Photo Credit: Eric Carmichael/Carmichael Images
The Bay Area’s gospel community came together for an evening of praise to benefit the 2014 Edwin Hawkins & Walter Hawkins Music and Arts Love Fellowship Conference. The ticketed event, held Monday, January 27, 2014 at Love Center Ministries Church was supported by the Bay Area’s clergy, and the gospel communities along with emerging artists, and MALFC Chapter representatives from Fresno, Ca, Las Vegas, NV, and Idaho.
The capacity crowd spent most of the evening on their feet as special guests Earnest Pugh, Chrystal Rucker, and Jonathan Nelson performed their chart topping favorites, while also showing their appreciation for Dr. Edwin Hawkins and the memory of the late Bishop Walter L. Hawkins.
Any MALFC event would not be complete without the participation of great choirs. The signature Hawkins sound was on display, as local choirs were represented by The Porter Brothers & Genesis Church (Sacramento, CA), Dr. Claybon Lea & Mt. Calvary Baptist Mass Choir (Fairfield, CA), Greater St. Paul Baptist Mass Choir (Oakland, CA), and The Love Center Ministries Choir, who kicked off the evening in rousing renditions of the gospel classics everyone has come to love.
“Uncle Edwin is such an awesome and humble man, who is just consistently nice. I appreciate him so much,” said Chrystal Rucker, who closed out the evening with “When All Else Fails”.
Founded over 34 years ago, the historic conference will make its return home to Oakland, June 22 – 27, 2014. Lodging and registration information will be made available at www.hawkinsgospelconference.org
