had two children, a son Walter Lee "Jamie" Hawkins, Jr., who is married to Myiia "Sunny" Davis-Hawkins, and a daughter Trystan Lynette Hawkins. Bishop Hawkins also had a granddaughter, Jahve Neru Deana Hawkins, and a grandson, Jamie Daniel Hawkins.


Death

On July 11, 2010, Walter Hawkins died of
pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of ...
at the age of 61 in his house in Ripon, California.


Discography


Albums

*1972: ''Selah'' (Fantasy) *1972: ''Do Your Best'' (solo album) *1975: ''Love Alive'' – Love Center Choir (Light) *1977: ''Jesus Christ Is the Way'' – The Hawkins Family (Light) *1978: Love Alive II – with the Love Center Choir (Light) *1980: '' The Hawkins Family'' (Light) *1982: ''Gospel'' (Savoy) *1982: ''I Feel Like Singing'' (Light) *1984: Love Alive III (Light) *1988: Special Gift ''with the'' Family (Birthright) *1989: ''Love Alive Reunion (Light) *1990: Love Alive IV – (Malaco) *1996: New Dawning – with the Hawkins Family (Bellmark) *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

*1973: '' Fire Up'' –
Merl Saunders Merl Saunders (February 14, 1934 – October 24, 2008) was an American multi-genre musician who played piano and keyboards, favoring the Hammond B-3 console organ. Biography Born in San Mateo, California, United States, Saunders attended Poly ...
*1975: ''This Moment'' – Danniebelle *1976: ''David Soul'' –
David Soul David Soul (born David Richard Solberg; August 28, 1943 – January 4, 2024) was an American-British actor and singer. With a career spanning five decades, he rose to prominence for portraying Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson in the Americ ...
*1980: ''The Lord's Prayer'' – Various artists; duet with Tramaine Hawkins on "Thy Kingdom Come" (Light) *1982: ''Imagine Heaven'' – The Edwin Hawkins Singers *1982: ''This Is Love'' – Patrick Henderson (keyboards) *1983: ''I'm On Your Side'' – Angela Bofill *1986: ''The Search Is Over'' – Tramaine Hawkins *1986: ''I Must Go On'' – Shirley Miller (producer, writer, vocals) *1986: ''Hand in Hand'' – The Williams Brothers (producer, keyboards) *1986: ''Just Daryl'' –
Daryl Coley Daryl Lynn Coley (October 30, 1955 – March 15, 2016) was an American Christian singer. At 14, Coley was a member of the ensemble "Helen Stephens and the Voices of Christ". He began performing with Edwin Hawkins in the Edwin Hawkins Singers and ...
(background vocals, keyboards) *1986: ''Frantic Romantic'' – Jermaine Stewart (background vocals) *1987: '' The Hunger'' –
Michael Bolton Michael Bolotin (born February 26, 1953), known professionally as Michael Bolton, is an American singer and songwriter. Bolton performed in the hard rock and heavy metal music genres from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, both on his early solo a ...
(background vocals) *1987: '' Touch the World'' –
Earth, Wind & Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (abbreviated as EW&F or EWF) is an American band formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. Their music spans multiple genres, including jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling ba ...
*1987: ''Baby Sis'' – Lynette Hawkins Stephens (producer, writer, vocals) *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 The Caravans were an American gospel music group that was started in 1947 by Robert Anderson. It reached its peak popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, launching the careers of a number of artists, including: Delores Washington, Albertina ...
'' – Various artists (performer on "Where Is Your Faith in God") *1993: ''It Remains to Be Seen'' – The Mississippi Mass Choir (producer) *1993: ''Hold on Old Soldier'' – The Mississippi Mass Choir (producer, writer, singer) *1994: ''Choirs En Masse'' – Various artists (performer, producer) *1994: ''Job'' – Bay Area Mass Choir *1995: ''On & On'' –
Jennifer Holliday Jennifer Yvette Holliday (born October 19, 1960) is an American singer and actress. She started her career on Broadway in musicals such as ''Dreamgirls'' (1981–83), '' Your Arms Too Short to Box with God'' (1980–1981) and later became a ...
(producer, background vocals, piano) *1996: ''Music in Me'' – Larry Coleman (producer) *1996: "I'll See You In The Rapture" Mississippi Mass Choir *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 Merl Saunders (February 14, 1934 – October 24, 2008) was an American multi-genre musician who played piano and keyboards, favoring the Hammond B-3 console organ. Biography Born in San Mateo, California, United States, Saunders attended Poly ...
& Friends (background vocals) *1998: ''Love Is the Only Way'' – Edwin Hawkins *1998: ''I Get Lifted'' – Kelli Williams (producer, keyboards) *1998: ''Unconditional Love'' –
Darlene Love Darlene Wright (born July 26, 1941), also known by the stage name Darlene Love, is an American R&B and soul singer and actress. She was the lead singer of the girl group the Blossoms and also a solo recording artist. She began singing as a ch ...
*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 *2005: ''Journey-Live in NY'' – Richard Smallwood *2006: ''Praise & Worship'' – Daryl Coley (producer) *2006: ''Finale Act I'', ''Finale Act II'' & ''The Grand Finale'' by
Donald Lawrence Donald Lawrence (born May 4, 1961, Gastonia, North Carolina) is an American gospel music songwriter, record producer and artist. He is best known for his Grammy Award-nominated songs "The Blessing of Abraham" and "Encourage Yourself". He studied ...
and The Tri-City Singers *2008: ''The Sound'' –
Mary Mary Mary Mary is an American urban contemporary gospel duo formed in 1998, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Trecina Atkins-Campbell. Their name is inspired by two biblical figures: Mary, mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. They ar ...
*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 Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...
s, 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 A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards ceremonies presented annually and have been held in Nashville, Tennessee excep ...
: *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 A Stellar Award is an award presented by SAGMA to recognize achievements in the gospel music industry.Sagma
The Stel ...
: *2006: Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year *2006: Traditional CD of the Year for ''A Song in My Heart''


References


External links

*
Walter Hawkins biography at the Love Center website
accessed July 12, 2010
Walter Hawkins on the ''Billboard'' music charts
accessed July 12, 2010 *
Walter Hawkins death notice , Music inside
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hawkins, Walter 1949 births 2010 deaths Singers from Oakland, California American Pentecostals Church of God in Christ pastors African-American musicians Deaths from pancreatic cancer in California 21st-century American bishops American gospel singers Grammy Award winners