GRAMMY-winning gospel singer, composer and pastor Walter Hawkins died July 11 at his home in Ripon, Calif. For the last two years, Hawkins had been battling pancreatic cancer. He was 61.

The brother of Edwin Hawkins of "Oh Happy Day" fame, Hawkins cut a series of best-selling "Love Alive" albums for Light Records during the 1970s. Hawkins' songs have been recorded by Aretha Franklin, American Idol champ Ruben Studdard, Vickie Winans and M.C. Hammer.

"The impact that Walter Hawkins had on gospel music was so profound and far-reaching that it is now, and forever shall be, part of gospel's DNA," said gospel music historian Bob Marovich, who edits The Black Gospel Blog.

Hawkins, who founded the Love Center Church in Oakland, Calif., and served as pastor starting in 1973, earned nine GRAMMY nominations--winning one for his performance on The Lord's Prayer (Light Records) in 1980.

Hawkins' final solo CD, A Song in My Heart (Coda Records), won a Stellar Award for Traditional Gospel Album of the Year in 2006. A master pianist with an operatic vocal range, Hawkins was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

Hawkins is survived by his two children, Walter ("Jamie") and Trystan; daughter-in-law Myiia Hawkins; two grandchildren, Jamie-Daniel and Jahve; and five siblings, Carol, Feddie, Edwin, Daniel and Lynette. Funeral arrangements are pending.

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