The younger brother of gospel vocalist and choir director Edwin Hawkins, Bishop Walter Hawkins is one of gospel's most successful performers. The leader of the Love Center Choir, Hawkins has led the group to two Dove Awards, presented by the Gospel Music Association, and two Grammy nominations. The group's debut album, Going up Yonder, released in 1975, spent several months on the Top 40 gospel chart compiled by Billboard. Their second album, Love Alive II, sold nearly three hundred thousand copies. This was surpassed by their third album, Love III, which topped the million sales mark.