Edwin Hawkins (born 18 August 1943, Oakland, California) is a Grammy Award-winning American gospel and R&B musician, pianist, choir leader, composer and arranger. He is one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. He (and the Edwin Hawkins Singers) are best known for his arrangement of "Oh Happy Day" (1968-69), which was included on the Songs of the Century list. "Oh Happy Day" was covered by The Four Seasons on their 1970 album Half & Half. The Edwin Hawkins Singers are somewhat less well-known for backing Melanie on the song, "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)".
At the age of seven Hawkins was already the keyboardist to accompany the family's gospel choir. Together with Betty Watson he was the co-founder of the Northern California State Youth Choir, which included almost 50 members. This ensemble recorded its first album in 1968, Let Us Go into the House of the Lord, which was a flop. When radio stations of the San Francisco Bay area started broadcasting a song from the album, "Oh Happy Day", it became very popular. Featuring the lead vocal of Dorothy Coombs Morrison, the subsequently released single rocketed to sales of over a million copies within two months. It crossed over to the pop charts making U.S. #4 and UK #2 in 1969.
In 1996, Edwin, always searching for fresh, new ways to promote the music he loves, teamed up with “Svart Pa Vitt”, an all-Swedish Gospel choir, on a ten-city U.S. tour to promote the album they released in late ‘95. Later on that year, he was part of “An Evening With The Boston Pops” a wonderful hour-long television special, shown on PBS, that also featured Patti LaBelle and Desiree Coleman Jackson.
At the age of seven Hawkins was already the keyboardist to accompany the family's gospel choir. Together with Betty Watson he was the co-founder of the Northern California State Youth Choir, which included almost 50 members. This ensemble recorded its first album in 1968, Let Us Go into the House of the Lord, which was a flop. When radio stations of the San Francisco Bay area started broadcasting a song from the album, "Oh Happy Day", it became very popular. Featuring the lead vocal of Dorothy Coombs Morrison, the subsequently released single rocketed to sales of over a million copies within two months. It crossed over to the pop charts making U.S. #4 and UK #2 in 1969.
In 1996, Edwin, always searching for fresh, new ways to promote the music he loves, teamed up with “Svart Pa Vitt”, an all-Swedish Gospel choir, on a ten-city U.S. tour to promote the album they released in late ‘95. Later on that year, he was part of “An Evening With The Boston Pops” a wonderful hour-long television special, shown on PBS, that also featured Patti LaBelle and Desiree Coleman Jackson.
Since 1996, the Godfather of Contemporary Gospel has remained quite busy. Edwin has recently completed his latest album entitled “Love Is The Only Way”. The project, which is Edwin’s first solo album since 1989, includes a new version of his classic hit “Oh Happy Day”. The project also includes guest appearances by Dita Jackson, Brenda Roy, cousin, Lawrence Matthews, brother, Walter Hawkins and sister, Lynette Hawkins-Stephens. In addition, Edwin continues to not only perform abroad, but organize and host his successful Music and Arts Seminar.
The song became an international success, selling more than 7 million copies, and Hawkins was awarded his first Grammy for it. Altogether he has won four Grammy Awards. Find out more about his music at: http://www.edwinhawkins.tv/
Research info gathered at: www.wikipedia.org
Visit my ezine: http://www.concelebratory.blogspot.com/
and personal blog: http://www.copyat5.blogspot.com/
The song became an international success, selling more than 7 million copies, and Hawkins was awarded his first Grammy for it. Altogether he has won four Grammy Awards. Find out more about his music at: http://www.edwinhawkins.tv/
Research info gathered at: www.wikipedia.org
Visit my ezine: http://www.concelebratory.blogspot.com/
and personal blog: http://www.copyat5.blogspot.com/
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