Erica Campbell's extensive interview with a man who helped build the sound of contemporary Gospel music, Edwin Hawkins.
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"Oh Happy Day": Interview With Gospel's Edwin Hawkins
A feast of insight was served by the Los Angeles Chapter with this up-close-and-personal, hour-long interview with musician, writer and composer Edwin Hawkins. Winner of 4 GRAMMY Awards, his first was Best Gospel Performance at the 12th GRAMMY Awards for "Oh Happy Day" by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, one of the iconic songs of the century. The group won the category again the following year for "Every Man Wants To Be Free." A recording giant in her own right, first in Mary Mary and then solo, Erica Campell led the interview to help our new generation understand "the traces of Hawkins-ness that exist in harmonies and music right now." Looking back, Hawkins is thankful for the privilege that God called him and allowed him to be what Campbell describes as a musical "pioneer."