Tramaine Hawkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tramaine Hawkins |
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Hawkins in 1999
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tramaine Aunzola Davis |
| Also known as | Lady Tramaine Hawkins |
| Born | October 11, 1951 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Labels | |
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Tramaine Hawkins, born Tramaine Aunzola Davis on October 11, 1951, is an amazing American Gospel singer. She has been singing for over 50 years! Tramaine has won many awards, including two Grammy Awards, two Dove Awards, and 19 Stellar Awards.
Contents
About Tramaine Hawkins
Her Early Life and Music Journey
Tramaine Hawkins was born in San Francisco, California. Her parents were Roland and Lois Davis. She grew up in the Ephesians Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, California. Her grandfather, Bishop E.E. Cleveland, was the pastor there.
When Tramaine was in high school, she formed a gospel group called the Heavenly Tones. Her friends Mary McCreary, Elva Mouton, and Vet Stone were also in the group. They sang at different places in the Oakland and San Francisco areas. In 1966, the group recorded an album called I Love the Lord. They also recorded a song called He's Alright.
Later, Vet Stone's older brother, Sly Stone, started a famous band called Sly & the Family Stone. The Heavenly Tones were asked to be their background singers, known as Little Sister. But Tramaine decided to focus only on singing gospel music.
When she was 17, Tramaine sang on the Edwin Hawkins Singers Choir's hit song "Oh Happy Day." She became well-known for her powerful voice. She was a featured singer with her late husband Walter Hawkins' Love Center Choir and the Hawkins Family. In the 1980s, Tramaine had many popular songs as a solo artist. She released albums like Tramaine (1979) and Determined (1983). Songs like "Changed" and "Goin Up Yonder" became fan favorites.
Singing for a Wider Audience
Tramaine Hawkins also sang with the R&B/soul group Honey Cone for a short time in the 1970s. Their song "Want Ads" was later used in a gospel song by Mary Mary. Tramaine also sang with Andraé Crouch and The Disciples. She sang lead on their song "Christian People" in 1970, which was nominated for a Grammy.
In the mid-1980s, Tramaine signed with A&M Records. She released gospel albums that had a dance music style. Her 1985 album, The Search Is Over, included dance songs like "Child of the King" and "In the Morning Time." Her song "Fall Down (Spirit of Love)" became a huge hit on the Billboard Dance Charts.
This new style of music was very popular with a wider audience. However, some of her traditional gospel fans were surprised by the change. Even so, "Fall Down" was one of the first gospel songs to become popular on mainstream music charts. Her next album, Freedom (1987), included songs like "The Rock" and "Freedom." The song "Freedom" was co-written by The Jacksons.
Tramaine won her first Grammy Award in 1981. She won it for her performance on "The Lord's Prayer" with her husband Walter Hawkins.
Returning to Her Roots
After her dance-style albums, Tramaine signed with Sparrow Records. She released The Joy That Floods My Soul in 1988. This album helped her reconnect with her original gospel fans. She also sang on MC Hammer's song "Do Not Pass Me By" in 1990.
Tramaine was asked to sing at the funeral of famous entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. in May 1990. She also sang on Santana's album "Spirits Dancing in the Flesh" that same year.
In 1990, Tramaine released a live concert album called Tramaine Hawkins Live. This album was a big success and won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album in 1991. After this, she became one of the first gospel artists to sign with Columbia Records. She released the album To A Higher Place in 1994.
Tramaine took a break from recording new music after this album. In 2000, she sang on a cover of her song "Highway" by the gospel group Trin-i-tee 5:7. In 2001, she released a new album called Still Tramaine. This album included dance remixes of her song "By His Strength."
In 2005, Tramaine was asked to sing at the funeral service for civil rights hero Rosa Parks. She also sang on a tribute song for Rosa Parks called "Something Inside So Strong."
Tramaine Hawkins was inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame. She received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award. She also won two Stellar Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year for her 2007 album, I Never Lost My Praise.
After her second live album, I Never Lost My Praise, Tramaine went on a church tour across the United States. She also performed "I Never Lost My Praise" on Bobby Jones Gospel in 2012. In 2014, she sang with gospel star Donnie McClurkin on his album Duets.
Her Family Life
Tramaine was married to Walter Hawkins from 1971 until 1994. They had two children, a son named Walter "Jamie" Hawkins Jr. and a daughter named Trystan Hawkins. She has five granddaughters and three grandsons.
Tramaine now calls herself "Lady Tramaine." She lives near Sacramento, California, with her husband Tommie Richardson Jr. She also has a stepson, Demar, and two step-grandsons.
Music Albums
Albums
- 1966: I Love the Lord (Gospel Records) (as a member of The Heavenly Tones)
- 1979: Tramaine (Light)
- 1983: Determined (Light) – #6 Gospel
- 1986: The Search Is Over (A&M) – #2 Gospel, #33 R&B
- 1987: Freedom (A&M)
- 1988: The Joy That Floods My Soul (Sparrow/Capitol) – #5 Gospel, #33 Christian
- 1990: Live (Sparrow) – #2 Gospel, #25 Christian
- 1994: To a Higher Place (Columbia) – #4 Gospel
- 2001: Still Tramaine (GospoCentric) – #5 Gospel, #31 Heatseekers
- 2007: I Never Lost My Praise: Live (GospoCentric) – #12 Gospel
Compilations
- 1986: Tramaine Treasury (Light)
- 1994: All My Best to You (Sparrow) – #38 Gospel
- 2001: All My Best to You, Vol. 2 (EMI Gospel)
- 2002: Mega 3 Collection (Light)
- 2008: Gospel Legacy (Light)
- 2015: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection - The Best Of
Singles
- 1966: "He's Alright" (Music City) (as a member of The Heavenly Tones)
- 1986: "Fall Down (Spirit of Love)" (A&M) – #1 Dance, #7 R&B, UK #60
- 1986: "Child of the King" (A&M)
- 1986: "In the Morning Time" (A&M) – #21 Dance, #26 R&B
- 1987: "The Rock" (A&M) - #22 Dance
- 1987: "Freedom" (A&M)
- 1992: "Do Not Pass Me By" (MC Hammer with Tramaine Hawkins) (Capitol/EMI) – #62 US, #15 R&B, #14 UK
- 1995: "I Found the Answer" (Columbia)
- 1995: "Who's Gonna Carry You" (Columbia)
- 2001: "By His Strength" (GospoCentric)
- 2007: "Excellent Lord" (GospoCentric)
- 2007: "I Never Lost My Praise" (GospoCentric)
- 2014: "My Past" (duet with Donnie McClurkin) (EMI Gospel)
