MUSICIAN

Edwin Hawkins

1943 - 2018

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Edwin Reuben Hawkins (August 19, 1943 – January 15, 2018) was an American gospel musician, pianist, vocalist, choir master, composer, and arranger. He was one of the originators of the urban contemporary gospel sound. As the leader of the Edwin Hawkins Singers, he was probably best known for his arrangement of "Oh Happy Day" (1968–69), which was included on the "Songs of the Century" list. In 1970, the Edwin Hawkins Singers made a second foray into the charts, backing folk singer Melanie on "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)". Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in 16 different languages on Wikipedia. Edwin Hawkins is the 2,164th most popular musician (down from 2,006th in 2024), the 11,641st most popular biography from United States (down from 10,364th in 2019) and the 868th most popular American Musician.

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Among MUSICIANS

Among musicians, Edwin Hawkins ranks 2,163 out of 3,175. Before him are Hiromi Uehara, Patricia Barber, Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, Dennis Chambers, and Victor Wooten. After him are John Tchicai, Anders Fridén, Alison Sudol, Robert Stigwood, Scott Asheton, Tsunku, and David Gates.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1943, Edwin Hawkins ranks 664. Before him are Udo Zimmermann, James L. Jones, Lothar Kobluhn, Pedro González, Phyllis Somerville, and Gianni Ambrosio. After him are Ramiro Navarro, Sumitra Mahajan, Bob Avakian, Francesco Rizzo, Jonathan Rosenbaum, and Alan Rudolph. Among people deceased in 2018, Edwin Hawkins ranks 519. Before him are Mort Walker, Ennio Fantastichini, Bassano Staffieri, Alberto Fouilloux, Iraj Danaeifard, and Carole Shelley. After him are Horace Ashenfelter, Tulsi Giri, Dipali Barthakur, Tim O'Connor, Vibeke Skofterud, and Christine Muzio.

Others Born in 1943

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In United States

Among people born in United States, Edwin Hawkins ranks 11,643 out of 20,380. Before him are David Perdue (1949), Alan Eustace (1957), Stephen R. Donaldson (1947), Isidore Mankofsky (1931), John Hoyt (1905), and Victor Wooten (1964). After him are Annabeth Gish (1971), Miguel Cotto (1980), Elyse Knox (1917), Peter Sellars (1957), Chelsea Charms (1976), and Margaret Chase Smith (1897).

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Among MUSICIANS In United States

Among musicians born in United States, Edwin Hawkins ranks 867. Before him are Yip Harburg (1896), Patricia Barber (1955), Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein (1964), Dennis Chambers (1959), and Victor Wooten (1964). After him are Alison Sudol (1984), Scott Asheton (1949), David Gates (1940), David Darling (1941), Bob Kulick (1950), Sonny Fortune (1939), and Adam Yauch (1964).

American born Musicians

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