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

The CCA introduced their WorshipCast License on Oct. 1 and it is designed to provide churches a legal right to webcast worship music performed by a church's praise/worship team.

"Worship music is a cornerstone in the U.S. and we're happy to help support the further growth with the Church Copyright Administration," said BMI's Scott Andrews, Executive Director, New Media Licensing. "Their WorshipCast service is a unique and trend-setting program that will benefit the Christian music and publishing industries through performance royalties. We're proud to be a partner with this organization and to help grow the marketplace for the genre."

"Through the support of BMI, we are able to help facilitate the commitment by churches to be copyright compliant," says CCA President Susan Fontaine Godwin, a 22-year veteran in Christian music publishing and church copyright administration. "Through our internet streaming site, WorshipCast, we are able to offer a one-stop license that will help simplify the legal use of music on church websites. It is a groundbreaking endeavor for the CCA and we appreciate all of BMI's help and support in the Christian music industry on behalf of their songwriter and composer affiliates."

CCA's WorshipCast License, continuing the company's proactive position concerning the legal, effective use of current technology, offers one form for enrollment with all three of American PROs, access to CCA's exclusive CopyrightSolver database, an online, user-friendly form for posting internet usage activities, and simplified accounting and reporting procedures. WorshipCast License specifics are accessed via e-mail to internetinfo@churchca.com or a call to 251-929-2404.

CCA offers administration, consultation and education services to a client base that includes Saddleback Church, Willow Creek Church, and Christian ministries and businesses like International Mission Board and Sermonspice. Clients obtain clearances for copyright uses not covered by other industry licenses through CopyrightSolver, streamlining and automating the process while giving clients personal control and immediate information about their project orders. Full Service and Per Project administration plans, plus personal On-Site Consultation, are CCA services designed to meet the needs of individual clients.

BMI has been involved in sacred music throughout its history and licenses the work of such classic songwriters as Thomas Dorsey ("Precious Lord") and Steven Curtis Chapman. Some of the many Christian and gospel songwriters, composers and publishers it represents include The Hemphills, Kirk Franklin, Jars of Clay, Carman, TD Jakes, The Isaacs, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Yolanda Adams, Joyce Martin, Donald Lawrence, Dottie Peoples, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Rebecca St. James, Fred Hammond, Jeff Steele, John P Kee, Tait, Kim Burrell, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Donnie McClurkin, Wayne Haun, Deitrick Haddon, Mike Bowling, Vickie Winans, Audio Adrenaline, Albertina Walker, Skillet, Walter Hawkins, Grits, Rance Allen, Larnelle Harris and LaSHUN Pace.

Aaron Sprinkle	Relient K	Ed Cash

Singer/songwriter/producer Aaron Sprinkle was showered with the most praise, earning eight nominations for his work with artists in a variety of categories, including pop/contemporary, rap/hip-hop and worship. Three of his nominations are for CD compilations that will compete for Special Event Album of the Year, including Happy Christmas Volume Four, Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and WoW Christmas Green.

Casting Crowns	Steven Curtis Chapman

Pop-punk outfit Relient K came in with six nods, earning two for "Be My Escape," two for their album Mmhmm, and two as contributing artists on a pair of Special Event Album nominees.

Earning five nominations apiece were Christian rock band Casting Crowns, who will vie for Group and Artist of the Year; alt-rock group Switchfoot, whose Nothing Is Sound is up for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year; and 2005's Producer of the Year Ed Cash, who hopes for a repeat win in that category.

Crabb Family	Jars of Clay	Wayne Haun

Southern gospel veterans the Crabb Family also took home five GMA nominations, with individual family members Gerald, Jason, Adam and Aaron each earning their own multiple nods.

Casting Crowns' lead singer Mark Hall picked up a total of four solo mentions, including two Song of the Year nominations for the hits "Lifesong" and "Voice of Truth." Pop/rock quartet Jars of Clay, producer Wayne Haun and Relient K frontman Matthew Theissen rounded out the quadruple nominees list.

CeCe Winans	Toby McKeehan	Switchfoot

BMI award-winning artist/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman, who has collected 49 Dove Awards to date -- more than any other artist in gospel music history -- has a chance to pass the 50-trophy mark this year if any of his three nominations results in win.

Also earning triple nominations were 13-time GMA Award winner Lari Goss, gospel producer Sanchez Harley and church group Israel & New Breed; leader Israel Houghton is up for five of his own GMAs.

Other BMI nominees included double earners Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Vince Gill, Grits, Kids In The Way, Dave Moody, tobyMac (Toby McKeehan) and CeCe Winans, as well as Yolanda Adams, Blind Boys of Alabama, Building 429, Fred Hammond, Rodney Jerkins, Lewis Family, Donnie McClurkin, Martha Munizzi, Dottie Peoples and George Teren, who is also up for a 2006 ACM Award.

Songwriter of the Year contenders will be revealed, along with the winner, at the 37th Annual GMA Music Awards ceremony, to be hosted by 2006 Dove nominees Rebecca St. James and Kirk Franklin. The recorded show will be televised in national syndication from April 15 to May 21.

Founded in 1964, the 4,500-member Gospel Music Association is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music. The GMA represents all styles of gospel music including contemporary pop, rock, urban gospel, praise & worship, Southern gospel, country and children's gospel music. The GMA produces the GMA Music Awards, which recognize achievement in all genres of gospel music and are voted on by members of the GMA.

BMI's 2006 GMA Awards Nominees:

8 Nominations
Aaron Sprinkle

6 Nominations
Relient K

5 Nominations
Ed Cash
Casting Crowns
The Crabb Family
Israel Houghton
Aaron W. Lindsey
Otto Price
Switchfoot

4 Nominations
Mark Hall
Dan Haseltine
Wayne Haun
Jars of Clay
Charlie Lowell
Steve Mason
Matt Odmark
Matthew Theissen

3 Nominations
Steven Curtis Chapman
Jason Crabb
Lari Goss
Sanchez Harley
Israel & New Breed

2 Nominations
Alletrope Music
Kelly Bowling
Kurt Carr
Teron Carter
Club Zoo Music
Gerald Crabb
Adam Crabb
Aaron Crabb
Christopher Davis
Dizmas
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Jerome Fontamillas
Vince Gill
Percy Gray, Jr.
Grits
Stacy Jones
Mat Kearney
Kids In The Way
Ay'Ron Lewis
Dave Moody
NewSong
Ric Robbins
Rebecca St. James
SWECS Music
tobyMac (Toby McKeehan)
CeCe Winans

Other Nominees
Yolanda Adams
Duane Allen
Paul Allen
Rev. F.C. Barnes
Luther Barnes
Blind Boys of Alabama
Ronald Block
Kevin Bond
Paul Boutte
Damon Bracy
Brian Free & Assurance
Building 429
Kyle Bynoe
Marc Byrd
Champions for Christ Publishing
Dean Chance
John Chelew
Stan Dailey
Alvin Darling
Daywind Music Group
Hector Diaz
Chris Eaton
Kirk Franklin
Aaron Gillespie
Rob Graves
Kenny Greenberg
Greenberg Music
Fred Hammond
Tom Hemby
Rick Hendrix
George Huff
Steve Huff
Integrity's Praise! Music
Rodney Jerkins
Lee Jerkins
Fred Jerkins III
Don Koch
Jean-Luc Lajoie
Shawn Lane
Frank Lenz
Lewis Family
Robert Marvin
Donnie McClurkin
Annie McRae
McRaes
Nelson McSwain
Meaux Mercy
The Mighty Clouds of Joy
Buck Moore
Martha Munizzi
Michael Neale
Peach Hill Songs
Aaron Pearce
Dottie Peoples
Rizen
Roger Ryan
Carolyn Sanders
Belinda Smith
Sparrow Song
Spinning Audio Vortex
Ralph Stanley
Ralph Stanley II
Derrick Starks
Christopher Stevens
Marty Stuart
George Teren
Rev. Gerald Thompson
Anthony Vero
Reed Vertelney
Tommy Walker
Fred Washington
Mark Whitehead
BeBe Winans
Marcos Witt

Mariah Carey	John Legend	R. Kelly

Carey took home Best Female R&B/Soul Album for her comeback recording, The Emancipation of Mimi, and Best Female Single for the album's smash hit "We Belong Together." In addition to three Grammys and being named the top-selling album of 2005, Mimi has also earned her four Vibe Awards, five Billboard Awards, four Radio Music Awards, four World Music Awards and the NAACP Image Award for Best Album.

Kanye West	Jamie Foxx	Donnie McClurkin

Legend's debut Get Lifted was named Best Male R&B/Soul Album and the CD's stirring "Ordinary People" was named Best Male Single. The neo-soul artist was also honored with the Sammy Davis Jr. Award as Entertainer of the Year.

Black Eyed Peas

The inaugural Stevie Wonder Lifetime Achievement Award in Songwriting was presented to r&b singer R. Kelly by Wonder himself, while 16-year-old newcomer Chris Brown took home the Best New Artist trophy.

Chris Brown	Fatman Scoop

Other BMI winners included rapper Kanye West, hip-hop outfit the Black Eyed Peas, actor/singer Jamie Foxx, gospel great Donnie McClurkin and Grammy-winning artist/producer/radio show host Fatman Scoop, who was featured (along with Ciara) on the Missy Elliott hit, "Lose Control."

The Soul Train Awards, created by Don Cornelius after his long-running TV franchise, singles out the best in r&b, hip-hop, rap and gospel. Nominations and winners are based on a survey of radio programmers, talent managers and artists. Hosted by Vivica A. Fox and Tyrese Gibson, the 2006 honors will air in syndication beginning March 11.

BMI's 20th Annual Soul Train Award winners:

The Black Eyed Peas
R&B/Soul Album Group, Band or Duo
Monkey Business

Chris Brown
Best New Artist

Mariah Carey
Female R&B/Soul Album: The Emancipation of Mimi
Female R&B/Soul Single: "We Belong Together"

Fatman Scoop
R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut
"Lose Control" featuring Fatman Scoop

Jamie Foxx
Quincy Jones Outstanding Career Achievement, Male

R. Kelly
Stevie Wonder Lifetime Achievement in Songwriting

John Legend
Male R&B/Soul Single: "Ordinary People"
Male R&B/Soul Album: Get Lifted
Sammy Davis Jr. Award -- Entertainer of the Year

Donnie McClurkin
Best Gospel Album
Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Kanye West
Michael Jackson Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video
"Gold Digger"

Mariah Carey	Alison Krauss

Adding to BMI's 53% take of the night's awards, triple winners Mariah Carey, Alison Krauss, John Legend and Kanye West led the list with the most trophies, dominating the r&b, rap and country categories.

John Legend	Kanye West

Carey, whose comeback release The Emancipation of Mimi was named Best Contemporary R&B Album, also took home Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for the album's smash hit "We Belong Together."

CeCe Winans	Black Eyed Peas

Bluegrass fiddler Alison Krauss and her band Union Station added Best Country Album (Lonely Runs Both Ways), Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Restless") and Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Unionhouse Branch") to an impressive career Grammy haul that now totals 20.

Shakira	Gorillaz

The coveted Best New Artist Grammy went to neo-soul artist John Legend, who also picked up Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for the moving "Ordinary People" and Best R&B Album for his debut entitled Get Lifted.

Tim McGraw	Linkin Park

Kanye West cleaned up in the rap field, winning Best Rap Solo Performance for the Jamie Foxx duet "Gold Digger," Best Rap Song for "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" and Best Rap Album for his sophomore effort Late Registration. The BMI Award-winning rapper also won three awards at last year's ceremony.

Aretha Franklin	Maroon5

Earning two Grammys apiece were pianist Billy Childs for Best Instrumental Composition ("Into The Light") and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists ("What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life?"), and gospel singer CeCe Winans for Best Gospel Performance ("Pray") and Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album (Purified).

Keith Urban	System of a Down

Other big BMI winners included the Black Eyed Peas, Gorillaz, Shakira, Audio Adrenaline, Keith Urban, Gilberto Gil, Bobby Boyd, William Bolcom, Aretha Franklin, Maroon5, Linkin Park, Tim McGraw, System of a Down, the White Stripes and Luis Miguel.

BMI's 2006 Grammy Award Winners:

Yolanda Adams
Best Gospel Song
"Be Blessed"

Audio Adrenaline
Best Rock Gospel Album
Until My Heart Caves In

Black Eyed Peas
Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group
"Don't Phunk With My Heart"

William Bolcom
Best Classical Contemporary Composition
"Bolcom: Songs of Innocence and of Experience"

Bobby Boyd
Best Country Song
"Bless the Broken Road"

Mariah Carey
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
"We Belong Together"
Best R&B Song
"We Belong Together"
Best Contemporary R&B Album
The Emancipation of Mimi

Billy Childs
Best Instrumental Composition
"Into The Light"
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists
"What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?"

Casting Crowns
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
Lifesong

Christopher Cerf
Best Spoken Word Album for Children
Marlo Thomas & Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long

Willy Chirino
Best Salsa/Merengue Album
Son Del Alma

John Du Prez (PRS)
Best Musical Show Album
Monty Python's Spamalot

Aretha Franklin
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
"A House Is Not A Home"

Gilberto Gil
Best Contemporary World Music Album
Eletrac?stico

Gorillaz (PRS) featuring De La Soul
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
"Feel Good Inc."

Jeff Hanna
Best Country Song
"Bless the Broken Road"

Faith Hill
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
"Like We Never Loved At All"

Dave Holland Big Band
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Overtime

Marcus Hummon
Best Country Song
"Bless the Broken Road"

Eric Idle (PRS)
Best Musical Show Album
Monty Python's Spamalot

B.B. King
Best Traditional Blues Album
80

Alison Krauss and Union Station
Best Country Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal
"Restless"
Best Country Instrumental Performance
"Unionhouse Branch"
Best Country Album
Lonely Runs Both Ways

John Legend
Best New Artist
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
"Ordinary People"
Best R&B Album
Get Lifted

Linkin Park
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
"Numb/Encore"

Little Joe y La Familia
Best Tejano Album
Chicanisimo

Maroon5
Best Pop Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal
"This Love"

Delbert McClinton
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Cost Of Living

Donnie McClurkin
Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs

The Del McCoury Band
Best Bluegrass Album
The Company We Keep

Tim McGraw
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
"Like We Never Loved At All"

Pat Metheny Group
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
The Way Up

Luis Miguel
Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album
México En La Piel

Eddie Palmieri
Best Latin Jazz Album
Listen Here!

John Prine
Best Contemporary Folk Album
Fair & Square

Sonny Rollins
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
Why Was I Born?

Fat Man Scoop
Best Short Form Music Video
"Lose Control"

Shakira
Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album
Fijación Oral Vol. 1

Wayne Shorter Quartet
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
Beyond The Sound Barrier

Jimmy Sturr
Best Polka Album
Shake, Rattle And Polka!

System of a Down
Best Hard Rock Performance
B.Y.O.B.

Turtle Island String Quartet
Best Classical Crossover Album
4 + Four

Keith Urban
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
"You'll Think Of Me"

Bebo Valdés
Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album
Bebo De Cuba

Louie Vega
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
"Superfly (Louie Vega EOL Mix)"

Kanye West
Best Rap Solo Performance
"Gold Digger"
Best Rap Song
"Diamonds From Sierra Leone"
Best Rap Album
Late Registration

The White Stripes
Best Alternative Album
Get Behind Me Satan

CeCe Winans
Best Gospel Performance
"Pray"
Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album
Purified

Paul Winter Consort
Best New Age Album
Silver Solstice]]> 2006-02-08T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334666 Artists, Hawkins, Walter, Houghton, Israel, Lawrence, Donald, Lil iROCC Williams, McClurkin, Donnie, Munizzi, Martha, Nelson, Jonathan, Peoples, Dottie, RiZen, Sounds of Blackness, Winans, Vickie 21st Annual Stellar Awards, held January 21 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Hosted by BMI songwriter/artists Vickie Winans, Israel Houghton and Donnie McClurkin, the televised event was highlighted by multiple performances, including songs from the night's biggest winner, Donald Lawrence.

Donald Lawrence	Walter Hawkins	Lil iROCC Williams

With an impressive six Stellar Awards, Lawrence was named Artist and Producer of the Year, and took home awards for CD and Contemporary CD of the Year for his Verity Records release I Speak Life. The album also won the award for Recorded Music Package of the Year.

Gospel legend Walter Hawkins, honored the previous day at BMI's 7th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Luncheon, picked up two awards for Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year and Traditional CD of the Year for A Song in My Heart.

Lil iROCC Williams, also a double winner, won Rap/Hip-Hop Gospel CD of the Year and Children's Performance of the Year for The Sequel. The 15-year-old gospel phenomenom earned the same two awards at the 2004 Stellar Awards for his self-titled debut.

Other winners included Jonathan Nelson, RiZen, Sounds of Blackness, Martha Munizzi and 2002 BMI Christian Song of the Year writer Dottie Peoples.

BMI's 2006 Stellar Awards winners:

Donald Lawrence
Artist of the Year
CD of the Year -- I Speak Life
Producer of the Year
Group/Duo of the Year -- Donald Lawrence & Co.
Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year -- Donald Lawrence & Co.
Contemporary CD of the Year -- I Speak Life

Walter Hawkins
Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year
Traditional CD of the Year -- A Song in My Heart

Lil iROCC Williams
Rap/Hip-Hop Gospel CD of the Year -- The Sequel
Children's Performance of the Year -- The Sequel

Martha Munizzi
Special Event CD of the Year
When He Came

Jonathan Nelson
Song of the Year
"Healed"

Dottie Peoples
Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year

RiZen
Traditional Group/Duo of the Year

Sounds of Blackness
Contemporary Choir of the Year
]]> 2006-01-25T17:00:01-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334667 Artists, Allen, Rance, Burrell, Kim, Carr, Kurt, Clark Sisters, The, Clark-Cole, Dorinda, Hairston, Teresa, Hawkins, Edwin, Hawkins, Walter, Houston, Cissy, Jerkins, Rodney, Kee, John P., Lawrence, Donald, McClurkin, Donnie, Morton, Bishop Paul, Stampley, Micah, Take 6, Walker, Albertina, Winans, Bebe, Winans, Juan, Winans, Marvin Bishop Paul Morton with a "who's who" of gospel music at its 7th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon in Nashville on January 20. The standing-room-only event was held in conjunction with the 2006 Stellar Awards.

Pictured on stage are Pastor Marvin Winans, Edwin Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, Shirley Miller, BMI's Catherine Brewton, Feddie Hawkins, Bishop Paul Morton, Deborah Morton, BMI's Thomas Cain, BeBe Winans and BMI's Wardell Malloy. Photo by DRE Photography

Hosted by BMI's Catherine Brewton, the gala luncheon was attended by Kurt Carr, DeNetria Champ, Damita and Deitrick Haddon, Rodney Jerkins, Keith "Wonderboy" Johnson, Mary, Mary, Smokey Norful, Donnie McClurkin, Albertina Walker, Tye Tribett, Byron Cage, Karen Clark-Cole, William Murphy, Myron Butler, Juan Winans and Marvin Winans, Jr. The audience was treated to transcendent performances by BeBe Winans, Marvin Winans, Kim Burrell, Micah Stampley and Dorinda Clark-Cole, who interpreted classic selections from the Hawkins and Morton repertoires.

BeBe Winans, Melvin Williams of the Williams Brothers, Walter Hawkins, Joel Smith, Daniel Hawkins, Donnie McClurkin, Lynette Hawkins, Carol Hawkins, Pastor Marvin Winans Sr., Feddie Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins, Lil iROCC, Tramaine Hawkins, Donald Lawrence, Marvin Winans, Jr., BMI's Catherine Brewton, Damita Haddon, Karima from Virtue. Photo by DRE Photography

A trailblazing force behind the evolution of the contemporary gospel sound, singer and choir director Edwin Hawkins is best known for the 1969 classic "Oh Happy Day," one of the biggest gospel hits of all time that was also a major pop radio hit. He and his younger brother, Bishop Walter Hawkins, leader of the Love Center Choir and a recent Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee, have been making memorable gospel music both together and as solo artists for more than four decades. With two Dove Awards, multiple Grammy Awards and nominations, numerous Stellar Awards, a host of multi-million-selling albums and several chart-topping songs, the music of the Hawkins Family remains an integral part of today's gospel movement.

Edwin Hawkins, Dorinda Clark-Carter, Carol Hawkins, Walter Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins and Bishop Paul Morton gather on stage for a musical tribute to the Hawkins Family. Photo by Kay Clary

Bishop Paul S. Morton has led the New Orleans-based Greater St. Stephen Baptist Church since the 70s, building its congregation to more than 20,000 with three locations and the creation of many groundbreaking community outreach and support ministries. A native of Canada, he is an author, recording artist and recognized leader in the secular business community. He hosts and produces a daily radio and weekly television program, which air in several markets nationwide, including on Dream Television Network, Black Entertainment Television (BET) and Word Network.

Past BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music include Rance Allen, Pastor John P. Kee, Kurt Carr, Take 6, Teresa Hairston, Cissy Houston and the Clark Sisters.

The 21st Annual Stellar Awards took place the day after the Trailblazers Luncheon on January 21, 2006, returning to Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry House. Considered the premier gospel event, 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.

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