Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
(LAS VEGAS) – The winners of the 2019 Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards have been announced at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR WINNER: Jonathan McReynolds, Make Room, Entertainment One – Jekalyn Carr, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group – Maranda Curtis, Open Heaven, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade – Todd Dulaney, Your Great Name, Entertainment One
SONG OF THE YEAR WINNER:Not Lucky, I’m Loved , Jonathan McReynolds, Terrell Demetrius Wilson & Anna B. Warner, Entertainment One – Nobody Like You Lord, Maranda Curtis & Anthony Rachel, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade – Won’t He Do It, Makeba Riddick, Richard Shelton & Loren Hill, RCA Inspiration – You Know My Name (Live), Tasha Cobbs Leonard & Brenton Brown, Motown Gospel
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR WINNER: Jonathan McReynolds, Make Room, Entertainment One – Brian Courtney Wilson, A Great Work, Motown Gospel – Kelontae Gavin, The Higher Experience, MBE/Tyscot – Tye Tribbett, The Bloody Win, Motown Gospel
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR WINNER: Jekalyn Carr, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group – Koryn Hawthorne, Unstoppable, RCA Inspiration – Maranda Curtis, Open Heaven, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade – Tasha Page-Lockhart, The Beautiful Project, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings – Tori Kelly, Hiding Place, Schoolboy/Capitol * A tie in the Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year category resulted in having 5 nominees
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR WINNER: The Walls Group, The Other Side, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings – Donald Lawrence & Tri-City, Goshen 432 Hz, RCA Inspiration – Isaiah D. Thomas and Elements of Praise, Still Here, Murchison Motion Pictures – Judah Band, Gone Fishin’, Light Records
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR WINNER: Jabari Johnson, Day of Redemption, Entertainment One – Cheryl Thomas Fortune, Simply Cheryl, LuDawn/Tyscot – Phil Thompson, My Worship, Phil Thompson Worship/JamesTown – PJ Morgan, The Transparency Project, IDMV Music Group
CD OF THE YEAR WINNER:Make Room, Jonathan McReynolds, Entertainment One – Bible of Love, Snoop Dogg, RCA Inspiration – Open Heaven, Maranda Curtis, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade – Your Great Name, Todd Dulaney, Entertainment One
CHOIR OF THE YEAR WINNER: Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir, Run to the Altar, JH/Tyscot – Dexter Walker & Zion Movement, Hope, IndieBlu Music – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, I Am Reminded: Live!, Brooklyn Tabernacle Music – Vincent Tharpe and Kenosis, Super Excited, Empty Me Entertainment
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR WINNER: Jonathan McReynolds & Darryl “Lil Man” Howell, Make Room, Entertainment One – Kirk Franklin, Ronald Hill, Phil Thornton, Clifton Lockhart, Tasha Page Lockhart, Myron Butler, Dontaniel Kimbrough, Zeek Listenbee, Cordell Walton, Edward “6Mile JP” Page, Charles “Ollie” Harris, Daniel Bryant, Bryan Popin & AyRon Lewis, The Beautiful Project, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings – Kirk Franklin, Ronald Hill, Warryn Campbell and Phil Thornton, The Other Side, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings – Todd Dulaney & Dontaniel Jamel Kimbrough, Your Great Name, Entertainment One
CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR WINNER: The Walls Group, The Other Side, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings – Donald Lawrence & Tri-City, Goshen 432 Hz, RCA Inspiration – God’s Chosen, God’s Chosen, Dream Label Group/Dream Gospel/GFavored Entertainment/Capitol Christian – Judah Band, Gone Fishin‘, Light Records
TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR WINNER: Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Keep Pushin, Wonder Spirit/SRT/Shanachie – Gospel Legends, Resting Easy, Humility Music Group – Jarrell Smalls & Company, A New Season, Southern Wave/Get Ready/SRT – Nu Tradition, Nu Tradition, Altmo Productions
CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR WINNER: Jonathan McReynolds, Make Room, Entertainment One – Kelontae Gavin, The Higher Experience, MBE/Tyscot – Todd Dulaney, Your Great Name, Entertainment One – Tye Tribbett, The Bloody Win, Motown Gospel
TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR WINNER: VaShawn Mitchell, Cross Music, Tyscot – Earnest Pugh, Survive, EPM/Black Smoke – Jarrell Smalls, A New Season, Southern Wave/Get Read/SRT – Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Keep Pushin‘, Wonder Spirit/SRT/Shanachie
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR WINNER: Tasha Page-Lockhart, The Beautiful Project, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings – Benita Jones, The Evolution, IndieBlu Music – Koryn Hawthorne, Unstoppable, RCA Inspiration – Tori Kelly, Hiding Place, Schoolboy/Capitol
TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR WINNER: Jekalyn Carr, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group – Maranda Curtis, Open Heaven, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade – Shana Wilson-Williams, Everlasting, Shana Wilson Ministries/IndieBlu – Tammi Haddon, Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir – Run to the Altar , JH/Tyscot
CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR WINNER:Make Room, Jonathan McReynolds, Entertainment One – Bible of Love, Snoop Dogg, RCA Inspiration – The Higher Experience, Kelontae Gavin, MBE/Tyscot – Your Great Name, Todd Dulaney, Entertainment One
TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR WINNER:One Nation Under God, Jekalyn Carr, Lunjeal Music Group – A New Season, Jarrell Smalls & Company, Southern Wave/Get Ready/SRT – Run to the Altar, Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir, JH/Tyscot – The River, Keion D. Henderson, Eye Light Productions
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE Or PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR WINNER:Not Lucky, I’m Loved, Jonathan McReynolds, Entertainment One – Forever, Jason Nelson, RCA Inspiration – Never Alone ft. Kirk Franklin, Tori Kelly, Schoolboy/Capitol – Reckless Love, Israel Houghton, RCA Inspiration
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR WINNER:Won’t He Do It, Casey Cross, RCA Inspiration – A Great Work, Matt Reed, Motown Gospel – For My Good, G. Randy Weston, Light Records – My Life; Grateful, Patrick Tohill, RCA Inspiration/Fo Yo Soul Recordings
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR WINNER: Bishop Noel Jones & City of Refuge Sanctuary Choir, Run to the Altar, JH/Tyscot – Demetrius West & Jesus Promoters, ChoirOlogy: The Study of Choir Music, Blacksmoke Music Worldwide – Dexter Walker & Zion Movement, Hope, IndieBlu Music – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, I Am Reminded: Live!, Brooklyn Tabernacle Music
CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR WINNER: New Direction, When All God’s Children Get Together, New Haven Records – Brent Jones & the Waco Community Choir, Open Your Mouth and Say Something, JDI Records – Dr. Alyn E. Waller Presents Fresh Anointing, Totally, Enon Music Group – Vincent Tharpe and Kenosis, Super Excited, Empty Me Entertainment
INSTRUMENTAL CD OF THE YEAR – CATEGORY OMITTED
SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR WINNER:The Best of Fred Hammond, Fred Hammond, Verity/Sony Music – Bible of Love, Snoop Dogg, RCA Inspiration – Evidence, Elevation Collective, Elevation Worship Records – WOW Gospel 2018, Various Artists, RCA Inspiration
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR WINNER:God Knows, Flame, Clear Sight Music – BLSD, Jor’Dan Armstrong, Seaq Management – I Ain’t Preaching to the Choir, Miz Tiffany, Digistoric Music – PRAISE, Emcee N.I.C.E., Gypsy City Music
YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR WINNER: Pure N Heart, “Be You” 15 Years Unplugged, Music2ChangeU – Christian Bolar, Speak It, BGA Music Group – Personal Praise, We are Personal Praise, RoBabies Records – The Children Speak, Hey Young World, HOLYwood Records
QUARTET OF THE YEAR WINNER: Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, Keep Pushin‘, Wonder Spirit / SRT/Shanachie – Gospel Legends, Resting Easy, Humility Music Group – Jarrell Smalls & Company, A New Season, Southern Wave/Get Ready/SRT – The Wardlaw Brothers, Stand There, TWB Records
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR WINNER: Israel Houghton, Road to DeMaskUs, RCA Inspiration – Justin Foster, Open Heaven, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade – Keemon Leonard, Make Room, Entertainment One – Octavious Holmes, One Nation Under God, Lunjeal Music Group
PRAISE & WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR WINNER:Your Great Name, Todd Dulaney, Entertainment One – Everlasting, Shana Wilson-Williams, Shana Wilson Ministries/IndieBlu – Open Heaven, Maranda Curtis, Red Alliance Media/Fair Trade – The Higher Experience, Kelontae Gavin, MBE/Tyscot
GOSPEL RADIO OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
MAJOR MARKET OF THE YEAR WINNER: WPZE Praise 102.5, Atlanta – WGRB Inspiration 1390AM, Chicago – WNAP 1110 AM, Philadelphia – WYCA 92.3 FM WPRS-FM, Hammond/Chicago
LARGE MARKET OF THE YEAR WINNER: WFMI-FM 100.9 FM, Virginia Beach – WJXY 103.5 FM/93.7 FM, Myrtle Beach – WOKB 1680AM, Orlando – WXHL 89.1FM, Wilmington
MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR WINNER: WCGL AM 1360/FM 94.7, Jacksonville – WPZZ 104.7 FM, Richmond – WREJ 101.3FM, Richmond – WTJZ Praise 104.9FMj, Chesapeake
SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR WINNER: WIMG 1300AM, Ewing – WDJL-AM 1000, Huntsville – WEHA GOSPEL 88.7 & 100.3 FM, Egg Harbor – WHBT 1410 AM & 98.3 FM, Tallahassee
INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR WINNER: uGospel Radio, http://uGospel.com – GH3 Radio – “God’s House of Hip Hop,” http://www.gh3radio.com – Gospel Central Radio, http://www.thegospelcentral.com – SOAR Radio, http://soarradio.com
GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR WINNER: Dwight Stone, WPZE Praise 102.5, Atlanta, GA – Linda Greenwood, WNAA 90.1 FM, Raleigh, NC – Randi Myles, WDMK-HD2, Detroit, MI – Sherry Mackey, WHAL 95.7, Memphis, TN
Nashville, TN (August 20, 2018) — Tasha Cobbs Leonard, best-selling gospel artist of the past year, announced the launch of The Revival Tour.
The tour begins on November 1 in Atlanta, GA with nine additional dates across the country including Charlotte, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas, Washington DC, Baltimore, and New York City.
An exclusive fan pre-sale will start tomorrow Tuesday, August 21 at 10am ET. Subscribers to Tasha’s email list will receive a pre-sale access code to purchase tickets early. Fans can sign up for the email list today at TashaCobbs.org. Tickets will go on sale everywhere starting Friday, August 24 at 10am ET.
Dates & Venues:
11/01 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
11/03 – Charlotte, NC – McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square
11/06 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
11/08 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
11/10 – Asheville, NC – Diana Wortham Theater
11/12 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts 11/13 – New York, NY – Sony Hall 11/14 – New York, NY – Sony Hall
11/15 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre
11/16 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Sound Stage
Israel Houghton kicks off “The Road to DeMaskUs Tour,” launching the twelve-city tour in Chicago, IL beginning Thursday September 27th, with tickets for select cities on sale now. Inviting fans along to explore a new journey on the tour, in support of his upcoming solo album Road to DeMaskUs out September 21st, Houghton’s fall tour continues to eleven additional cities until October 13th.
Dates & Venues:
09/27 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
09/28 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre 10/01 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
10/02 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live
10/03 – Washington, DC – The Hamilton
10/04 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre
10/05 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry
10/06 – Columbia, SC – The Senate
10/09 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
10/11 – Orlando, FL – The Plaza Live
10/12 – Tampa, FL – Louise Lykes Ferguson Hall
10/13 – Jacksonville, FL – Murray Hill Theatre
(LAS VEGAS) – The winners of the 2018 Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards have been announced at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
The annual show hailed as an, “epic night in gospel music,” was hosted by Kirk Franklin. The telecast will premiere on TV One, March 30th at 9:00pm EST/8:00pm CST and will also air in national broadcast syndication March 31-May 6, 2018.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Travis Greene, Crossover Live in Music City, RCA Inspiration Anthony Brown & group therAPy, A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, You Deserve It, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Motown Gospel
SONG OF THE YEAR
WINNER: David Bloom, Cortez Vaughn, Phontane Demond Reed & JJ Hairston, You Deserve It (JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise), JamesTown Music/Entertainment One Anthony Brown, Trust in You – A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
Derrick Starks & J.D. Sheard II, Hang On (Feat: Kierra Sheard) – Bishop J. Drew Sheard Presents: GEI LIVE, Karew Records
Travis Greene, You Waited – Crossover Live in Music City, RCA Inspiration
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Travis Greene, Crossover Live in Music City, RCA Inspiration Anthony Brown, A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
JJ Hairston, You Deserve It, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
Marvin Sapp, Close, Verity/RCA Inspiration
ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR CeCe Winans, Let Them Fall in Love, Pure Springs Gospel
Le’Andria Johnson, Bigger Than Me, RCA Inspiration WINNER: Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Motown Gospel
Tina Campbell, It’s Still Personal, Gee Tree Creative/Malaco
GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR WINNER: Anthony Brown & group therAPy, A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Entertainment One
James Fortune & FIYA, Dear Future Me, Fiya World Music/Entertainment One
The Williams Brothers, Timeless, Blackberry Records
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR WINNER: Isabel Davis, The Call, Uncle G Records
Dr. F. James Clark Presents the NextGeneration Choir, Sure. Focused. Centered, City of Peace Music
Gene Moore, The Future, Motown Gospel
Koryn Hawthorne, Koryn Hawthorne, RCA Inspiration
CD OF THE YEAR WINNER:You Deserve It, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One A Long Way from Sunday, Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Motown Gospel Crossover Live in Music City, Travis Greene, RCA Inspiration
CHOIR OF THE YEAR WINNER: JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, You Deserve It, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
Ricky Dillard & New G, 10, Entertainment One
The Miami Mass Choir, The Miami Mass Choir Live: At The Adrienne Arsht Center, MaJo Records
Vincent Bohanan & The Sound of Victory Fellowship Choir, We Win, Independent
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR WINNER: Travis Greene, Crossover Live in Music City, RCA Inspiration
Anthony Brown, Justin Savage, Dana T. Sorey, Warryn Campbell & Darryl Woodson, A Long Way from Sunday (Anthony Brown & group therAPy), Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
Deitrick Haddon, Marcus Hodge & Gina Miller, Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Entertainment One
Kenneth Leonard & Natasha Leonard, Heart. Passion. Pursuit (Tasha Cobbs Leonard), Motown Gospel
CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR WINNER: Anthony Brown & group therAPy, A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Entertainment One
James Fortune & FIYA, Dear Future Me, Fiya World Music/Entertainment One
The Showers, The Journey, A & P Records
TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR WINNER: The Rance Allen Group, Live from San Francisco, Tyscot Records
Gods Posse, The Kind of God We Serve, Independent
The Williams Brothers, Timeless, Blackberry Records
The Williams Singers, In Real Time, Blackberry Records
CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR WINNER: Travis Greene, Crossover Live in Music City, RCA Inspiration
Anthony Brown, A Long Way from Sunday, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records
Deitrick Haddon, Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Entertainment One
JJ Hairston, You Deserve It, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR WINNER: Marvin Sapp, Close, Verity/RCA Inspiration
Bishop Paul S. Morton, Legacy Live In New Orleans, Tehillah Music Group/Entertainment One
Rance Allen, Live from San Francisco, Tyscot Records
Ricky Dillard, 10, Entertainment One
CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR WINNER: Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Motown Gospel
Isabel Davis, The Call, Uncle G Records
Koryn Hawthorne, Koryn Hawthorne, RCA Inspiration
Lucinda Moore, Walking In My Favor, Nalah Music Group
TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR WINNER: CeCe Winans, Let them Fall in Love, Pure Springs Gospel
Anita Wilson, Sunday Song, Reflection Media, Inc/Entertainment One
Le’Andria Johnson, Bigger Than Me, RCA Inspiration
Tina Campbell, It’s Still Personal, Gee Tree Creative/Malaco
CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR WINNER:Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Motown Gospel A Long Way from Sunday, Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Deitrick Haddon & Hill City Worship Camp, Entertainment One Crossover Live in Music City, Travis Greene, RCA Inspiration
TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR WINNER:Close, Marvin Sapp, Verity/RCA Inspiration I Got Out, Bryan Popin, Little Boy Wonder Music/Flaydo Music Let Them Fall in Love, CeCe Winans, Pure Springs Gospel 10, Ricky Dillard & New G, Entertainment One
URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE Or PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR WINNER:You Deserve It, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One Trust in You, Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Key of A/FairTrade/Tyscot Records I’m Getting Ready, Tasha Cobbs Leonard ft. Nicki Minaj, Motown Gospel You Waited, Travis Greene, RCA Inspiration
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR WINNER: Derek Blanks, We Livin – It’s Still Personal (Tina Campbell), Gee Tree Creative/Malaco
Byron Purnell, You – The Dolly Express (Jermaine Dolly), By Any Means Necessary
Terrance Crowley, I’ve Seen Him Work – Sunday Song (Anita Wilson), Reflection Media, Inc/Entertainment One
Terrance Crowley and Ted Winn; Grateful – Stand In Awe (Ted Winn), Shanachie Entertainment Corp.
TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR WINNER: Bishop Paul S. Morton, Legacy Live in New Orleans, Tehillah Music Group/Entertainment One
Charles Butler & Trinity, The Blood Experience, Entertainment One
Ricky Dillard & New G, 10, Entertainment One
Vincent Bohanan & The Sound of Victory Fellowship Choir, We Win, Independent
CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR WINNER: JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, You Deserve It, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One
Dr. F. James Clark Presents the NextGeneration Choir, Sure. Focused. Centered, City of Peace Music
GEI, Bishop J. Drew Sheard Presents: GEI LIVE, Karew Records
The Miami Mass Choir, The Miami Mass Choir Live: At The Adrienne Arsht Center, MaJo Records
INSTRUMENTAL CD OF THE YEAR WINNER: Kirk Whalum, #LoveCovers, Top Drawer Records
Ben Tankard, CanTANKerous, BEN-Jamin’ Universal Music
Daniel Weatherspoon, The Langley Park Project, Longlife Ent. Inc.
Tim Bowman, Into the Blue, I.M. Records
SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR WINNER:Greenleaf Soundtrack Season 2, Various Artists, RCA Inspiration A Kenny Lattimore Christmas, Kenny Lattimore, Motown Gospel Legacy Live in New Orleans, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Tehillah Music Group/Entertainment One Live from San Francisco, The Rance Allen Group, Tyscot Records
RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR WINNER:Greatness, Canton Jones, Radar Live/Cajo Records Crowns & Crosses, Bizzle, God Over Money LLC Reflection, Derek Minor, Reflection Music Group /Entertainment One The Waiting Room, Trip Lee, Reach Records
YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR WINNER: God’s Little Soldiers International Boys Choir, Through the Years, DIR/Motor City Praise
Kelontae Gavin, Higher, Marquis Boone/Tyscot Records
Pure N Heart, Change the World, Music2ChangeU
The Children Speak, Gibbs Ave, HOLY-wood Records
QUARTET OF THE YEAR WINNER: The Williams Brothers, Timeless, Blackberry RecordsMen of Gods Heart, Men of Gods Heart, Men of Gods Heart, LLC
The Group Fire, Join the Praise Party, Jet Records North / East
The Williams Singers, In Real Time, Blackberry Records
RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR WINNER: Derek Blanks, Heart. Passion. Pursuit (Tasha Cobbs Leonard), Motown Gospel
Derek Blanks, Dear Future Me (James Fortune & FIYA), Fiya World Music/Entertainment One
Derek Blanks, 10 (Ricky Dillard & New G), Entertainment One
Tim Parker, Close (Marvin Sapp), Verity/RCA Inspiration
PRAISE & WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR WINNER:You Deserve It, JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise, JamesTown Music/Entertainment One Crossover Live in Music City, Travis Greene, RCA Inspiration Heart. Passion. Pursuit, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Motown Gospel Sounds of Revival II: Deeper, William McDowell, Delivery Room Music/Entertainment One
GOSPEL RADIO OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
MAJOR MARKET OF THE YEAR WINNER: WGRB-AM 1390AM (Inspiration 1390), Chicago, Sonya Blakey
KHVN Heaven 97, 970AM, Dallas, Carmina Barnett
WIGO – AM 1570, Atlanta, Larry Young
WPRS-FM, PRAISE 104.1, Washington, DC, Ron Thompson
LARGE MARKET OF THE YEAR WINNER: WOKB 1680AM, Orlando/Central Florida, Shanti Persaud
WBBP 1480, Memphis, Tracy Morgan
WDEM Radio 98.5FM, Memphis, Towanna Murphy
WJXY 103.5FM/937FM, Myrtle Beach, Reggie Dyson
MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR WINNER: WFMI 100.9, Virginia Beach, Mike Chandler
WNNL 103.9FM – The Light, Raleigh-Durham, Jerry Smith
WREJ, Richmond, Randy Johnson
WYLD -AM 940, New Orleans, Dr. Loretta Petit
SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR WINNER: KSYB 1300AM, Shreveport, Rhonda Phillips- Sanders
WEHA – Gospel 88.7 &100.3 FM, Atlantic City, William & Elaine Hawkes
WHBT 98.3 FM/1410 AM, Tallahassee, Darius Baker
WIMG 1300 AM, Trenton, Vennie Stansbury
INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR
WINNER: SOAR Radio, www.soarradio.com, Justin Francis
Gospel Central Radio, www.thegospelcentral.com, Michael Stewart
uGospel Radio, uGospel.com, Khalif M. Townes
Yes Lord Radio, www.yeslordradio.com, Rodrick Warren & Howard Young
GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR WINNER: Liz Black, 1190AM WLIB, New York City, NY
Sonya Blakey, WGRB – Inspiration 1390, Chicago, IL
Randi Myles, WPZR-FM PRAISE 102.7, Detroit, MI
Jerry Smith, WNNL Radio 103.9 The Light, Raleigh, NC
NEW YORK — Edwin Hawkins, the gospel star best known for the crossover hit “Oh Happy Day” and as a major force for contemporary inspirational music, died Monday at age 74.
Hawkins died at his home in Pleasanton, California. He had been suffering from pancreatic cancer, publicist Bill Carpenter told The Associated Press.
Along with Andrae Crouch, James Cleveland and a handful of others, Hawkins was credited as a founder of modern gospel music. Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and numerous other singers had become mainstream stars by adapting gospel sounds to pop lyrics. Hawkins stood out for enjoying commercial success while still performing music that openly celebrated religious faith.
An Oakland native and one of eight siblings, Hawkins was a composer, keyboardist, arranger and choir master. He had been performing with his family and in church groups since childhood and in his 20s helped form the Northern California State Youth Choir.
Their first album, “Let Us Go into the House of the Lord,” came out in 1968 and was intended for local audiences. But radio stations in the San Francisco Bay Area began playing one of the album’s eight tracks, “Oh Happy Day,” an 18th century hymn arranged by Hawkins in call-and-response style.
“Oh Happy Day,” featuring the vocals of Dorothy Combs Morrison, was released as a single credited to the Edwin Hawkins Singers and became a million-seller in 1969, showing there was a large market for gospel songs and for inspirational music during the turbulent era of the late 1960s.
“I think our music was probably a blend and a crossover of everything that I was hearing during that time,” Hawkins told blackmusic.com in 2015. “We grew up hearing all kinds of music in our home. My mother, who was a devout Christian, loved the Lord and displayed that in her lifestyle.
“My father was not a committed Christian at that time but was what you’d call a good man,” he said. “And, of course, we heard from him some R&B music but also a lot of country and western when we were younger kids.”
In 1970, the Hawkins singers backed Melanie on her top 10 hit “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” and won a Grammy for best soul gospel performance for “Oh Happy Day.”
Meanwhile, George Harrison would cite “Oh Happy Day” as inspiration for his hit “My Sweet Lord,” and Glen Campbell reached the adult contemporary charts with his own version of the Hawkins performance. Elvis Presley, Johnny Mathis and numerous others also would record it.
Hawkins went on to make dozens of records and won four Grammys in all, including for the songs “Every Man Wants to Be Free” and “Wonderful!” In 2007, he was voted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame. He also toured on occasion with younger brother Walter Hawkins, a Grammy winner who died in 2010.
Edwin Hawkins is survived by his siblings Carol, Feddie, Daniel and Lynette.
Billboard Magazine announced the Year End Charts for 2017. The below are Top 5 Gospel Artists of the Year and their positions in other charts.
Tamela Mann
1 – Top Gospel Artists
1 – Top Gospel Albums – One Way
2 – Gospel Album Artists
2 – Hot Gospel Songs – Change Me
2 – Hot Gospel Songs Artists
