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Gospel music icon Bishop Walter Hawkins passed away at his home in Ripon, CA on Sunday after suffering with pancreatic cancer. He was 61.
According to older brother Edwin, Walter fought a brave battle with the disease.
“Today, I lost my brother, my pastor, and my best friend … Bishop Hawkins suffered bravely but now he will suffer no more and will be greatly missed,” he said.
Hawkins was a contemporary gospel forerunner who rose to prominence as a member of the Edwin Hawkins Singers in the early seventies.
He made a name for himself writing, singing and producing songs some of the most recognizable gospel songs ever recorded.
His "Love Alive" album series, consisting of songs recorded from the 70's to the 90's, yielded a catalog of hits that will never get old including "Marvelous," "Going Up Yonder", "Changed," "Be Grateful," and "Thank You."
Artists from various genres -- from the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin and American Idol Champ Ruben Studdard to Vicki Winans -- have remade his songs, bringing their timeless lyrics to a new generation. The influence the Grammy Award winning Hawkins has had on gospel music history is worthy of volumes.
His sleek tenor voice possessed authority and a classical tonal quality second to none as demonstrated on the duet he shared as a featured artist with Donald Lawrence on the popular 2002 Tri-Cities Singers recording of "Seasons" from the "Go Get Your Life Back" CD.
The Christian Music Hall of Fame inductee was also the former husband of gospel legend Tramaine Hawkins, with whom he fathered two children Walter "Jamie" Hawkins and Trystan Hawkins.
As the founder and pastor of Love Center Ministries in Oakland, CA, Hawkins, who was reared in the Church of God in Christ denomination, also was enamored with ministry.
"Early on I thought my ministry and my music were apart from each other. But now I see they work hand-in-hand," he once said according to a press release. "I can go a lot of places with my music that I can’t go as a pastor and vice versa. The purpose of both is getting the message out to people. I’ve had some material blessings and it’s okay to have them, but to be blessed with peace of mind and joy in your life, that’s when you will be truly fulfilled."
He was ordained a Bishop in 1992.
In January Bishop Hawkins was feted with a performance tribute at the 25th Annual Stellar Awards for a body of work that spans nearly 4 decades, earning him a place among gospel giants. He was saluted again in May at his sixty-first birthday celebration.
After surgery for pancreatic cancer in late 2008, the Hawkins Family (Walter, Edwin, Tramaine, and sister, Lynette) staged a successful, multi-city Hawkins Family reunion concert tour. Hawkins had been planning a new “Love Alive” CD concert recording this Fall.
He is survived by his two children, Walter “Jamie” and Trystan; siblings Carol, Feddie, Edwin, Daniel, and Lynette; daughter-in-law, Myiia; two grandchildren Jamie-Daniel and Jahve; a host of nieces and nephews; the Love Center Church family and Choir.
Mona Austin is a nationally syndicated news and gospel entertainment reporter. Read her gospel industry updates by visiting www.lagospel-scene.com. E-mail your feedback to
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