Walter Lee Hawkins (May 18, 1949 – July 11, 2010) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, composer, and pastor. An influential figure in urban contemporary gospel music, his career spanned more than four decades. Hawkins won one Grammy from a sum of eight nominations.

Biography Walter Lee Hawkins was born on May 18, 1949 in Oakland, California to Dan Lee Hawkins and Mamie Vivian Hawkins (née Matthews). Hawkins was the brother of gospel musician Edwin Hawkins (1943–2018), with whom he first began recording music as a fundraising effort for the Church of God in Christ.

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 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.

Hawkins has collaborated with Michael Bolton, Kenny Lattimore, Darlene Love, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Jennifer Holliday.

Personal life Hawkins was married to Tramaine Hawkins from 1971 until their divorce in 1994. They had two children.

Death On July 11, 2010, Walter Hawkins died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 61 in his house in Ripon, California.

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 II – with the Love Center Choir (Light) 1980: The Hawkins Family (Light) 1982: Gospel (Savoy) 1982: I Feel Like Singing (Light) 1984: Love Alive III (Light) 1988: Special Gift with the Family (Birthright) 1989: Love Alive Reunion (Light) 1990: Love Alive IV – (Malaco) 1996: New Dawning – with the 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 1973: Fire Up – Merl Saunders 1975: This Moment – Danniebelle 1976: David Soul – David Soul 1980: The Lord's Prayer – Various artists; duet with Tramaine Hawkins on "Thy Kingdom Come" (Light) 1982: Imagine Heaven – The Edwin Hawkins 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 (background vocals, keyboards) 1986: Frantic Romantic – Jermaine Stewart (background vocals) 1987: The Hunger – Michael Bolton (background vocals) 1987: Touch the World – Earth, Wind & Fire 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 – 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 (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 & Friends (background vocals) 1998: Love Is the Only Way – Edwin Hawkins 1998: I Get Lifted – Kelli Williams (producer, keyboards) 1998: Unconditional Love – Darlene Love 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 and The Tri-City Singers 2008: The Sound – Mary Mary 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

Grammy Awards Hawkins won one Grammy out of eight nominations. Year Category Nominated work Result1978Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary"Love Alive II (Album)"1979Best Soul Gospel Performance, ContemporaryPush For Excellence (Album)1980Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary Or Inspirational"The Lord's Prayer"1981Best Soul Gospel Performance, ContemporaryWalter Hawkins: The Hawkins Family (Album)1988Best Soul Gospel Performance, MaleSpecial Gift (Track)1990Best Gospel Album by a Choir Or ChorusLove Alive IV (Album)1996Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album"New Dawning (Album)"1998Best Gospel Choir Or Chorus AlbumLove Alive V – 25th Anniversary Reunion (Album)

Dove and Stellar awards Hawkins won three Gospel Music Association Dove Awards: 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: 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