Walker, who serves as managing partner of Walker and Associates, LLP, has a practice that includes litigation, intellectual property, business and corporate law. He has represented Academy Award-winning actor/recording artist Jamie Foxx; BET star/host Dr. Bobby Jones; Grammy Award winner Yolanda Adams; film director Bill Duke; The Source Magazine; and been an active participant in many BMI-sponsored music business panels.

Last year, she fulfilled a longtime dream with the release of her first faith-based album, The Gospel According to Patti Labelle, and she’s currently working on a reunion album with LaBelle, the funk trio that helped define the ’70s with such hits as “Lady Marmalade.”

“It’s the same girls. I wouldn’t do it unless they were involved,” LaBelle says of Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash. “It’s been a long time since we recorded, but they asked me and I said I’d postpone a lot of my other things to get together and do it right. It feels wonderful because we’re still the same friends, just older.”

Having achieved success in multiple genres from pop to disco to r&b, LaBelle, who is currently negotiating a new deal with Island/Def Jam, has reached that enviable stage in her career where she has the freedom to record whatever she wants. She exercised that freedom on The Gospel According to Patti Labelle.

LaBelle says the album was a labor of love and she was thrilled with its reception. “I was shocked! It was No. 1 for nine weeks,” says LaBelle of the project, which included guest appearances by CeCe Winans, Wynonna Judd, Mary Mary, Kanye West, The Soul Seekers, Tye Tribbett, and Yolanda Adams. “It was all because of God and my fans. For years I’d been promising my fans a gospel CD.”

The reason for the timing of the album is that her longtime friend and musical director Bud Ellison was battling cancer and she’d always wanted him to be involved in her gospel project. Ellison died before the album was complete and LaBelle dedicated the album to her friend and donated all proceeds to cancer research.

LaBelle says she didn’t approach the recording of The Gospel According to Patti Labelle any differently than one of her secular projects. “To me a song is a song,” she says. “It can be a secular song or a gospel song, but it has to be lyrically great and has to have a melody that I love. And it has to be age appropriate. I’m 62-years-young and I don’t want to sound like I’m a 20-year-old. It has to be real and make sense to me before I sing it.”

A Philadelphia native, the two-time Grammy winner was born Patricia Louise Holt. She’s recorded 30 albums: six as Patti LaBelle & the Bluebells, five with LaBelle and 19 as Patti LaBelle. She’s scored numerous hits, gracing both the pop and r&b charts, among them the sassy “New Attitude” and “On My Own,” a duet with Michael McDonald.

LaBelle was concerned that with the release of her gospel project, people might think she’d permanently changed musical direction, and she might get pigeonholed in one genre. “I felt people might be judging me and I was a little nervous. I had a feeling people might say ‘She’s changing from secular to gospel’,” says LaBelle. “That was never the issue. I’d never give up my secular music for gospel and I’d never give up my gospel music for secular. I do all kinds of music.”

In addition to her music, LaBelle hosts Living It Up with Patti LaBelle on TV One. She has also authored four best-selling books, including two cookbooks for diabetics. Diagnosed in 1995 with the disease, LaBelle is a spokeswoman for the American Diabetes Association. An astute businesswoman, she also has her own fashion line, Patti LaBelle Clothing, available on the Home Shopping Network.

LaBelle is modest about her achievements, particularly when it comes to songwriting. “I can come up with titles and I can help with the bridge,” says LaBelle. She cites the Bonnie Raitt hit “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” penned by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin as one of her favorite songs. “I recorded that on my ‘Classic Moments’ album. That’s one of the greatest lyrics I’ve ever heard. It’s phenomenal and for me to sit down and write a phenomenal song, it’s really not in me, but I’m great with a hook and I can give you a great title.”

When asked to name her greatest accomplishment, LaBelle doesn’t mention the Grammys, platinum records or industry accolades, her thoughts turn to family. “It’s my son,” she says. “He’s 32 and is phenomenal. He has nothing to do with the [music] industry. When I got pregnant, I was told I should get an abortion. The people I was working with said it would stop my career. I said ‘Well, it can stop it, but I’m having my baby!’ He was the blessing I needed in my life. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me!”

BMI artists shined at this year’s awards, with winners including Gnarls Barkley, Best Group; Ne-Yo, Best Male R&B; Kirk Franklin, Best Gospel Artist; Birdman & Lil’Wayne’s "Stuntin' Like My Daddy," Viewers Choice Award.

The late Gerald Levert won in the BETJ Cool Like That category. One of the highlights of the evening was the all-star performance of “Wind Beneath My Wings” performed by his father, Eddie Levert, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle and Yolanda Adams.

Hosted by actress/comedian Mo'Nique, the BET Awards also bestowed the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary songstress Diana Ross, and the Humanitarian Award to award-winning actor and activist Don Cheadle.

BMI saluted the writers and publishers of the past year’s most performed songs on Christian radio and television during the BMI Christian Music Awards on April 21 at the company’s Music Row offices in Nashville. BMI named Casting Crowns’ “Voice of Truth” Song of the Year, while the group’s frontman Mark Hall earned the prestigious Songwriter of the Year title. BMI Vice President Jody Williams, along with Senior Director Thomas Cain and Associate Director Beth Mason, of BMI’s Writer/Publisher Relations department in Nashville, presented awards for 25 songs in five categories: Christian Rock, Contemporary Christian, Inspirational, Urban Gospel and Southern Gospel.

2007 Christian Music Awards: Song List

Gospel star Kirk Franklin, Christian rock outfit Sanctus Real and Casting Crowns’ Mark Hall delighted the packed room by delivered scorching performances of their award-winning songs.

Longtime Christian music pacesetters Steven Curtis Chapman and Mark Hall took home BMI Song of the Year crystals for “Voice of Truth.” Recorded the by Hall’s award-winning band Casting Crowns, “Voice of Truth” was published by Club Zoo Music, Inc., My Refuge Music, Peach Hill Songs, Sparrow Song and SWECS Music.

It was a good night for the lead singer of Casting Crowns, who also earned his second BMI Christian Songwriter of the Year honor. Mark Hall’s hits ““Lifesong,” “Praise You in This Storm” and “Voice of Truth,” all recorded by Casting Crowns, garnered three BMI Christian Awards in both the Contemporary and Inspirational categories.

The ceremony also feted Songs of Greater Vision as Publisher of the Year. The award is determined by the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. The company’s two honored songs, “Do You Want To Be Forgiven” and “Don’t Let The Sandals Fool Ya,” secured individual BMI Christian Awards for writer Rodney Griffin.

Some of the night’s other big winners included 2007 Trailblazers of Gospel honoree Yolanda Adams; producer/songwriter Ed Cash; urban gospel star Kirk Franklin; producer, arranger and musician Jay Joyce; songwriter/producer Kenny Greenberg; Israel Houghton and Percy James Bady; songwriter Fred Douglas Washington, Jr.; the Crabb Family’s Gerald Crabb; songwriter/artist Aaron Shust; producer/songwriter/author Matt Bronleewe; and brothers Henry, JoJo and Ringo Garza. Songwriters Marcia Henry, George Jordan, Sandy Knight, Doug McKelvey and Kevin Keith Walker, along with Day of Fire’s Greg Hionis, songwriter/producers Ian Eskelin and Liz Hooper, Sanctus Real producer Chris Stevens and Sanctus Real member Dan Gartley, each took home their first BMI Christian Music Award.

Publishers winning multiple awards were BMG Music Group (Bridge Building Music/Careers-BMG Music Publishing/Zomba Songs), Club Zoo Music, Inc., My Refuge Music, SWECS Music, EMI Music Publishing (EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc./Sparrow Song) and Gotee Music, Inc.

FOUR AWARDS
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Best Rock Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal
Best Rock Song
Best Rock Album
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

TWO AWARDS
George Benson
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

Michael Brecker
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Chick Corea
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
Best Instrumental Arrangement

The Flaming Lips
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Kirk Franklin
Best Gospel Song
Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album

Gnarls Barkley
Best Alternative Music Album
Best Urban/Alternative Performance

John Legend
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

T.I.
Best Rap Solo Performance
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Carrie Underwood
Best New Artist
Best Female Country Vocal Performance

John Williams
Best Score Soundtrack Album
Best Instrumental Composition

OTHER WINNERS
Yolanda Adams
Best Gospel Performance

Pepe Aguilar
Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album

Christina Aguilera
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Chente Barrera y Taconazo
Best Tejano Album

The Black Eyed Peas
Best Pop Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal

Randy Brecker
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

T Bone Burnett
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album

Enya (PRS)
Best New Age Album

Peter Erskine
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Béla Fleck & the Flecktones
Best Contemporary Jazz Album

Dave Fridmann
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

Bob Gaudio
Best Musical Show Album

Vince Gill
Best Male Country Vocal Performance

Osvaldo Golijov
Best Classical Contemporary Composition

Bill Harley
Best Spoken Word Album for Children

Van Hunt
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

Israel & New Breed
Best Traditional Gospel Album

Al Jarreau
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

Klezmatics
Best Contemporary World Music Album

Krayzie Bone
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group

Will Lee
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

The Bryan Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project
Best Latin Jazz Album

Maná
Best Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album

OK Go
Best Short Form Music Video

Joss Stone (PRS)
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra
Best Polka Album

Irma Thomas
Best Contemporary Blues

Los Tigres Del Norte
Best Norteño Album

Ike Turner
Best Traditional Blues Album

Julieta Venegas
Best Latin Pop Album

Doc Watson
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals

Pharrell Williams
Best Rap Song

Wolfmother (APRA)
Best Hard Rock Performance

With five wins out of five nominations, the country trio shook off the anti-Bush backlash and took the stage to pick up three of the night’s top awards—Record and Song of the Year for “Not Ready to Make Nice” and Album of the Year for Taking the Long Way—as well as Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Country Album.

Funky foursome the Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose Stadium Arcadium double-disc set was named Best Rock Album, took home a total of four trophies that also included Best Rock Song for the album’s single, “Dani California.”

American Idol alum Carrie Underwood came in with two, winning the coveted Best New Artist Grammy as well as Best Female Country Vocal Performance for her inspirational hit, “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

Other double winners included “Crazy” duo Gnarls Barkley, Atlanta rapper T.I., neo-soul artist John Legend, r&b crooner George Benson, celebrated film composer John Williams and the late sax player Michael Brecker, who died Jan. 13.

Jazz innovator Al Jarreau joined Benson on the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance win with their duet “God Bless the Child,” while gospel singer Yolanda Adams earned the Best Gospel Performance statuette for Victory. Singer Christina Aguilera‘s “Ain’t No Other Man” reeled in the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Also on the BMI winners list were soon-to-be BMI Icons Los Tigres del Norte, who won Best Norteño Album with their release, Historias Que Contar; Irish singer Enya (PRS), whose CD Amarantine was named Best New Age Album; country superstar Vince Gill, who picked up his 18th Grammy Award with a Best Male Country Vocal Performance win for “The Reason Why”; and heavy-hitters Wolfmother (APRA), whose song “Woman” earned the Best Hard Rock Performance trophy.

The Recording Academy also honored Eagles’ member Don Henley as the 2007 MusiCares Person of the Year during a gala dinner, concert and auction held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Feb. 9, two days prior to the Grammy ceremony. Proceeds from the star-studded event went to MusiCares’ Financial Assistance Program, which assists musicians and others in times of financial, medical and personal need.

photos: Arnold Turner

Gospel matriarch Albertina Walker and her group The Caravans, torch-carriers including Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary and The Clark Sisters, along with stars on the rise Lil iROCC and Trinitee 5:7 were among the multi-generational crew on hand to pay tribute to Hammond and Adams. Robust praise saturated the air as attendees celebrated two special lives, both in song and testimony.

The 22nd Annual Stellar Awards were held the next day, saluting the genre’s best of 2006. BMI affiliates took home trophy after trophy, enjoying a special night of reflection and fellowship with peers and fans.

BMI’s 2007 Stellar Award Winners:

Artist of the Year

Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers

Song of the Year (Songwriter; Song; Label)

Isaiah D. Thomas; “I Will Bless The Lord”; GospoCentric

Choir of the Year

Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers

Producer of the Year

Donald Lawrence

Group/Duo of the Year

Myron Butler & Levi

New Artist of the Year

Myron Butler & Levi

Male Vocalist of the Year

Myron Butler

Female Vocalist of the Year

Dorinda Clark-Cole

Contemporary Group / Duo of the Year

Myron Butler & Levi

CD of the Year

Kirk Franklin

Hero

Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year

CeCe Winans

Contemporary CD of the Year

Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers

Finale: Act One

Traditional CD of the Year

New Life Community Choir featuring John. P. Kee

The Reunion

Contemporary Choir of the Year

Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers

Instrumental CD of the Year

Ramsey Lewis

With One Voice

Special Event CD of the Year

Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers

Finale: Act One

Quartet of the Year

Keith Wonderboy Johnson & The Spiritual Voicess

Music Video of the Year (artist, song/CD title, label)

Donald Lawrence presents The Tri-City Singers

Finale: Act One

EMI Gospel

Recorded Music Package of the Year (art credit / album (artist) / label)

Philpott Design (art direction and design)

Jay Blakesberg (photography)

Donald Lawrence presents the Tri City Singers

Finale: Act One; EMI Gospel

Praise and Worship CD of the Year

Kevin Burroughs Neeley

Fingers of Fire - Volume 1

Yolanda Adams, who was recently nominated for two Grammys, earned a living as a school teacher in Houston, Texas, during the 1980s, while her striking beauty also supplied her with work in the modeling industry. Adams' debut album, Just As I Am, hit shelves in 1988, ushering in a bright new star on the forefront of gospel music. 1996's Yolanda Live in Washington earned the soulful singer her first Grammy nomination, while her next album, Mountain High Valley Low, snagged the performer her first Grammy Award. Since 2000, Adams has delivered the Lord's message to the masses on two more beautiful albums, showcasing both her unparalleled talent and devotion.

Detroit native Fred Hammond is one of the most beloved praise and worship leaders in the gospel music genre. His studio albums take on the alive, emotive feel of a concert. Like so many before him, Hammond developed his passion for song in the church choir at age 12. After playing bass and supplying vocals for the Winans during the early 1980s, Fred joined the group Commissioned, where he showcased his unique arrangements and grew as a producer, vocalist and songwriter. While Fred remained a member of Commissioned, intricately crafted solo albums like I Am Persuaded, Purpose By Design and In Case You Missed It...And Then Some hit shelves, cementing Hammond's position as one of recent history's premier gospel music artists.

The 22nd Annual Stellar Awards will be held the day after the BMI Trailblazers Luncheon, on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. The awards show, celebrating the year in gospel music, is produced by Chicago-based Central City Productions. Nominations are received and voted on by the Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy (SAGMA), made up of members who encourage and promote gospel music worldwide.

Pictured are (l-r): Weston Hinson (son of the late Kenny Hinson), Hinsons member Chris Hawkins Freeman, Hinsons co-founders Larry Hinson and Ronny Hinson, Hinsons member Eric Hinson, Hinsons co-founder Yvonne Hinson-Johnson, Hinsons member Bo Hinson, BMI's Beth Mason, Richard Smallwood, and BMI's Thomas Cain and Jody Williams.

Southern gospel family The Hinsons, formed by brothers Ronny, Kenny and Larry, along with their sister Yvonne, performed together throughout the 1970s and 80s. Universally recognized as premier gospel songwriters as well as vocalists, the group penned oft-recorded favorites including "Mercy Built a Bridge" and "He Pilots My Ship."

BMI staffers congratulated some of the newest members of the GMA Hall of Fame. Pictured are (l-r): BMI's Jody Williams and Beth Mason, gospel music industry veteran and Hall of Fame inductee John T. Benson III, Hall of Fame inductee Richard Smallwood and BMI's Thomas Cain with Hall of Fame inductee Doug Oldham (seated).

Beloved gospel artist Doug Oldham has performed for heads of state, presidents and thousands of worshipers. His longtime friendship with songwriter Bill Gaither led to his early performance of countless Gaither-penned classics. Over the years, Oldham's gripping and impassioned delivery inspired audiences throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as well as the United States.

Grammy Award-winning artist, pianist and composer Richard Smallwood's classically infused brand of gospel revolutionized the genre. As an artist, he recorded eight albums with the Richard Smallwood Singers and now performs with the group Vision, while his compositions have been covered by mainstream superstars including Whitney Houston and Destiny's Child, as well as giants of the gospel world including Yolanda Adams and Karen Clark-Sheard.

The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame was established in 1971 and has inducted more than 140 members since its inception, including Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Amy Grant, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Andraé Crouch, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Oak Ridge Boys, Petra, Bill and Gloria Gaither, The Rambos, Thomas A. Dorsey, The Fairfield Four, Billy Graham and The Jordanaires. Last year, Walter Hawkins, Mylon LeFevre, Evie and The Lewis Family were inducted.

Photos by Aaron Crisler