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Walter Hawkins
Walter Hawkins performs on stage in the East Room of the White House.jpg
Hawkins performed on stage in the East Room of the White House, where he was joined on stage by his brother Edwin, Tuesday, June 17, 2008, in honor of Black Music Month.
Background information
Birth name Walter Lee Hawkins
Born (1949-05-18)May 18, 1949
Oakland, California, U.S.
Died July 11, 2010(2010-07-11) (aged 61)
Ripon, California, U.S.
Genres Gospel
Occupation(s) Pastor, singer, songwriter, producer
Instruments Vocals, piano, keyboards
Years active 1960s–2010
Labels Light, Birthright, Malaco, GospoCentric, Interscope, Coda Records
Associated acts Tramaine Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins, Andraé Crouch

Walter Lee Hawkins (born May 18, 1949 – died July 11, 2010) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and pastor. He was a very important person in modern gospel music for over 40 years. In 2000, he became a bishop.

The Life of Walter Hawkins

Walter Lee Hawkins was born on May 18, 1949, in Oakland, California. He was the seventh of eight children. His parents were Dan Lee and Mamie Vivian Hawkins. Walter had several brothers and sisters, including Edwin Hawkins, who was also a famous musician.

Walter Hawkins was married to Tramaine Hawkins from 1971 to 1994. They had two children, a son named Walter Lee "Jamie" Hawkins, Jr., and a daughter named Trystan Lynette Hawkins. He also had two grandchildren.

Early Music Career

Walter Hawkins began his music journey in a choir led by his brother, Edwin. This choir was called the Northern California State Youth Choir. In 1968, they recorded an album to raise money for their local church.

A song from that album, "Oh Happy Day," became a huge hit! It was so popular that a record company bought the rights to it. This song made "the Edwin Hawkins Singers" famous. Walter often performed with his brother's group.

Starting Love Center Church

In the early 1970s, Walter Hawkins decided to start his own church. He left the Edwin Hawkins Singers and founded the Love Center Church in Oakland, California.

Walter and his Love Center Choir became very successful with their "Love Alive" album series. These albums sold over a million copies between the 1970s and 1990s. Their album Love Alive IV, released in 1990, was the number one gospel album on the Billboard charts for 33 weeks! Walter Hawkins helped create or worked on 116 hit songs that appeared on the Billboard Gospel Music charts.

Walter Hawkins and his groups often worked with other musicians. They recorded songs with artists like Van Morrison, Diahann Carroll, and Jeffrey Osborne.

Walter Hawkins' Passing

Walter Hawkins passed away on July 11, 2010. He was 61 years old and died from pancreatic cancer at his home in Ripon, California.

Walter Hawkins' Music Albums

Walter Hawkins created many albums throughout his career, both solo and with the Love Center Choir or the Hawkins Family.

Studio and Live Albums

  • 1972: Selah
  • 1972: Do Your Best (solo album)
  • 1975: Love Alive – Love Center Choir
  • 1977: Jesus Christ Is the Way – The Hawkins Family
  • 1978: Love Alive 2 – Love Center Choir
  • 1980: The Hawkins Family
  • 1982: Gospel
  • 1982: I Feel Like Singing
  • 1984: Love Alive 3 – Love Center Choir
  • 1988: Special Gift – Hawkins Family
  • 1989: Love Alive Reunion
  • 1990: Love Alive 4 – Love Center Choir
  • 1996: New Dawning – Hawkins Family
  • 1998: Love Alive, Vol. 5: 25th Anniversary Reunion – Love Center Choir
  • 2000: Take Courage – Hawkins Family
  • 2005: A Song in My Heart (solo)

Compilation Albums

These albums are collections of his best songs.

  • 1990: Only The Best
  • 1995: Light Years
  • 1995: The Hawkins Family Collection
  • 2002: The Best of Love Alive
  • 2002: Legends of Gospel
  • 2002: Mega 3 Collection: Love Alive
  • 2005: The Very Best of Walter Hawkins and the Hawkins Family

Guest Appearances and Collaborations

Walter Hawkins also appeared on many other artists' albums, either singing, producing, or playing instruments.

Awards and Recognitions

Walter Hawkins was recognized for his amazing talent and contributions to music.

  • He was nominated for nine Grammy Awards.
  • He won a Grammy Award in 1981 for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational for the album The Lord's Prayer.

He also won three Gospel Music Association Dove Awards:

  • 1980: Soul Gospel Album of the Year for Love Alive II.
  • 1982: Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year for The Hawkins Family Live.
  • 1991: Traditional Song of the Year for "The Potter's House" (which he co-wrote).

Walter Hawkins won two Stellar Awards:

  • 2006: Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year.
  • 2006: Traditional CD of the Year for his album A Song in My Heart.

See also

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