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Edwin Hawkins was an American singer, pianist, songwriter, arranger, and choir master, born on August 18, 1943, in Oakland, California. He is recognized as one of the cornerstones of modern gospel music and is credited with bridging the gap between old-school and contemporary gospel. Growing up in the Campbell Village projects as one of six children, his parents, Mamie and Dan Lee Hawkins, nurtured his musical talents from an early age. He began playing the piano at the age of five and took over the keyboards for his family's vocal group when he was seven. Hawkins is best known for his 1969 hit song "Oh Happy Day," which was one of the first gospel songs to achieve mainstream success. He was a brother of another notable figure and, alongside him, founded the Church of the Ephesians Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in May 1967, which initially included almost fifty members. Following the success of "Oh Happy Day," the group split in 1969, with Hawkins' group becoming the Edwin Hawkins Singers and the other members, including Watson and another soloist, organizing a new group that retained the original name. Edwin Hawkins passed away on January 15, 2018, in Pleasanton, California.

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