Walter Hawkins - Gospel music singer, and a pastor, died.

Walter Hawkins (May 18, 1949 — July 11, 2010) was an award-winning American gospel music singer, and a pastor. Hawkins became an ordained bishop in 1992. He died at his home in Ripon, California, from pancreatic cancer.



Hawkins started his career in one of his brother's chorales, "The Northern California State Youth Choir" of the Church of God in Christ. Later, he accompanied his brother Edwin and founded The Edwin Hawkins Singers. This collaborative effort produced the hit song Oh Happy Day, which became one of the first gospel songs to cross over onto mainstream music charts.

Hawkins, who was battling pancreatic cancer, passed away 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 greatly missed."

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