By Bob Marovich The Journal of Gospel Music has learned that Edwin Hawkins, whose arrangement of the nineteenth-century hymn “Oh Happy Day” became a crossover success and signaled the emergence of contemporary gospel music, passed away today (Jan. 15) in Pleasanton, California. Here is a brief biography I put together: Born August 19, 1943, to Mamie and Dan Lee Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins grew up in music. Trained by his elder brother, Edwin began playing piano at age five and accompanied the family group. By the time he was sixteen, Edwin had sung at a variety of churches in the Bay Area and was part ...

By Bob Marovich Ed. Note: This is the first of what the Journal of Gospel Music hopes will be a series of conversations with writers of some of today’s most popular gospel songs. It was inspired by articles in the Wall Street Journal about the origins of classic pop and rock recordings. “Every Praise” by J. David Bratton, on Hezekiah Walker’s Azusa: The Next Generation (RCA Inspiration, 2013) Minister J. David Bratton as told to JGM’s Bob Marovich I was born and raised in Vallejo, California. I wrote a couple of songs when I was in high school, but I ...

On the 75th birthday of Jonathan DuBose Sr., member of Bridgeport, Connecticut quartet the Sensational Starlights, the Journal of Gospel Music is pleased to repost its 2011 interview (below) with another musical member of the DuBose Family, Jonathan Jr. Before we get into the interview, here are some links to see and hear more about the DuBose Family: Jonathan DuBose Sr. 75th Birthday weekend: https://new.livestream.com/StreamYourDreamLIVE/75thBirthdayJonathanDuBoseSr DuBose Daughters Debut with Father and Sons: https://new.livestream.com/StreamYourDreamLIVE/events/3361165/images/63830942 70 and Beyond Video & Audio Blog: http://aeo.podbean.com *** By Bob Marovich Scan the liner notes of a gospel CD and chances are you will see the ...