Love Enduring

August 11th marked the one-month anniversary of the passing of Bishop Walter Hawkins. With his premature departure, the world of contemporary Gospel music has lost a cornerstone. This seminal songwriter and producer was responsible for monster classics including "Jesus Christ Is The Way," "Changed," "Going Up Yonder," "Is There Any Way," and the wildly successful “Love Alive” series. His style was a fusion of church tradition and the press and curl, platform aspirations of the ’60s and ’70s.

Just like the iconic artists including Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker and Vickie Winans who consider the late titan to be among their arsenal of muses, the Grammy award–winning artist enjoyed regular residence on the Billboard charts. With over 100 hits to his credit, one of the biggest was with his brother Edwin Hawkins and the Edwin Hawkins Singers, “Oh Happy Day.” It became a major crossover hit—a platinum precedent for Gospel music.

Bishop Hawkins’ spiritual legacy lives on through Love Center Ministries where he was founding reverend to and fellow worshiper among family and friends. His musical legacy lives on through the legendary music of his former wife and vocal virtuoso Tramaine Hawkins and their equally talented son Jaime Hawkins as recently evidenced by several updated Hawkins compositions on the Stellar award–winning “I Never Lost My Praise”—a project I had the honor to A&R alongside producer Kurt Carr.

Through the passing of Bishop Hawkins and his awesome body of work, regardless of your genre of music, I ask that as you, too, create with individuality and craft with precision a style of music that will be a gift to the world, be bold as you reveal your own style of timeless melody and music. Work in excellence to share with the world the music that plays in your head. As Jeff Chandler, TMG 2009 Artist of the Year, stated, this is not a business of overnight success. Work hard to surround yourself with other artists equally committed to being original and impeccable in their presentation. Pen lyrics with honesty, clarity, poetry and insight. Force the world to have an opinion about your work. Good, bad or ugly, to quote the gifted ladies of Virtue: “You just be you.”

Afraid? Step aside.

But for those who dare to aspire to their own greatness, congratulations. With that goal in mind, you are one step closer to fulfilling your potential to similarly become an enduring icon.

R.I.P., Bishop.