Edwin Hawkins and Walter Hawkins
Four-time Grammy Award-winning Edwin Hawkins and his younger brother, the late Walter Hawkins are the architects of the West Coast Gospel choir sound. And Edwin is credited with being the originator of Urban Contemporary Gospel, opening the door for Urban Contemporary Gospel artists of today.
Raised in the San Francisco/Oakland, CA Bay Area and in the Church of God In Christ, Edwin and Walter became synonymous with African American church choir music in the 1970s and 80s. Their style was smooth, yet invoked the spirit. And it has influenced the likes of Gospel stars Donald Lawrence and Richard Smallwood.
Edwin made Gospel history first with a simple song that found its way into the hands of a local DJ and onto Gospel, R&B and Pop radio stations all over the country. The song was “Oh Happy Day,”Edwin’s Urban Gospel arrangement of this 18th-century hymn recorded was recorded by Edwin Hawkins and The Northern California State Youth Choir on the album, Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord (1968).
The freshly arranged hymn turned Urban Contemporary Gospel cross-over song became the first hymn to reach a top 5 spot on the Pop charts, achieve world-wide popularity and major sales. It’s appeared in the films Sister Act 2 (starring Whoopi Goldberg), Big Momma’s House (starring Martin Lawrence), Robin Williams’ License To Wed and the biographical Secretariat (starring Diane Lane).
Since opening doors for Gospel in the mainstream with “Oh Happy Day,” Edwin recorded with his family, The Hawkins Family and with his Music and Arts Seminar Mass Choir. His hits over the years include, “My Trust Lies In You, “Testify, “I Heard The Voice Of Jesus,” “Dear Jesus I Love You” and “Jesus Lover Of My Soul.” He hosts an annual conference , The Music and Arts Seminar to educate a new generation of gospel artists on the business and fundamentals for a career in Gospel music.
Walter who recorded much of his music with the Love Center Choir on the Love Alive series, passed away in 2010, but left a musical legacy that spanned over 30 years and includes some of the most influential choir music ever recorded, such as hits “Thank You, Lord,” “Grateful,” “Marvelous,” “Going Up Yonder” (featuring ex-wife, Tramaine Hawkins), “Jesus Christ Is The way,” “He’ll Bring You Out,” “Changed” featuring Tramaine Hawkins, “I’m going Through,” “Thank You,” “When The Battle Is Over,” “I Love The Lord,” and “What Is This.”
