Walter Hawkins
Walter Lee Hawkins 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. Hawkins was the brother of gospel musician Edwin Hawkins, 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
- 1972: Do Your Best
- 1975: Love Alive – Love Center Choir
- 1977: Jesus Christ Is the Way – The Hawkins Family
- 1978: Love Alive II – with the Love Center Choir
- 1980: The Hawkins Family
- 1982: Gospel
- 1982: I Feel Like Singing
- 1984: Love Alive III
- 1988: Special Gift with the Family
- 1989: Love Alive Reunion
- 1990: Love Alive IV –
- 1996: New Dawning – with the Hawkins Family
- 1998: Love Alive, Vol. 5: 25th Anniversary Reunion – Love Center Choir
- 2000: Take Courage – Hawkins Family
- 2005: ''A Song in My Heart''
Compilation albums
- 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''
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"
- 1982: Imagine Heaven – The Edwin Hawkins Singers
- 1982: This Is Love – Patrick Henderson
- 1983: I'm On Your Side – Angela Bofill
- 1986: The Search Is Over – Tramaine Hawkins
- 1986: I Must Go On – Shirley Miller
- 1986: Hand in Hand – The Williams Brothers
- 1986: Just Daryl – Daryl Coley
- 1986: Frantic Romantic – Jermaine Stewart
- 1987: The Hunger – Michael Bolton
- 1987: Touch the World – Earth, Wind & Fire
- 1987: Baby Sis – Lynette Hawkins Stephens
- 1990: Face to Face – Edwin Hawkins
- 1990: Live – Tramaine Hawkins
- 1991: Gospel Music Workshop of America
- 1991: Gentlemen of Gospel, Vol. 2
- 1992: A Salute to The Caravans – Various artists
- 1993: It Remains to Be Seen – The Mississippi Mass Choir
- 1993: Hold on Old Soldier – The Mississippi Mass Choir
- 1994: Choirs En Masse – Various artists
- 1994: Job – Bay Area Mass Choir
- 1995: On & On – Jennifer Holliday
- 1996: Music in Me – Larry Coleman
- 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
- 1998: Love Is the Only Way – Edwin Hawkins
- 1998: I Get Lifted – Kelli Williams
- 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
- 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
- 2010: The Gospel Music Celebration, Pt. 2: Tribute To Bishop G.E. Patterson – Various artists
Video
- 1982: Gospel
- 1983: Oh Happy Day
- 1991: Love Alive, Vol. 4
- 1998: Walter Hawkins & The Hawkins Family
- 1998: Love Alive, Vol. 5: 25th Anniversary Reunion, Vol. 1
- 1999: Love Alive, Vol. 5: 25th Anniversary Reunion, Vol. 2
- 2006: ''Song in My Heart''
Awards
Grammy Awards
Hawkins won one Grammy out of eight nominations.| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 1978 | Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary | "Love Alive II (Album)" | Nomitated |
| 1979 | Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary | Push For Excellence | Nomitated |
| 1980 | Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary Or Inspirational | "The Lord's Prayer" | |
| 1981 | Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary | Walter Hawkins: The Hawkins Family (Album) | Nomitated |
| 1988 | Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male | Special Gift | Nomitated |
| 1990 | Best Gospel Album by a Choir Or Chorus | Love Alive IV (Album) | Nomitated |
| 1996 | Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album | "New Dawning (Album)" | Nomitated |
| 1998 | Best Gospel Choir Or Chorus Album | Love Alive V – 25th Anniversary Reunion | Nomitated |
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"
- 2006: Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year
- 2006: Traditional CD of the Year for ''A Song in My Heart''