A trailblazing force behind the evolution of
the contemporary gospel sound, Edwin Hawkins remains best known for his
1969 classic "Oh Happy Day," one of the biggest gospel hits of all time
and a major pop radio smash as well. Born in
Oakland, CA
in 1943, he began singing in his church youth choir while still a
toddler, and by age five was playing piano; just two years later, he
assumed full-time piano accompaniment duties for the family gospel
group, making their recorded debut in 1957.
A decade later, Hawkins and Betty Watson co-founded the
Northern California State Youth Choir, drawing on the finest soloists from throughout the
Bay Area
to build the 50-member ensemble, which soon entered the studio to cut
the 1968 LP Let Us Go into the House of the Lord, its modern,
R&B-influenced production pointing the way to a new era in gospel
recording.
Among the highlights of Let Us Go into the House of the Lord was
the track "Oh Happy Day," which unexpectedly found a home on underground
FM play lists across San Francisco;
the single soon began earning airplay on mainstream R&B and pop
outlets across the country, and in the spring of 1969 it reached the
U.S. Top Five on the on its way to selling an astounding seven million
copies and taking home a Grammy award. At this time the choir was
rechristened the Edwin Hawkins Singers, although the featured voice on
"Oh Happy Day" belonged to singer Dorothy Combs Morrison, who soon
exited in pursuit of a solo career. Her loss proved devastating to
Hawkins' long-term commercial fortunes, although in 1970 the ensemble
did make a return appearance on the pop charts in support of Melanie on
her hit "Lay Down (Candle in the Wind)".
Still, Hawkins remained a critical favorite, and in 1972 the
Singers won a second Grammy for Every Man Wants to Be Free. Recording
prolifically throughout the remainder of the decade, in 1980 they won a
third Grammy for Wonderful; a fourth, for If You Love Me, followed three
years later. In 1982, Hawkins also founded the Edwin Hawkins Music and
Arts Seminar, an annual week-long convention that offers workshops
exploring all facets of the gospel industry and culminating each year
with a live performance by the assembled mass choir. Although Hawkins
recorded less and less frequently in the years to follow, he continued
touring regularly, including a series of 1995 dates with the Swedish
choir Svart Pa Vitt. His Music and Arts Seminar continued to grow as
well, with the 2002 choir including members from the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Hawkins also recorded throughout the 2000s, releasing All the Angels in 2004, Have Mercy four years later, and each
successive year with his Music and Arts Seminar Love Fellowship Choir.
