Walter Lee Hawkins (May 18, 1949 – July 11, 2010) was an American

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...

singer Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

songwriter A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes 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 gen ...

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 Defi ...

, and

pastor A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...

. An influential figure in

urban contemporary gospel Urban/contemporary gospel is a modern subgenre of gospel music. Although the style developed gradually, early forms are generally dated to the 1970s, and the genre was well established by the end of the 1980s. The radio format is pitched prima ...

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 Edwin Reuben Hawkins (August 19, 1943 – January 15, 2018) was an American gospel musician, pianist, choir master, composer, and arranger. He was one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. He (as leader of the Edwin Hawkins S ...

(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 was married to

Tramaine Hawkins Tramaine Aunzola Richardson , (nee’ Davis) known professionally as Tramaine Hawkins (born October 11, 1951), is an American award–winning gospel music, Gospel singer whose career spans over five decades. Since beginning her career in 1966, Ha ...

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. 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 a Holiness–Pentecostal Christian denomination, and the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States. Although an international and multi-ethnic religious organization, it has a predominantly Bl ...

. 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 Morrison (born 31 August 1945), known professionally as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording career spans seven decades. He has won two Grammy Awards. As a teenager in t ...

Diahann Carroll Diahann Carroll (; born Carol Diann Johnson; July 17, 1935 – October 4, 2019) was an American actress, singer, model, and activist. She rose to prominence in some of the earliest major studio films to feature black casts, including ''Car ...

, Sylvester, 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., with whom he began his musical career in 1970. Biography Earl ...

, 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 Jeanie Tracy is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and record producer. She rose to fame in the late 1970s as a background singer of Sylvester, an American disco singer. Her first album, '' Me and You'' (1982), featured post-disco hits "I' ...

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 t ...

at the age of 61 in his house in

Ripon, California Ripon is a city located in San Joaquin County, California. The population was 14,297 at the 2010 census. Ripon was originally known as Stanislaus City, but was renamed for Ripon, Wisconsin, in 1876. History Ripon, on the site previously known as ...

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 2'' – Love Center Choir (Light) *1980: '' The Hawkins Family'' (Light) *1982: ''Gospel'' (Savoy) *1982: ''I Feel Like Singing'' (Light) *1984: ''Love Alive 3'' – Love Center Choir (Light) *1988: ''Special Gift'' Hawkins Family (Birthright) *1989: ''Love Alive Reunion (Light) *1990: ''Love Alive 4'' – Love Center Choir (Malaco) *1996: ''New Dawning'' – 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

*1975: ''This Moment'' – Danniebelle *1976: ''David Soul'' –

David Soul David Soul (born David Richard Solberg; August 28, 1943) is an American-British actor and singer. He is known for his role as Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson in the television series ''Starsky & Hutch'' from 1975 to 1979; Joshua Bolt on ' ...

*1980: ''The Lord's Prayer'' – Various artists; duet with

on "Thy Kingdom Come" (Light) *1982: ''Imagine Heaven'' – The

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
, The Jewish Historical Society of New Haven, 1998. (born February 26, 1953), known professio ...

(background vocals) *1987: '' Touch the World'' –

Earth, Wind & Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million re ...

*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 Wa ...

'' – 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 actress and singer. 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 su ...

(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 Polyte ...

& Friends (background vocals) *1998: ''Love Is the Only Way'' – Edwin Hawkins *1998: ''I Get Lifted'' –

Kelli Williams Kelli Renee Williams (born June 8, 1970) is an American actress and director. She is known for her roles as lawyer, Lindsay Dole on the legal drama ''The Practice'', psychologist and deception expert Dr. Gillian Foster on ''Lie to Me'', and Jac ...

(producer, keyboards) *1998: ''Unconditional Love'' –

Darlene Love Darlene Wright (born July 26, 1941), known professionally as Darlene Love, is an American singer and actress. She was the lead singer of the girl group the Blossoms and she also recorded as a solo artist. She began singing as a child with her ...

*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 a female American urban contemporary gospel duo composed of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell (born April 29, 1972) and Trecina Atkins-Campbell (born May 1, 1974). Formed in 1998, Mary Mary was launched into mainstream recognition fo ...

*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), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

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 are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Award ...

: *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, gospel music industry.Sagma< ...

: *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 Musicians from Oakland, California American Pentecostals Church of God in Christ pastors African-American musicians Deaths from pancreatic cancer American bishops American gospel singers Grammy Award winners Deaths from cancer in California Singers from California