Walter Hawkins - also a Grammy Award singer-songwriter and pastor of Love Center church in Oakland - died after a long bout with cancer. Hawkins' younger brother, Walter, died in 2010 at the age of 61. Throughout his career, Edwin Hawkins won a total of four Grammys, and he was voted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
Elvis Presley, Johnny Mathis and numerous others also would record it." "George Harrison would cite "Oh Happy Day" as inspiration for his hit "My Sweet Lord," and Glen Campbell reached the adult contemporary charts with his own version of the Hawkins performance. The gospel song was an inspiration to other types of singers as well, The Associated Press reports: Edwin Hawkins, a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer and arranger, passed away this past January at the age of 74.He left behind an unmatched legacy, revolutionizing what it means to be a gospel. (Photo Courtesy of the Edwin Hawkins estate)įor its simple message of hope, spirit and goodwill to mankind, Myers said he wished "Oh Happy Day" to Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and followers of every other religious persuasion, including agnostics and atheists as well. A native of Oakland, Hawkins had been performing with his family and in church groups since he was a boy. Grammy Award-winning singer Edwin Hawkins died on Monday at his home in Pleasanton. He reflected on the song during a segment of All Things Considered on Christmas Day in 2002. He rose to fame when the choir he co-founded,The Northern.
The unusual pop hit was an inspiration to music historian Mitch Myers. The grammy award winning Edwin Hawkins has been coined, The father of contemporary gospel. In 1970, "Oh Happy Day" won a Grammy for best soul gospel performance. "The catchy song spread, and, with the group renamed the Edwin Hawkins Singers, it was released as a single and eventually reached No. A disc jockey at the Bay Area FM station KSAN, Abe Kesh, began playing one particular track, "Oh Happy Day." (Every day) Every day, Good Lord, Dear God. (Fight and pray) (And live rejoicing) And live rejoicing, yeah.
(Fight and pray) Oh yeah, Good Lord, ah yeah. Edwin Reuben Hawkins, the patriarch of the Edwin Hawkins Singers, died on January 15, 2018, in Pleasanton, California, at the age of 74. When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed) He washed my sins away, Lord (Oh, happy day) Ah, it's a happy day (Oh, happy day) (He taught me how) He taught me how. In 2007, Edwin Hawkins was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame. "The record rendered songs of praise with a rhythm-and-blues sensibility. In 1982 the Edwin Hawkins Music and Arts Seminar was founded, and a fourth Grammy was awarded in 1983 for the song If You Love Me.