Joe Hinton
November 15, 1929 – August 13, 1968
Joe Hinton was a gospel singer who began making non-secular soul music in 1958. Over the next six years, he scored a handful of R&B hits which included, “You Know It Ain’t Right,” “I Want A Little Girl,” and a cover of Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips Away.” Joe Hinton died of skin cancer at the age of 38.
Walter Hawkins
May 18, 1949 – July 11, 2010
Walter Hawkins was a Grammy winning Gospel singer and ordained Bishop who, with the help of his brother, Edwin Hawkins and their Edwin Hawkins Singers, recorded one of Gospel’s earliest crossover hits, “Oh Happy Day.” His wife, Tramaine Hawkins is an equally respected Gospel performer as well. Hawkins went solo while forming his own church during the early ’70s. His Love Center Choir won numerous accolades and found significant success with their Love Alive series which have sold in excess of one million copies. 1990’s Love Alive IV sat at the top of the Billboard Gospel charts of an astonishing thirty-three weeks. It has been reported that Hawkins contributed in one form or another to nearly 120 Gospel charting records. Over the course of his career, he collaborated with the likes of Jeffrey Osborne, Sylvester, Van Morrison, and Diahann Carroll. Bishop Walter Hawkins, age 61, died on July 11, 2010 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Bob Willis
February 23, 1934 – July 10, 2009
Bob Willis was a preacher and respected country singer and songwriter, so much so that he has been called “Mr. Country Gospel.” Willis began writing straight country songs when he was just twelve years old but switched to country gospel when he turned his focus to the ministry at age 26. Over his career, Willis published over 140 songs and had songs recorded by over 100 artists including Jimmie Davis. Bob Willis passed away at the age of 75.
Ira B. Tucker
May 17, 1925 – June 24, 2008
Ira B. Tucker Sr. was the lead singer for the celebrated gospel vocal group, the Dixie Hummingbirds. Joining the group at the age of 13, Tucker fronted them for the next 70 years. They have been called a direct inspiration for the likes of Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Paul Simon, B.B. King, Jackie Wilson and Aretha Franklin. Tucker died of heart failure at the age of 83.
Joyce “Dottie” Rambo
March 2, 1934 – May 11, 2008
Southern Gospel singer Dottie Rambo died May 11, 2008 from injuries sustained when her tour bus ran off the road on her way to a Mother’s Day concert. Rambo, who was elected to both the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame published more than 2500 songs. Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton recorded some of her songs. Rambo was 74 when she died.
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