Tramaine Hawkins

Tramaine Hawkins is one of the finest young gospel singers out there -- "young" being a relative term for this 30-year veteran. She has earned praise -- and some criticism from traditionalists -- for bringing strong R&B chops and contemporary musical styles to the genre. This mix of genres is nothing new (ever hear a Cissy Houston album?) and Hawkins can sing straight black gospel so powerfully that she can quickly disarm her conservative critics.