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.
To my father's house
The Edwin Hawkins Singers Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'To my father's house' by these artists:
Les Humphries Singers Come and go with me To my father's house To my father's…
The Proclaimers Venid, exultemos cantando al señor Alegres volvamos en fiest…
The Union Find me when I'm low Hold me in the darkness Lost and…
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…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@araiasunshine4482
I ONLY WISH I REALLY KNEW WHO GOD WAS BACK THEN ALTHOUGH I WAS YOUNG & JUST SANG IN THE CHOIR BECAUSE MAMA MADE ME, I NOW REALIZE WHAT A GREAT BLESSING IN MY LIFE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN. SOUNDS BETTER STILL IN 2021!
@vikkilawson27
OMGOODNESS, getting ready to take a nap and this song popped into my mind. I haven't thought of this song in at least 40 or more years!! My Mom used to played this song when I was in my teens.
@jancotton6635
I've loved this album from day one. It is timeless. Hallelujah!!!
@bigfinewomanful
I was a little girl when my mom bought this album to the house and I would play this nonstop. I loved the entire album and especially this song.....I want this song played at my homegoing!!!
@PickyPippi
Me too! And I was 8 when they came to the Oakland Paramount. My parents weren’t sure what to make of me shouting and running up and down the aisles with PURPOSE. Oh lawd! Here I go!!!
🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
@carlaforde1433
I ALSO was a little girl when my mom bought this album to the house but it was SHE who played it repeatedly in my case. I was okay with it then, but I REALLY love it now and REALLY appreciate her and her love for good gospel music. I Thank God for great moms.
@lizhair8697
Love this old song, I want to go to my father's house!
@paulinebrowaeys5252
Our Father will all welcome us in Heaven, while playing this happy music. Blessed are all of us.
@ramonpchi
Thanks Edwin for your life long contribution to Gospel Music. Rest well in our fathers house.
@kiwibirbnico
Amen