Acknowledging Walter

I am saddended by the news that Bishop Walter Hawkins has passed.  Anyone familiar with gospel music should know this man.  If you don't know him, you know his music.  Many artists have rearranged and redid a lot of his songs including, "Thank You" (Mary Mary).  This guy was like one of thee greatest gospel writers of all time.  Probably top of my list personally.  Although the bulk of his career began before  I was even born and as a little girl, I still listen to his music today.  In fact, our praise team just sang one of his most popular songs, "Changed," at church a couple weeks ago.

Walter passed after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to news reports.  The music industry has certainly lost a pioneer.  In tribute to him on Faithe's Lounge, I just wanted to share an account of him from my dad, who had the chance to meet him, his brother Ed Hawkins, and his soon-to-be wife, Tramaine Hawkins, before I was born...

"One of the all time greats!  What will Ed and Tramaine do without Walter?  They were the greatest team in gospel history.  They fed off each other's gifts since 1969 when they first came out.  I was sixteen when I met the three in person at Mom and Dad's house in 1968.  Bev (my sister) knew them before fame hit them and invited them over for dinner.  They were all very young.  Tramaine was 16 and Walter 19.  Ed was 21 or 22.  I was amazed how mature Tramaine acted at such a young age.  They along with their great choir of about 70 strong, were in town from Oakland, CA for several appearances in Detroit.  That night they did a musical.

To this day, I still consider it one of the greatest performances I've ever witness in my lifetime.  That great choir and the Hawkins sang so powerfully all night.  I was so impressed and inspired by young Walter, Ed, and Tramaine's singing and new style of gospel music.  I had never heard a choir sing like that before.  They performed several songs that never were heard in Detroit, including Ed's song that became the first gospel song to ever go mainstream, "Oh Happy Day."

That big church was packed.  Me and Bev had a front row seat and no one left the building from midnight until the last song, about four in the morning.  It was a night to remember!"

~Richard Glenn

Bishop Walter Hawkins