I'm still in a state of shock at such a tremendous loss to the gospel music community and the body of Christ as a whole. Please read below for a snippet of information from the Washington Post:
Gospel great Walter Hawkins dies at 61
Walter Hawkins, an ordained bishop and one of gospel music's legendary figures, died July 11 at his home in Ripon, Calif. He had pancreatic cancer.
Bishop Hawkins began performing with his family, including cousin Shirley Miller and siblings Edwin Hawkins and Lynette Hawkins Stephens, when he was a teenager. In the late 1960s, the Hawkins' song "Oh Happy Day" rose to No. 4 on the pop charts in the U.S. and No. 2 in England, making it one of the first crossover gospel hits.
He also performed with his wife, from whom he was divorced, Grammy-award winning diva Tramaine Hawkins.
In the early 1970s, Walter Hawkins studied for a divinity degree at the University of California at Berkeley and founded the Love Center Church in Oakland, Calif., where he served as pastor and formed a choir.
He continued to sing and produce gospel songs, including the "Love Alive" series of albums, which repeatedly topped the Billboard gospel charts. His performance of "The Lord's Prayer" won a Grammy in 1980.
Bishop Hawkins last appeared in Washington in April. Though weakened by his illness, he sang at a performance at the Kennedy Center with a gospel choir and the National Symphony Orchestra.
A full obituary will follow.
By Emma Brown | July 12, 2010; 6:01 PM ET
