American gospel artist Edwin Hawkins, famous for singing Oh Happy Day, dies of Pancreatic cancer, his publicists confirmed. He died at his home in California, at the age of 74.
Hawkins was born in Oakland, California, on August 19, 1943. He Co- founded The Northern California State Youth Choir of The Church of God in Christ which included almost fifty members.
He was regarded as a pioneer of urban gospel music, blending gospel hymns with secular sound. He is best-known for the 1969 hit Oh Happy Day.