Gospel Singer. Born Edwin Reuben Hawkins, he was best known for the crossover hit "Oh Happy Day", which became internationally popular in 1969. He was also one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. He became involved in gospel music at an early age, singing as a part of various church choirs. In 1968 his ensemble, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, released their first album and one of the songs "Oh Happy Day" became very popular, first locally in the San Francisco Bay Area and then internationally. It would go on to sell seven million records and earned Hawkins a Grammy Award. The following year the Hawkins singers backed Melanie on her top 10 hit “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”. He went on to make dozens of records and won four Grammys in all, including for the songs "Every Man Wants to Be Free" and "Wonderful!" In 2007, he was voted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame. He also toured on occasion with his younger brother Walter Hawkins, a Grammy winner who died in 2010. He passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Gospel Singer. Born Edwin Reuben Hawkins, he was best known for the crossover hit "Oh Happy Day", which became internationally popular in 1969. He was also one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. He became involved in gospel music at an early age, singing as a part of various church choirs. In 1968 his ensemble, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, released their first album and one of the songs "Oh Happy Day" became very popular, first locally in the San Francisco Bay Area and then internationally. It would go on to sell seven million records and earned Hawkins a Grammy Award. The following year the Hawkins singers backed Melanie on her top 10 hit “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)”. He went on to make dozens of records and won four Grammys in all, including for the songs "Every Man Wants to Be Free" and "Wonderful!" In 2007, he was voted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame. He also toured on occasion with his younger brother Walter Hawkins, a Grammy winner who died in 2010. He passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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