Edwin Hawkins Singers
The Edwin Hawkins Singers began as the Northern California State Youth Choir of the Church of God in Christ, co-founded by American gospel choir master Edwin Hawkins in 1967, which included almost fifty members. In 1968 they recorded Let Us Go Into the House of the Lord, as The Edwin Hawkins Singers and came second at the Youth Congress' annual choir competition. On the album was "Oh Happy Day" which began to be played on a San Francisco radio station and was an instant hit. As the song began to be played around the country, a single version rocketed up the charts on both sides of the Atlantic[1], reaching #2 in the UK in 1969 - it would be the only hit here[2] despite several releases during the 1970s[3].
Their first appearance on a budget compilation album in the UK was on Lotus Records' 1978 release Oh Happy Day - A Superb Collection of Christmas Greetings.[4]
Appearances
 Peace in the Valley (Ronco, RTL 2043): "Oh Happy Day" |
