Tag: Music Industry Buzz

VaShawn Mitchell wins big at Stellars (Complete List of 2012 Winners)

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Photo Credit: Rick Diamond
For VaShawn Mitchell, it was a weekend to remember at the 27th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards.  Mitchell had his hands full, leaving with six trophies for his CD Triumphant, which features Billboard’s number one gospel song of 2011, “Nobody Greater.”
A special moment in the evening came when Kirk Franklin, after having won Song of the Year for “I Smile,” shared his award with fellow category nominee Darius Paulk, the writer of “Nobody Greater.”
Other honorees of the evening were Vy Higginsen, who was presented the Thomas Dorsey Most Notable Achievement Award, and John P. Kee, who received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award.  Higginsen is perhaps most recognized as the founder of Gospel For Teens and as the first black female writer, producer, and director of the longest running Off-Broadway musical in the history of American theatre, Mama, I Want to Sing.

Photo Credit: Rick Diamond
The James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Kee for his remarkable music career that spans over three decades and encompasses a myriad of gospel music accolades.  In the late 1980’s, he was crowned the Prince of Gospel.
During the pre-show (see related story), the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award was given to Dorothy Norwood.
Daughters of “The Royal Lady of Gospel” Delois Barrett Campbell (who passed in August 2011, at age 85) were also recipients of a special Stellar Award at the pre-show. The trophies will now bear Campbell’s name among the inscriptions.  Additionally, fans of the Barrett Sisters were thrilled to learn that a film documentary chronicling the life and extensive career of Campbell and her siblings is scheduled for release in March.  It will feature vintage music footage and lively candid interviews with the internationally acclaimed trio.
The Stellar Awards will air nationally on the Gospel Music Channel, Saturday, February 11.  Visit www.thestellarawards.com and click Local Airdates for the broadcast dates and times in your area.

Below is this year’s complete list of winners.

Artist Of The Year
VaShawn Mitchell 

Song of the Year
“I Smile” – Kirk Franklin

Male Vocalist Of The Year
VaShawn Mitchell

Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year
Kim Burrell

Group/Duo of the Year
Mary Mary 

New Artist of the Year
Y’Anna Crawley

CD of the Year
Hello Fear – Kirk Franklin

Choir of the Year
Ricky Dillard & New G

Producer of the Year
Kirk Franklin

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
Mary Mary

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
The Rance Allen Group

Contemporary Male of the Year 
VaShawn Mitchell

Traditional Male of the Year
Smokie Norful

Contemporary Female of the Year
Kim Burrell 

Traditional Female of the Year
Beverly Crawford 

Contemporary CD of the Year
Hello Fear – Kirk Franklin

Traditional CD of the Year
How I Got Over – Smokie Norful

Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance Of The Year
VaShawn Mitchell 

Music Video of the Year – Short Format
“Nobody Greater” – VaShawn Mitchell 

Music Video of the Year – Long Format
Church on the Moon – Deitrick Haddon

Traditional Choir of the Year
Mississippi Mass Choir 

Contemporary Choir of the Year
Shekinah Glory Ministry 

Instrumental Gospel CD of the Year
Music Remastered and Sacred Organ – Moses Tyson, Jr. 

Special Event CD of the Year
Bishop Morton Celebrates 25 Years of Music – Bishop Paul S. Morton

Rap Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year
Rehab: The Overdose – Lacrae

Children’s Project of the Year
Teen Pure In Heart Live – Pure-N-Heart 

Quartet of the Year
The Rance Allen Group

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Make It Loud! – Martha Munizzi

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Triumphant – VaShawn Mitchell

Spoken Word CD Recording of the Year 
Look at You Loving Me – Selah

Radio Station of the Year – Major Market
KJLH 102.3FM – Los Angeles, CA 

Radio Station of the Year – Large Market
WHAL 95.7FM/1460AM – Memphis, TN 

Radio Station of the Year – Medium Market
WLOU 1350AM – Louisville, KY 

Radio Station of the Year – Small Market
KOKA 980AM – Shreveport, LA

Stellar Award winners of non-televised categories announced at pre-show

Dorothy Norwood and family of Delois Barrett Campbell receive special awards

By Libra Boyd
Gospel Music Fever

Gospel music’s version of the Grammys is taking place this weekend in Nashville.  The first winners of the 27th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards were announced last evening at the 2012 pre-show, held before a capacity crowd at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.  Hosts of the non-televised event were Byron Cage and Maurette Brown Clark.
 
“Gospel’s Greatest Storyteller” Dorothy Norwood received the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award.  The Caravan alumna’s career spans more than half a century. 
 
Left: Dorothy Norwood accepts the Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award, recalling her years of traveling during the era of racial injustice and discrimination.
 
In addition to the awards presentations, a special award was given to the daughters of pioneering gospel great Delois Barrett Campbell, who passed away August 2011.  Because of her internationally renowned contributions to gospel music with the Roberta Martin Singers, the Barrett Sisters, and as a solo artist, her name will be inscribed on the Stellar Award.

Right: Mary Campbell, daughter of Delois Barrett Campbell, speaks as other daughter Sue Campbell-Ladd (far right), presenter Erma Davis, and cousin Skip Barrett look on.
 

Categories and winners announced at the pre-show are as follows:

Contemporary Male of the Year
VaShawn Mitchell

Traditional Female of the Year
Beverly Crawford

Contemporary Female of the Year
Kim Burrell

Contemporary Choir of the Year
Shekinah Glory Ministry

Choir of the Year
Ricky Dillard & New G

Traditional Choir of the Year
Mississippi Mass Choir

Traditional CD of the Year
How I Got Over – Smokie Norful

Contemporary CD of the Year
Hello Fear – Kirk Franklin

Praise and Worship CD of the Year
Triumphant – VaShawn Mitchell

Instrumental Gospel CD of the Year
Music Remastered and Sacred Organ – Moses Tyson, Jr.

Children’s Project of the Year
Teen Pure In Heart Live – Pure-N-Heart

Music Video of the Year – Long Format
Church on the Moon – Deitrick Haddon

Urban Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year
“Nobody Greater” – VaShawn Mitchell

Quartet of the Year
The Rance Allen Group

Producer of the Year
Kirk Franklin

Recorded Music Packaging of the Year
Make It Loud! – Martha Munizzi

Special Event CD of the Year
Bishop Morton Celebrates 25 Years of Music – Bishop Paul S. Morton

The Stellar Awards continues tonight at the Grand Ole Opry with hosts Dorinda Clark-Cole and Marvin Sapp.  Stay close to GMF for the complete list of this year’s winners. 

Photo Credit: Stellar Gospel Music Awards

 

Marvin Sapp’s live CD/DVD to be recorded Oct. 7, released March 2012

Pastor Marvin Sapp announced via Twitter yesterday that the release date for his upcoming CD/DVD is March 13, 2012.  This will be the singer’s first album since his wife’s passing in 2010. 
Discussing the project, Sapp told Billboard.com, “The focus of this record is how you can come through situations and still remain on top. It’s about how the enemy has a way of hitting you with stuff to cause you to fold and buckle, but I’m still standing.”
The live recording is scheduled for Friday, October 7, at Evangel Cathedral Temple in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Gospel music documentary features legends, hits theaters June 3

Rejoice and Shout gospel music documentary

Rejoice and Shout is a new gospel music documentary that opens in theaters June 3rd.  The San Francisco International Film Festival calls it “the most thoroughly researched and exhaustive film about African-American gospel music ever committed to film.”

The documentary features interviews from Smokey Robinson, Ira Tucker, Anthony Heilbut and Mavis Staples among others, and a lot of footage from pioneers and legends including Rosetta Tharpe, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Mahalia Jackson, Rev. James Cleveland, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Staples Singers, and Andrae Crouch.

If you are a gospel music enthusiast, the Rejoice and Shout trailer is sure to whet your appetite.