![\"Edwin](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/720\/2018\/01\/edwinhawkins.jpg\")
\u201cIt is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Edwin Hawkins \u2013\u2013 a celebrated artist, innovator, and music icon. Though he will be greatly missed the world over, the message of love, life, and encouragement that he incorporated into his music gives us all the same hope that we\u2019ll join him in heaven and sing `Oh Happy Day.\u2019\u201d the Hawkins Family said. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEdwin Hawkins was not only a musical hero to me but he came to be a mentor and a close friend, \u201c said Grammy\u00ae winning singer\/producer, Donald Lawrence. \u201cHis group also had a huge influence on Richard Smallwood who has known Edwin since Richard was 19 years old.\u201d Smallwood adds, \u201cEdwin changed the face of gospel music and helped create a fresh sounding genre that spread around the entire world. He was a humble and kind spirit that not only encouraged others who were privileged to meet him, but also inspired millions to be daring in their creativity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n One of eight children, Edwin Hawkins was born August 19, 1943 in Oakland, CA and raised in the Campbell Village projects. He discovered music early and began playing the keyboards in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) denomination at the age of five. He and his friend, Betty Watson, co-founded the 46-member strong, Northern California State Youth Choir, in 1967 so that they could attend the annual COGIC convention. They recorded an album, Let Us Go Into The House of The Lord<\/i><\/b>, to finance the trip. The 500 copies they ordered didn\u2019t come in time for the trek but one of the LPs eventually fell into the hands of a rock music DJ, Abe \u201cVoco\u201d Kesh, at KSAN-FM Radio. He began to play the Hippy-Soul song in the Bay area and soon the song\u2019s success spread East.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy mother had an old hymnal and I had a knack for rearranging hymns,\u201d Hawkins once said. \u201c`Oh Happy Day\u2019 was an old hymn and I rearranged it. It was actually one of the least likely songs to become a hit. There were some much stronger songs on there.\u201d Record executive Neil Bogart picked up the song and distributed it through Buddha Records. \u201cOh Happy Day\u201d reached No. 2 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart and No. 4 on the Pop Singles chart in 1969. Their rendition won them a Grammy in 1970 for Best Soul Gospel Performance. The tune has sold over 7 million copies to date and it established Hawkins\u2019 career. I wasn\u2019t planning to go into the music business and I wasn\u2019t looking for a record deal,\u201d he said in the book, Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclpedia<\/i><\/b>. \u201cThe record\u2019s success decided my fate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n