The musical genius of the Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, composer and pastor remains timeless.
Bishop Walter L. Hawkins: A Tribute
by Shanon D. Murray | TheLoop21
Whether you first heard the soul-stirring songs of Bishop Walter L. Hawkins on an eight-track player when you were a child in the '70s like I did or are replaying his greatest hits today on your iPod like I am, the musical genius of the Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, composer and pastor remains timeless.
Hawkins, a gospel music icon and trailblazer, died Sunday in California of pancreatic cancer. He was 61 years old. Yet he leaves behind a body of work that has already positioned him as one of the most influential voices and songwriters in gospel music history.
To put Walter and the rest of his family – older brother Edwin, sister Lynnette and former wife Tramaine - in perspective: They are to gospel music what Michael Jackson and his brothers are to R&B. The Hawkins family was innovative, stylish and standard-bearers for an entire industry.
Edwin Hawkins started the family’s musical legacy with the classic 'Oh Happy Day' in the late '60s. Walter Hawkins dominated the '70s with his musical stylings, and continued writing and singing hits in the nearly 40 years since.
Read the Full Essay @ theloop21.com
Bishop Walter L. Hawkins: A Tribute
by Shanon D. Murray | TheLoop21
Whether you first heard the soul-stirring songs of Bishop Walter L. Hawkins on an eight-track player when you were a child in the '70s like I did or are replaying his greatest hits today on your iPod like I am, the musical genius of the Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, composer and pastor remains timeless.
Hawkins, a gospel music icon and trailblazer, died Sunday in California of pancreatic cancer. He was 61 years old. Yet he leaves behind a body of work that has already positioned him as one of the most influential voices and songwriters in gospel music history.
To put Walter and the rest of his family – older brother Edwin, sister Lynnette and former wife Tramaine - in perspective: They are to gospel music what Michael Jackson and his brothers are to R&B. The Hawkins family was innovative, stylish and standard-bearers for an entire industry.
Edwin Hawkins started the family’s musical legacy with the classic 'Oh Happy Day' in the late '60s. Walter Hawkins dominated the '70s with his musical stylings, and continued writing and singing hits in the nearly 40 years since.
Read the Full Essay @ theloop21.com
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