Gospel Singer Walter Hawkins Died

Walter Hawkins, Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, songwriter and pastor of Oakland, died Sunday. He was 61.

Hawkins, who battled pancreatic cancer, died at his home in Ripon, Calif., his older brother, Edwin Hawkins said.

"Today I lost my brother, my pastor, and my best friend," said Edwin Hawkins. "Bishop Hawkins suffered bravely, but now he will suffer no more and he will be sorely missed."


Born in Auckland, Hawkins studied his divinity degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

While at university, he recorded his first album titled "do everything" in 1972.

The following year, Hawkins was the pastor and founder of the Church Love Center in Oakland, where he also created the choir.

In 1980 Hawkins recorded a number of albums and won nine Grammy Awards, in accordance with a friend and representative of the family, Bill Carpenter.

His "Lord's Prayer" won a Grammy in 1980, and he also carried on television Grammy Awards this year.

In 1990 Hawkins released "Love Alive III", which spent 34 weeks atop the album Billboard gospel sales chart, while going on to sell over a million copies, according to Carpenter.

In 1993 his next album, "Love Alive IV", also got into first place in the album chart sales. While working on two albums, Hawkins was ordained bishop in October 1992. In addition, his brother Walter, Hawkins left two children, two grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

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