::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

By Mona Austin The woman who launched the careers of some of the most heralded gospel legends, the original Gospel Caravans--the late Rev. James Cleveland , Shirley Caesar , Inez Andrews and Dorothy Norwood--Albertina Walker has passed away. Held as the beloved  "Queen of Gospel," Chicago-born Walker, took the advice of her friend Mahalia Jackson and founded the legendary Caravans that evolved into worldwide acclaim in the 1950's.  The evergreen "Oh Mary Don't You Weep " became one of their greatest hits. In early September this year rumors of her death were widespread online, but Walker was in fact hospitalized for respiratory distress and later underwent a Tracheotomy surgery that was reportedly successful. From the ICU at a Chicago hospital, while connected to a ventilator, she assured her fans via Facebook on September 4:  "I am still here no matter what you have heard."  On September 17, Walker posted a message on www.alberti...

(Bishop Walter Hawkins performs at the White House during Black Music Month in June 2007) Gospel music icon Bishop Walter Hawkins passed away at his home in  Ripon, CA today.  A  singer, songwriter, producer and musician, Hawkins had a 2-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Hawkins was a contemporary gospel forerunner who rose to prominence as a member of the Edwin Hawkins Singers in the early seventies. The influence the Grammy Award winning Hawkins  has had on gospel music history is worthy of volumes.  His "Love Alive" album series, consisting of songs recorded from the 70's to the 90's, yielded numerous cuts that will never get old including "Marvelous," "Going Up Yonder", "Changed," "Be Grateful," and "Thank You." Artists from various genres did re-makes of his songs from the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin and American Idol Champ Ruben Studdard to Vicki Winans. His sleek tenor voice possessed authority and...