The Edwin Hawkins Singers – Coventry 1970

The Edwin Hawkins Singers – Coventry 1970

By Pete Clemons

The Lanchester Arts Festival of 1970 used Coventry Cathedral for two of its concerts. On the Saturday night of the festival Sir Adrian Boult and the London Bach Orchestra could be heard at the venue. The previous Wednesday it had been the turn of The Edwin Hawkins Singers who had hit the charts the previous year with the hit record and gospel song 'Oh Happy Day'.

'Oh Happy Day' was a song of joy and worship but, given its chart position of number 2 in the UK, it seemed to connect with a wider audience. It is a completely unforgettable tune. The original female lead, which is so memorable, was by Dorothy Combs Morrison who also sang in 'R' n 'B' clubs. The song is also said to have given George Harrison the idea for 'My Sweet Lord'.

It seemed perfect, the Edwin Hawkins Singers to make their British debut at Coventry in Britain's most modern Cathedral. But what could have been a joyous occasion was spoiled by two things.

Firstly, no P.A. Was allowed, which meant that while the choir en masse could be heard pretty well throughout the audience, the solo's were often completely lost.

Problem two was that the concert was being recorded for the special BBC TV programme to be shown at Easter. Great, for those who couldn't get to the actual event, but not so good for those who did. The camera crews were a constantly intruding, barrier, stopping the audience / congregation from really becoming a part of the choir.

Edwin Hawkins, pianist, soloist, arranger and director of the church singers from the San Francisco Bay area, looked harassed in the break between the singers two one hour sets. 'Its such a shame' he said, 'people paid money to hear us and there is just no way for all of them to hear us'.

Within these tight limitations the singers did very well. Soloists included Edwin Hawkins, Shirley Miller, Elaine Kelly and Walter Hawkins. They refused to get discouraged and had the whole audience on their feet clapping along to several of the tunes.

Edwin Hawkins, who passed away during January 2018, introduced contemporary sounds and synthesizers to create, and revolutionise, a whole new sounding form of gospel music. And for that vision he would ultimately be awarded with a Grammy. 'Oh Happy Day' became the first gospel song to hit the popular music charts. Not just in the UK but worldwide.

I'm not certain if the concert was aired during Easter 1970 but it certainly was on BBC2 on Thursday 24th December at 5pm with production by John Street. The radio times in its bumper Christmas and New Year edition said 'The Hawkins Singers don't have all the earthy roughness of a pukka gospel choir, but they make up for it with subtle use of dynamics and some excellent soloists. Here they'll be singing in Coventry Cathedral, which should provide a piquant setting for their fervour'.

Colin Richardson's memories:

(Colin Richardson was the London booking agent (Bron Agency) engaged by the

Colin Richardson with Paul McCartney

Lanchester Polytech Student Union to book the artists for their Arts festivals in 1970 and 1971) 

Here's my (somewhat surprised) reaction: First off, my booking of the choir, on the back of their recent hit, was simply the obvious (to me) vision of Coventry Cathedral being an ideal venue for the performance. What I wasn't aware of was that they would need a P.A. and to the best of my (admittedly now hazy) recollection, none was requested by their agent.

Next, the choir that arrived, disappointingly, wasn't the full choir that I'd seen perform on TV. It was around 16 I think.

Next, I had no knowledge of the BBC filming it. That must either have been negotiated with Ted Little or possibly directly between the Beeb and EHS management.

So, yes, it was a little bit of an anti-climax for me, but still a magical occasion, near freezing temperature notwithstanding.