BET.com Remembers Bishop Walter Hawkins
BET.com remember gospel great Bishop Walter Hawkins.
1 / 40
Bishop Walter L. Hawkins - BET.com salutes gospel legend Walter Hawkins, who passed away on July 11, 2010.
2 / 40
Gospel Legend - Walter Hawkins is widely considered one of the fathers of the contemporary gospel music sound.
3 / 40
The Hawkins Family - Hawkins with his then-wife Tramaine and sisters Lynette and Carole.
4 / 40
The Hawkins Family - The Hawkins Family helped create the intricate "ensemble" sound that artists like Kurt Carr & Donald Lawrence are famous for today.
5 / 40
Hawkins Family Hits - "Try Christ," "Jesus Christ Is the Way" and "Keep On Fighting" were some of Hawkins' most popular songs.
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 40
Choir Leader - Walter wasn't just an architect of the ensemble gospel sound, he was also a masterful choir leader.
7 / 40
Love Alive - The "Love Alive" series of choir albums were some of his most famous with songs like "Changed" and "Going Up Yonder."
8 / 40
Love Alive II - This album produced the hit songs "Be Grateful" and "He's That Kind Of Friend."
9 / 40
Love Alive III - The third installment of the "Love Alive" series gave us "When The Battle Is Over."
10 / 40
Love Alive IV - Arguably the most popular in the series, "Love Alive IV" produced the ever-popular "Thank You Lord (For All You've Done For Me)."
ADVERTISEMENT
11 / 40
Love Alive V - The last "Love Alive" CD celebrated its 25-year anniversary and continued Walter's history of hits including "Marvelous."
12 / 40
Honors - In 2003, BET honored Walter Hawkins and the Hawkins Family at its "Celebration of Gospel" special.
13 / 40
Celebration Of Gospel - On the show, Walter and family showed that after almost 30 years, they still had it!
14 / 40
Edwin Hawkins - "I lost my brother, my pastor, and my best friend. Bishop Hawkins suffered bravely but now he will suffer no more and he will be greatly missed.”
15 / 40
Richard Smallwood - "I miss him more than I can articulate, but his legacy and his music will continue to live on. “
ADVERTISEMENT
16 / 40
Kurt Carr - "He’s my hero. I just think he was one of the greatest writers of all time and he was such a complete package."
17 / 40
Kurt Carr - "I told him how his ministry blessed my life and because of his obedience to do what God told him to do, not only was he blessed but he blessed someone like me in Connecticut who might not have ever found my way to gospel music if it were not for his record."
18 / 40
Ted Winn - "His voice and songs will resonate with generations for years to come, but more importantly, his example of how to live life and treat people will be an even greater legacy."
19 / 40
Ted Winn - "He has influenced me from the time I was a child until the time I was able to record and sing with him."
20 / 40
Vanessa Bell Armstrong - "There will never ever be another one like him."
ADVERTISEMENT
21 / 40
Juanita Bynum - "Wow, what a gift! What a blessing to the world!"
22 / 40
Vashawn Mitchell - "Walter Hawkins redefined gospel music as we know it. His music is timeless and will bless the masses forever!"
23 / 40
Myron Butler - "I am grateful to God that I got a chance to work with him. He will definitely be missed but his music will continue to live on!!”
24 / 40
JJ Hairston - "Not only did he set the standard for choirs and groups, but he himself had one of, if not, the best tenor voices in gospel music history."
25 / 40
Vickie Winans - "I was such a fan of his writing that I recorded two of his songs `Try Christ’ and `I Love You Lord‘ on my own CD. Walter is like a king to me.”
ADVERTISEMENT
26 / 40
Jonathan Nelson - "...his music is always relevant. It was relevant when he wrote it and it’s relevant today. He embodied the magic of gospel music.”
27 / 40
Brian Courtney Wilson - "When I heard of his passing, the first song to jump in my head was ‘Changed’. Anyone who has encountered our King can relate to those lyrics and the sentiment that the Hawkins Family communicated through song."
28 / 40
Nolan Williams Jr. - "Having had the opportunity to present him at his last public performance and the Kennedy Center honoring him was monumental for me."
29 / 40
Bryan Wilson - "He was like a father figure and a great role model. "
30 / 40
Cheryl Jackson (Gospel Radio Announcer) - "To me Bishop Walter Hawkins was royalty. Excellence exuded from him through his appearance, interviews, his preached word and through his music!"
ADVERTISEMENT
31 / 40
Melanie Clark (Gospel Radio Announcer/Gospelflava) - "Walter Hawkins’ music is beyond classic music…it’s forever music."
32 / 40
Candi Staton - "I will really miss him and I know that everyone else will also. He was one of a kind.”
33 / 40
KD Bowe (KD Bowe Morning Show) - "Bishop Walter Hawkins certainly possessed a special and unique gift that will NEVER be duplicated."
34 / 40
Gerard Bonner (Bonnerfide Radio) - "His music was YEARS ahead of its time and literally shaped the gospel music industry as we know it."
35 / 40
Neily Dickerson (ND Co./Church Howse Music) - "I’m thankful that I experienced his “Love Alive” and had an opportunity to briefly fellowship with him."
ADVERTISEMENT
36 / 40
Gerald Jones (DaGospelTruth.com) - "Walter Hawkins will truly be missed, but I am so happy that the world still has the privilege to experience the 'ultimate tenor' every day through his gift of song."
37 / 40
Donna Creer (Gospel Radio Announcer) - "I thank God for the privilege of having had the opportunity to be enriched by his music and ministry and know that his impact on gospel will live on and on and on and on and on!"
38 / 40
Tracy Bethea (Gospel Radio Announcer) - "Walter Hawkins' music is timeless and will breathe life forever."
39 / 40
Liz Black (Gospel Radio Announcer) - "I always felt like my radio show was never complete until I played a Walter Hawkins song."