Grammy Award Winning Gospel Singer Walter Hawkins (1949 – 2010) Dies

Tuesday, July 13th 2010 | Leave a Comment

Gospel singer/songwriter Walter Hawkins lost his battle with pancreatic cancer Sunday at the age of 61 in his home in Ripon, California. His older brother released the following statement shortly after Hawkins’ death:

“Today, I lost my brother, my pastor, and my best friend,” said Edwin Hawkins. “Bishop Hawkins suffered bravely but now he will suffer no more and he will be greatly missed.”

Hawkins, an Oakland native, started his career off by collaborating with his brother Edwin on the hit Gospel track “Oh Happy Day,” which became one of the first gospel songs to cross over to mainstream charts.

He studied for his divinity degree at the University of California in Berkely after parting ways musically with his brother, and in between his studies he recorded his debut album Do Your Best in 1972. The following year, he become a pastor and founded the Love Center Church in Oakland, CA where he also formed a choir with which he recorded a number of hit records with, including “The Lord’s Prayer,” “Love Alive III,” “Love Alive IV,” all of which did really well on the top of the Billboard charts and won awards (“The Lord’s Prayer” won a Grammy in 1980 and he performed during the ceremony that year).

At the time of his death, Hawkins was planning a new CD concert recording for this fall called “Love Alive.” Funeral arrangements for the Gospel legend were pending at press time.

Filed: R.I.P. | Tags:

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  • Denise Watkins

    We will truly miss Pastor Hawkins, I have always looked forward to seeing him and talking with him when my husband Calvin Watkins and I would visit the church and also when we would sing with the community choir. He has always been such a soft spoken and patient person to be around. God Bless all of you, Ed and La Nette and the rest of the family,

  • Gdayz

    Walter Hawkins will be sorely missed. BTW: somebody can’t add. If he’s born in 1949, he should have been 61 not 81. oops!

  • http://HTTP Pamela Ellis

    Walter was an extrodinary individual. I love the Hawkins family since I was a small child. The Hawkins would come to Michigan as another artist stated and it was like (The Jackon Five were in town) that is just how well we loved him. I had a chance to spend time with this family and they are the cream del le cream. They are humble, loving, patient, considerate. kind , beautiful on the outside and inside.

    I love the Hawkins Family very very much. God bless you the family and friends, because Walter will have that heavenly (WHAT A RANGE) voice singing and arranging songs with the other singing saints that have made their transitions.
    He will be greatly missed.

    Pamela Ellis

  • elizabeth lewis

    You will truly be missed. you were such a maravolse person. I loved all of your music may god bless the family.

  • http://idon'thaveone Renita Jones

    You will truly be missed. I grew up listening to Bishop Walter, and the Hawkins family. He will
    always be part of my life, and so, will the hawkins family. Be encourage.

  • Allena Ross

    Bishop Walter Hawkins died at the age of 61 not 81. Thanks

  • denise siverand

    His age is incorrect in your article

  • RK TOWNSEND

    PLEASE, NOTE AND CORRECT THE MISTAKE. BISHOP HAWKINS WAS 61 NOT 81! thank you

  • Arnold Sevier

    Walter Hawkins lived because Jesus Lives….Bishop Hawkins’ music and Ministry will live on until Christ, Himself, Returns!!! My sincerest condolences and love to the Hawkins Family and Love Center Church !

  • Juanita Blake

    Walter Hawkins will be missed greatly but my prayer goes out to the family and the church family as well. I have and still till this very day enjoy listening to his music.

  • VERONICA T

    Going to miss his music. I still listen to his old songs when he got started. May he rest in peace.

  • Nancy L. Glass

    On sunday morning july 18 I was going to see the sick at the hospital, and thats when i heard the news of walter’s passing that was a very sad day for me I was always a big fan of his whole family,REST IN PEACE PASTOR.

  • Theresa Curry

    I grew up listening to Bishop Walter Hawkins music, and singing in two gospel choirs in Detroit. Lucille Lemon and the Lemon Gospel Choir, directed by Dr. Lucille Lemon and The Southwest Michigan State Community Choir directed by Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, is another sad occasion for the Gospel community. I know his music will continue to be appreciated and heard into the future. God bless the Hawkins Family.

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