Edwin Reuben Hawkins (August 19, 1943 – January 15, 2018) was an American g… Read Full Bio ↴Edwin Reuben Hawkins (August 19, 1943 – January 15, 2018) was an American gospel musician, pianist, choir master, composer, and arranger. He was one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. He (as leader of the Edwin Hawkins Singers) was probably best known for his arrangement of "Oh Happy Day" (1968–69), which was included on the Songs of the Century list. The Edwin Hawkins Singers made a second foray into the charts exactly one year later, backing folk singer Melanie on "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)".
At the age of seven Hawkins was already the keyboardist to accompany the family's gospel choir. Together with Betty Watson, he was the co-founder of the Northern California State Youth Choir of the Church of God in Christ, which included almost fifty members. This ensemble recorded its first album Let Us Go into the House of the Lord at the Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, California privately (on the Century 70 custom label), hoping to sell 500 copies. "Oh Happy Day" was just one of the eight songs on the album. (The soloists in the album were Elaine Kelly, Margarette Branch, Dorothy Combs Morrison, Tramaine Davis (Hawkins), Reuben Franklin, Donald Cashmere, Betty Watson, and Ruth Lyons.)
When radio stations of the San Francisco Bay area started playing "Oh Happy Day", it became very popular. Featuring the lead vocal of Dorothy Combs Morrison, the subsequently released single (on the newly created Pavilion label distributed by Buddah) rocketed to sales of over a million copies within two months. It crossed over to the pop charts making U.S. No. 4, UK No. 2, No. 2 on the Irish Singles Chart, and No. 1 on the German Singles Charts in 1969. It then became an international success, selling more than 7 million copies worldwide, and Hawkins was awarded his first Grammy for it. Hawkins' arrangement of the song was eventually covered by The Four Seasons on their 1970 album Half & Half.
Their second Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts was the 1970 Melanie single "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)," on which the label listed the performers as Melanie with The Edwin Hawkins Singers. The song peaked at No. 6 in the U.S. In the 1992 movie Leap of Faith, Hawkins is the choir master for the gospel songs.
Hawkins died on January 15, 2018, at the age of 74.
At the age of seven Hawkins was already the keyboardist to accompany the family's gospel choir. Together with Betty Watson, he was the co-founder of the Northern California State Youth Choir of the Church of God in Christ, which included almost fifty members. This ensemble recorded its first album Let Us Go into the House of the Lord at the Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, California privately (on the Century 70 custom label), hoping to sell 500 copies. "Oh Happy Day" was just one of the eight songs on the album. (The soloists in the album were Elaine Kelly, Margarette Branch, Dorothy Combs Morrison, Tramaine Davis (Hawkins), Reuben Franklin, Donald Cashmere, Betty Watson, and Ruth Lyons.)
When radio stations of the San Francisco Bay area started playing "Oh Happy Day", it became very popular. Featuring the lead vocal of Dorothy Combs Morrison, the subsequently released single (on the newly created Pavilion label distributed by Buddah) rocketed to sales of over a million copies within two months. It crossed over to the pop charts making U.S. No. 4, UK No. 2, No. 2 on the Irish Singles Chart, and No. 1 on the German Singles Charts in 1969. It then became an international success, selling more than 7 million copies worldwide, and Hawkins was awarded his first Grammy for it. Hawkins' arrangement of the song was eventually covered by The Four Seasons on their 1970 album Half & Half.
Their second Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts was the 1970 Melanie single "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)," on which the label listed the performers as Melanie with The Edwin Hawkins Singers. The song peaked at No. 6 in the U.S. In the 1992 movie Leap of Faith, Hawkins is the choir master for the gospel songs.
Hawkins died on January 15, 2018, at the age of 74.
Oh Holy Night
The Edwin Hawkins Singers Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Oh Holy Night' by these artists:
noredirect/David Archuleta Oh, Holy Night The stars Are brightly shining It is the nigh…
98 Degrees O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
98º O holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the…
Aaron K. Gray In the space of the beginning Was the living Word of…
Aaron Neville Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the nigh…
Adam' Oh holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Adolphe Adam O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the…
Adrienne Houghton O holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Al Goodman & His Orchestra Silent night, holy night All is calm, All is bright Round yo…Al Green Oh, Holy Night The stars are brightly shining It is the nigh…
Ali & Theo Yaay yeah, oh ayeah Where them dey Where them dey When nothi…
Allison Moorer Oh holy night The stars are brightly shining It is a night…
Andy Williams O holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night …
Angelis Oh holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Annie Haslam O holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Apocalyptica O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
August Burns Red O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining It is the…
Avril Lavigne O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
B.J. Thomas (Holiday) O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Bill Hughes Oh holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Billy McLaughlin & Simple Gifts O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Billy Vaughn O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters O holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the…
Boo and the Tru-Tones O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Brand New O holy night The stars are brightly shining It 'tis the nigh…
B∆STILLE 何回泣いた? 今まで君は 涙にねぎらいのキスを 何回歌った? 喜びの歌を 心の底から 出会ったばかりの北風の中 オンボ…
Cartman/Kenny/Kyle/Stan/Wyclef Jean It's funny how the Earth rotates, man you never know…
CeCe Winans Oh holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the nig…
Céline Dion O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Celine Dion O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Charlotte Church & Placido Domingo O holy night, the stars are brightly shining, It is…
Christina Aguilera Oh holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Christina Aguilera & Don Sebesky Oh holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Christmas O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Christmas Songs - Josh Groban - O holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…Crystal Gayle Oh holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Danielle Bloom O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the…
danny & the juniors O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
David Archuleta Oh, Holy Night The stars Are brightly shining It is the nigh…
DavidCrowderBand O Holy Night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Delon Holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night…
diana ross and the supremes Oh holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Dr. Byron T. Brazier Oh noche santa de estrellas refulgentes esta es la noche e…
Elin K. Smith O holy night the stars are brightly shining it is…
Ella Fitzgerald O holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Emma Muscat Oh, holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
En Vogue O holy night! The stars are Brightly shining It is the night…
Enzo Stuarti O holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Eric Cartman O holy night, the stars are Brightly shining.. It is…
G4 O Holy Night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Glen Campbell O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
Gospel Choir of Lousiana %26 Roslyn O. Smith O holy night the stars are brightly shining it is…
Gospel Choir of Lousiana & Roslyn O. Smith O holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night …
Halford (A. Charles) Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shinin…
Hall & Oates Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the nigh…
Hanjo Gäbler O HOLY NIGHT THE STARS ARE BRIGHTLY SHINING IT IS THE…
He-Art Oh holy night Oh holy night, it was a good…
Heart Oh Holy Night Oh holy night, the stars are brightly…
Indigo O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
Irma Thomas Oh, Holy Night The stars Are brightly shining It is the nigh…
J Rabbit Oh holy night night The stars are brightly shining…
J. P. Cormier O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Jackie Evancho O holy night, The stars are brightly shining; It is the nigh…
Jan Garber And His Orchestra Silent night, holy night All is calm, All is bright Round yo…
Jerry Vale O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
Ji-Hae Park O holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Jimmy Fortune O Holy Night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
JK - Oh Holy Night (O Holy Night - Mariah Carey) O Holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Jo Dee Messina O holy night the stars are brightly shining It is…
Jocelyn B. Smith O holy night the stars are brightly shining it is…
Joe I couldn’t pick you out in a crowd of 1000…
Joe Pace & The Colorado Mass Choir It was no ordinary night, For lying in a lowly manger Was…
John Denver Oh holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
John Sullivan Dwight O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the…
Jon Anderson Oh, holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the nigh…
Josè Carreras Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Joyous Celebration O holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
K-Holy Knights Long lay a world in silence and deep mourning People…
Katharine McPhee (Holiday) O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is…
Kelly Clarkson Oh holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Kim Wiseman & Mark A. Johnson O Holy Night. The stars are brightly shining It is…
Kutless O holy night, The stars are brightly shining; It is the nigh…
L.C.Jones Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright. Proud…
Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
Los Angeles The Voices O holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Lovemongers Oh Holy Night Oh holy night, the stars are brightly…
Luciano Pavarotti Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Mariah Carey O holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Martina McBride O holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Mary Zilba & Roy & Rosemary O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
Mel Tormé A strawberry moon, blueberry sky Polka dot stars shining on …
Michael Crawford Oh holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Michael W. Smith O holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night …
Michelle Oh, holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the…
Mike Massy O holy night, the stars are brightly shining, it is…
Moe Bandy O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
Nadine Rain is fallin', lights aglow, In a manger, long ago, A…
Natal O holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Nathan Carter O holy night, The stars are brightly shining; It is the nigh…
Neil Diamond O holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
newmusic2k.com - Christina Oh holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
NewSong O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
Ngoc Tuyen Oh holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Nora Foss Al-Jabri O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Oak Ridge Boys O Holy Night The stars are brightly shining It is the…
Orioles The O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
Patrick G. Jordan O Holy Night The stars are brightly shining This is the nigh…
Patti LaBelle O holy night, The stars are brightly shining; It is the nigh…
Patti Labelle & The Bluebelles O holy night, The stars are brightly shining; It is the ni…
Patti Labelle and The Bluebelles O holy night, The stars are brightly shining; It is the nigh…
Paul Taylor O holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Percy Faith & Orchestra Silent night, holy night All is calm, All is bright Round yo…
Perry Como O holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the…
Point Of Grace O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Pop Idol 2 feat. Michelle Oh, holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the…
Ray Charles Girl, I'm so lonesome tonight I was just lyin' here wonderin…
Ray Hamilton Orchestra & Singers Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright 'Round y…
Rev. D.W. Jordan Oh holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Richard & Adam O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the…
Roslyn O. Smith & The Gospel Choir Of Luisiana O holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night …
S. Charles O holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the…
Sabrina Claudio O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Sanna Shirley & Sonja Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the nigh…
Sister Hazel Oh, holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Sohyang Oh holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
St. Al's Choir O holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
St. Ives Burl Ives - Silent night, holy night Silent night, holy nig…
St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir Now it’s CHRISTMAS, everyone is smiling bright We’re hoping …
Stefanie Kloß O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
The Bluebelle O holy night, The stars are brightly shining; It is the nigh…
The Caroleer Singers And Orchestra Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright Round y…
The Den Oh Holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
The Diamonds O holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
The Four Freshmen (Holiday) O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
The Fray O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
The Kelly Family O holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
The Lennon Sisters O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
The London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is…
The Monologue Bombs The night after Christmas The space heater toasting your fla…
The Oak Ridge Boys O Holy Night The stars are brightly shining It is the…
The Orioles O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
The R&B Hitmasters Verse 1: Underneath the velvet sky so wide, Where the stars …
The Rock-Afire Explosion O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the…
The Roys O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
The Sing-A-Longs O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining It is the…
The Steeles "[Verse1] O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It i…
The Supremes Oh holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
The Temptations (Holiday) Oh Holy Night The stars are brightly shining It is the nig…
The Tru-Tones O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
The Vienna Boys Choir-London Symphony Orchestra O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining It is…
Thomas Kinkade O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
Tia Mowry Oh Holy night The stars are brightly shining It′s is the nig…
Toby Smiles O Holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Tosch feat. Christina Oh holy night the stars are brightly shining It is the…
Trace Adkins O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining It is the…
Trace Adkins (Holiday) O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining It is the…
Traditional O Holy night. The stars are brightly shining It is the…
trin-i-tee 5:7 O holy night, the stars are brightly shining. It is…
Various Artists Oh holy night The stars are brightly shining It is the night…
Vasco & Millboy ft. Thomas O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the…
Vicu Verse 1: O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is…
X - Cross O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining It is the…
Yolanda Adams Oh, Holy Night The stars Are brightly shining It is the nigh…
[unknown] Oh holy night (Cappeau de Roquemaure) Oh holy night! The st…
제이레빗(J Rabbit) Oh holy night night The stars are brightly shining…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Edwin Hawkins Singers:
Happy day Oh happy day (oh happy day) Oh happy day (oh happy…
Jesus Jesus lover of my soul Let me to Thy bosom fly While…
Jesus, Lover of My Soul Jesus, Lover of my soul Jesus, I will never let you…
Lay Down Lay down, lay down, let it all down Let your white…
Lord Don't Move That Mountain Now Lord don't move my mountain But give me the strength…
O Happy Day Oh happy day (oh happy day) Oh happy day (oh happy…
O-o-h Child Ooh child Things are gonna get easier Ooh child Things'll ge…
Oh Oh happy day (oh happy day) Oh happy day (oh happy…
Ooh Child Ooh child Things are gonna get easier Ooh child Things'll ge…
Precious Memories Precious memories, How they linger How they ever flood my…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@paulgreen6921
So exceeding, soulful classic. Edwin Hawkins understood how to arrange the foundation hymns to enhance their beauty and appeal to the masses. This is the sanctity of Christmas! PWG
@Ma1nguy
Oh this takes me way back to the early 70s :)
@dariusvbryantboss2.281
Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@dvlaries
Wonderful to find this here; but from the same album, "Silent Night" and "We Three Kings" need to get on YouTube too :)
@Ma1nguy
I still have the "Wonderful" album in top shape
@dvlaries
Vocal solo by Ruth Lyons