Black quartet gospel music was celebrated in all its glory last weekend at the Quartet Music Awards (The QMAs). The inaugural event took place Saturday, June 18, at Atlanta’s Center Stage Theater with Dr. Bobby Jones and Justin Rufus as hosts.
Throughout the evening, awards were presented in 16 categories for excellence in quartet music. QMA Honors were also presented to pay homage to the legacy and contributions of the late Lee Williams (Lee Williams and The Spiritual QC’s), Tiffanie Tutu Agee (The Truthettes), George Dean (The Gospel 4), Evelyn Turrentine-Agee, Harvey Watkins, Jr. (The Canton Spirituals), Cleve Graham (The Pilgrim Jubilees), Spencer Taylor (The Highway QC’s), and the late Percy Griffin (The Swanee Quintet).
The Quartet Music Awards was birthed from the vision of D. Chubbs Morton and Connie Birth. Morton is a songwriter, musician, and frontman for the quartet group D. Morton and Gifted. Birth is a gospel radio personality and music executive.
GMF congratulates all the inaugural QMA recipients.
Male Vocalist Of The Year
Darrel Petties
Female Vocalist Of The Year
Lisa Knowles-Smith
Mixed Quartet Of The Year
Blest By Four
Graphic Designer Of The Year
Johnathan Johnson (Merge Media)
Producer Of The Year
Ray Braswell
Radio Announcer Of The Year
James “G-Man” Guy
New Artist Of The Year
The Robinson Bunch
Label Of The Year
Malaco Records
Song Of The Year
“I Still Got Joy”
(Roy & Revelation)
Album Of The Year
Quartagious
(The Williams Singers)
Male Quartet Of The Year
Darrel Petties & Take 2
Female Quartet Of The Year
Lisa Knowles-Smith & The Brown Singers
Emcee/Host Of The Year
Justin Rufus
Promoter Of The Year
Cheryl Snell
National Artist Of The Year
The Gospel Legends
2022 QMA Artist Of The Year
Men Of Prayze
Libra Nicole Boyd, PhD is a musician, award-winning author, gospel music aficionado, and the founder and editor of Gospel Music Fever™. Her commitment to journalistic integrity includes bringing you reliable gospel music content that uplifts and advances the art form. Libra is presently working on several scholarly projects about gospel music in the media as well as gospel music in social movements.