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 is an amazing American singer. She is famous for her Gospel songs. Born on October 11, 1951, her full name is Tramaine Aunzola Richardson (her maiden name was Davis). She has been singing for over 50 years, starting in 1966! Throughout her long career, Tramaine Hawkins has won many awards. These include two Grammy Awards, two Doves, and 19 Stellar Awards.
Contents
Tramaine Hawkins' Musical Journey
Early Life and First Songs
Tramaine Hawkins grew up in San Francisco, California. Her grandparents, Roland and Lois Davis, raised her. She attended the Ephesians Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, California. Her grandfather, Bishop E.E. Cleveland, was the pastor there.
While still in high school, Tramaine formed a gospel group. It was called the Heavenly Tones. Her friends Mary McCreary, Elva Mouton, and Vet Stone were also in the group. They sang at different places around Oakland and San Francisco. In 1966, the Heavenly Tones recorded an album called I Love the Lord. They also released a single 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 become their background singers, known as Little Sister. But Tramaine decided to leave the group. She wanted to focus only on singing gospel music.
When she was 17, Tramaine sang on the hit song "Oh Happy Day." This song was by the Edwin Hawkins Singers Choir. Tramaine became well-known for her powerful voice. She was a featured singer with the Love Center Choir, led by her former husband, Walter Hawkins. She also sang with the Hawkins Family.
In the 1980s, Tramaine started releasing her own songs. She signed with Light Records. She released popular albums like Tramaine (1979) and Determined (1983). Songs like "Changed," "Goin Up Yonder," and "Highway" became favorites among her fans.
Reaching a Wider Audience
Tramaine Hawkins also sang with other groups. She was briefly part of the 1970s R&B/soul group Honey Cone. They had a hit song called "Want Ads." This song was later used in a gospel song by Mary Mary called "Heaven." Tramaine also sang with Andraé Crouch and The Disciples. She was the lead singer on their song "Christian People" in 1970.
In the mid-1980s, Tramaine signed with A&M Records. She released two albums that mixed gospel with dance music. Her 1985 album, The Search Is Over, had dance hits like "Child of the King" and "In the Morning Time." Her song "Fall Down (Spirit of Love)" became a huge club hit. It even reached the top of the Billboard Dance Charts.
However, some of her traditional gospel fans were not happy. They felt her music was becoming too much like pop music. Even though "Fall Down" was one of the first gospel songs to become popular in mainstream music, some fans did not like it. In 1987, she released another album called Freedom. This album included songs like "The Rock" and "Freedom." The song "Freedom" was co-written by The Jacksons.
Years later, "Fall Down" became popular again. Another gospel singer, Kelli Williams, remade the song as "Fall Down 2000." Tramaine's original long dance mix of "Fall Down" was finally included on her 2001 collection, All My Best To You, Vol. 2. In the early 2000s, Tramaine released a powerful album called Still Tramaine. This album had traditional gospel songs and a duet with her former husband, Walter Hawkins, called "It's Your Power."
Tramaine Hawkins won her first Grammy Award in 1981. This was for her performance on "The Lord's Prayer," which she sang with Walter Hawkins.
Returning to Her Roots
After some criticism about her mainstream albums, Tramaine signed with Sparrow Records. In 1988, she released The Joy That Floods My Soul. This album helped her reconnect with her original gospel fans. She also made a guest appearance on MC Hammer's 1990 song "Do Not Pass Me By."
Tramaine was asked to sing at the funeral of the famous entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. in May 1990. She also sang on Santana's album "Spirits Dancing in the Flesh" in June 1990.
Her 1990 live album, Tramaine Hawkins Live, was a big success. It featured amazing musical arrangements and popular songs. This album won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album in 1991. After this big comeback, she became one of the first gospel artists to sign with Columbia Records. She released the album To A Higher Place in 1994.
After this album, Tramaine took a break from recording new music. She returned in 2000, singing on a cover of her song "Highway" by the gospel group Trin-i-tee 5:7. In 2001, she released the album Still Tramaine after signing with GospoCentric Records. This album also included dance remixes of her song "By His Strength."
In 2005, Tramaine was asked to sing at the funeral of civil rights activist Rosa Parks. She also took part in a tribute song for Rosa Parks called "Something Inside So Strong." Other gospel artists like Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Daryl Coley were also on this song.
Tramaine Hawkins has been honored many times. She was inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame. She received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award. She also won two Stellar Awards in 2007 for her 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 was a special guest on a project by Mary Mary, singing "It Will Be Worth It." She also performed "I Never Lost My Praise" on Bobby Jones Gospel in 2012. In 2014, she sang with fellow gospel star Donnie McClurkin on his album Duets. They performed the song "My Past."
Tramaine Hawkins' Family Life
Tramaine Hawkins was married to Walter Hawkins from 1971 to 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 in California with her husband, Tommie Richardson Jr.
Tramaine Hawkins' Music Albums
Studio Albums
- 1966: I Love the Lord (with The Heavenly Tones)
- 1979: Tramaine
- 1983: Determined
- 1986: The Search Is Over
- 1987: Freedom
- 1988: The Joy That Floods My Soul
- 1990: Live
- 1994: To a Higher Place
- 2001: Still Tramaine
- 2007: I Never Lost My Praise: Live
Compilation Albums
- 1986: Tramaine Treasury
- 1994: All My Best to You
- 2001: All My Best to You, Vol. 2
- 2002: Mega 3 Collection
- 2008: Gospel Legacy
- 2015: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection - The Best Of
Popular Songs (Singles)
- 1966: "He's Alright" (with The Heavenly Tones)
- 1986: "Fall Down (Spirit of Love)"
- 1986: "Child of the King"
- 1986: "In the Morning Time"
- 1987: "The Rock"
- 1987: "Freedom"
- 1992: "Do Not Pass Me By" (MC Hammer with Tramaine Hawkins)
- 1995: "I Found the Answer"
- 1995: "Who's Gonna Carry You"
- 2001: "By His Strength"
- 2007: "Excellent Lord"
- 2007: "I Never Lost My Praise"
- 2014: "My Past" (duet with Donnie McClurkin)
