How Did Edwin Hawkins Influence Gospel Music

Edwin Hawkins

Edwin Hawkins is an American gospel composer, chorus master, and singer that created the urban contemporary gospel sound. Edwin started singing at church since he was a toddler and began playing piano at the age of five. At the age of five teen, Edwin and Betty Watson co-founded the California State Youth Choir that contains fifty ensemble members.

Edwin Hawkins brought some importance and the influence on the gospel music world since Edwin created gospel songs that includes R&B and soul. This results to a new unusual gospel musical style called Contemporary gospel music. This new musical style gives an inspiration to Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, and other gospel singers to adapt gospel sounds to pop songs. In addition, some pop

In addition, “Oh Happy Day”, one of the song in the album, was very popular when it was played by radio stations in the Bay Area. After Dorothy Combs became the vocal leader, and the contract with Buddah records was signed, one million copies were sold in just two months. Not only entering the top song charts in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Germany, and French. Besides, there were seven-million-copy sold worldwide. This song also won a Grammy award for the best soul performance. Another song entitled “Lay Down”, recorded in 1970, became the top six best song in the United States and top 10 one the other regions on the billboard hot 100. His other songs entitled “If at First You Don’t Succeed” was in the rank 89th on the R&B chart. Additionally, in the year of 1992, Edwin Hawkins became the choir master for a movie entitled “Leap of

The first Grammy was obtained from his song called “Oh Happy Day.” The Second Grammy Award was from his song entitled “Every Man Wants to be Free.” The Third Grammy was obtained in 1980 on his song called “Wonderful”. The Last Grammy Award that he received was from his song entitled “If You Love Me.” Additionally, he conducted Edwin Hawkins music and art seminar in 1982. It was an annual week convention that explored the facet in gospel industry and conducted live performance with the mass choir. From year to year, his seminar grew rapidly by having members from United States, Europe, and Japan. As he got old, he recorded less songs, but filled his day by doing music tour regularly. With the participant of the tour, he recorded an album called “Love Is on The Way” and recorded a new version of “Oh Happy Day.” In the year 2004, he successfully recorded a song with his music and art seminar choir entitled “All the Angels.” In 2008, his music and seminar choir produced a song entitled “Have Mercy.” Because of his great achievement and his contribution to the gospel music, he was voted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in