Tribute to Walter/Edwin Hawkins

[jdm05]

Originally Posted by Barb

Yes, I agree...

My thoughts through all of that were about Edwin...

It was he who arranged and recorded O Happy Day. Along with Andrae', it was the name, Edwin Hawkins, which was synonymous with change in gospel music.

Edwin had recorded several LPs before Walter ever recorded the first Love Alive album.

I just find it all very interesting...

I saw an interview where Walter corrected the person interviewing him. Walter told him that O Happy Day was written and recorded by Edwin way before he ever recorded the first Love Alive. Left the interviewer speechless but Walter, always a classy gentleman told him it was ok.

I told a friend of mine who was at the musical that they should have used all the orginal singers. You can't change a classic song like the Hawkins and try to make it your own. There's things you just don't change and one of them is changing a Hawkins song. That Ledesi just destroyed Be Grateful. Sounded like she was going for a jazzy sound. Nope it didn't work. Her voice was annoying!!! The other day they were showing a Walter Hawkins concert at the park. He was singing Marvelous which is a beautiful song. A majority of the crowd were kids who were looking at Walter like ok this is boring. Then you had the older crowd who sang every word with a huge smile. After the song Walter told the crowd that he did not know how to do the "stomp" but he did know how to sing songs that glorify God. I thought that was great. He will be missed!!!!