Singer Edwin Hawkins, whose legacy is that of a pioneer who helped pave the way for Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and other artists who would later springboard gospel careers into mainstream success, died of complications from pancreatic cancer in his Pleasanton, CA home on Monday, January 15. He was 74-years-old.
Thanks mostly to the iconic trajectory of his 1969 hit, "Oh Happy Day," Hawkins is credited along with James Cleveland, Andrae Crouch, and several others - with founding modern gospel music. Thanks to the song's ability to crossover and receive favor from pop music listeners, "Oh Happy Day" would go on to win a Grammy (best soul gospel performance, 1970) after reaching the number 4 spot on the Billboard pop chart and the number 2 slot among all R&B songs in 1969. The song's legacy ultimately wound up being such that it became a standard in American music, that over the years was adopted by the likes of Elvis Presley, Johnny Mathis, and a number of others to come after them.
Hawkins fashioned himself as a composer, arranger, keyboardist, and choirmaster. He would complete his music career as a four-time Grammy Award winner before being inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
Source: npr.org
