BMI Gospel Greats Dominate Stellar Awards

Posted in News on January 25, 2006

BMI gospel artists were at the top of the winners' list for the 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

SOURCENews TAGS Artists Walter Hawkins Israel Houghton Donald Lawrence Lil iROCC Williams Donnie McClurkin Martha Munizzi Jonathan Nelson Dottie Peoples RiZen Sounds of Blackness Vickie Winans