Gospel industry veteran Walter Hawkins has died.
Recognized as one of the industry’s leading talents whose titles include Bishop, singer, songwriter, and producer, Hawkins died at the age of 61 Sunday.
With a discography that includes staples like “Going Up Yonder,” “What It Is,” “Changed,” and “The Lord’s Prayer,’ Hawkins’ death comes after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.
Issuing a statement shortly after his death, Hawkins’ brother, Edwin, told the Associated Press “he will suffer no more”.
“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.”
In addition to his efforts, Hawkins had worked with everyone from Jeffrey Osborne and Van Morrison to his family. The Edwin Hawkins Singers (Oh, Happy Day), credited as a trailblazing force behind contemporary gospel in the late 1950s/1960s.
Hawkins will be missed.
