Walter Hawkins

Walter Lee Hawkins (May 18, 1949 to July 11, 2010) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, composer, and pastor.Often regarded as a trailblazer in urban contemporary gospel music, his career spanned over four decades, during which he completely reshaped the sound of modern church worship.He was the younger brother of Edwin Hawkins, a pioneer in the gospel genre, and he initially gained national attention performing with the Edwin Hawkins Singers.

Renowned for his soaring vocal range, masterful piano arrangements, and deeply emotive songwriting, Hawkins brought a fresh, polished sound to traditional gospel music.He is best known for founding the Love Center Church in Oakland, California, and establishing the Grammy Award-winning Love Center Choir.Together, they released the groundbreaking “Love Alive” album series, which yielded numerous crossover hits, dominated the Billboard Gospel charts, and solidified his place as a true music legend.

Early Life and Background

Walter Lee Hawkins was born on May 18, 1949, in Oakland, California.He was the seventh of eight children born to Dan Lee and Mamie Vivian Hawkins. Growing up in a deeply religious and musically gifted family, faith and song were the cornerstones of his childhood. His older brother, Edwin Hawkins, was a musical prodigy who would eventually direct choirs and create the famous Northern California State Youth Choir.Surrounded by singing and instrumental practice, Walter naturally gravitated toward music, developing his skills as a vocalist and a gifted pianist.

How Their Music Career Started

Hawkins officially started his music journey in the late 1960s by joining the Northern California State Youth Choir, directed by his brother Edwin.In 1968, the choir recorded an independent project to raise funds for their local church.One of the tracks, an arrangement of “Oh Happy Day,” unexpectedly became a massive international hit, prompting a record label to buy the rights.The group was rebranded as the Edwin Hawkins Singers, and Walter toured and performed extensively with the ensemble, gaining invaluable exposure to the professional music industry and the power of contemporary gospel arrangements.He eventually stepped out to release his debut solo album, “Do Your Best,” in 1972.

Career and Breakthrough

In 1973, Hawkins made the pivotal decision to enter the ministry, founding the Love Center Church in Oakland.He soon organized the Love Center Choir, pooling local vocal talent.In 1975, the group released their first live album, “Love Alive,” on Light Records.The project was a massive commercial breakthrough, introducing a vibrant, contemporary sound that resonated far beyond traditional church audiences.The album series became a legendary franchise in gospel music.“Love Alive II” (1978) and “Love Alive III” (1984) both enjoyed massive sales, but it was “Love Alive IV” (1990) that made history, dominating the number one spot on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart for 33 weeks.

Musical Style and Influences

Walter Hawkins was celebrated for a signature sound that seamlessly merged traditional gospel fervor with polished R&B, soul, and classical choir arrangements. He possessed an extraordinary vocal range and a commanding, emotive delivery.However, his true genius lay in his songwriting and composing.He was known for writing lyrics that spoke deeply to the human condition, pairing them with complex, unpredictable chord progressions that elevated choir music to new artistic heights. His style paved the way for the urban contemporary gospel boom of the late 20th century.

Notable Songs and Albums

Throughout his career, Hawkins produced and wrote an incredible catalog of enduring classics. The “Love Alive” album series stands as his crowning achievement, collectively selling well over a million copies.He penned some of the most sung anthems in the modern church, including “Going Up Yonder,” “Changed,” “Be Grateful,” “Thank You,” and “Marvelous”.In addition to his work with the Love Center Choir, he released highly successful projects with The Hawkins Family, including the 1977 album “Jesus Christ Is the Way”.

Awards and Recognition

Hawkins’ monumental contributions to the music industry resulted in widespread critical acclaim.Over his career, he received nine Grammy Award nominations, winning the prestigious award in 1981 for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational for his rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer”.He was also a multiple-time winner at the Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, taking home trophies for Soul Gospel Album of the Year for “Love Alive II” in 1980, and Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year for “The Hawkins Family Live” in 1982. In 2006, he won two Stellar Awards for his solo project “A Song in My Heart”.

Personal Life

Hawkins was married to the legendary gospel singer Tramaine Hawkins from 1971 to 1994. Tramaine frequently sang lead on many of his most famous compositions, and their musical partnership produced some of the greatest hits of the era.The couple had two children together: a son named Walter Lee “Jamie” Hawkins Jr., and a daughter named Trystan Lynette Hawkins.Beyond his musical endeavors, he was a deeply committed pastor, dedicating decades of his life to leading the congregation at Love Center Church and serving the Oakland community.He was consecrated as a Bishop in 1992.

Legacy and Influence

Bishop Walter Hawkins passed away on July 11, 2010, at his home in Ripon, California, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.He was 61 years old. His passing was heavily mourned across the globe, but his musical legacy remains deeply ingrained in the DNA of modern Christian music. He produced or collaborated on over 116 hit songs on the Billboard Gospel charts and worked with secular legends like Van Morrison and Earth, Wind & Fire. Today, his songs are still standard repertoire for church choirs worldwide, cementing his status as a true architect of contemporary gospel music.