c. 1999 Religion News Service
UNDATED _ Contemporary Christian singer Michael W. Smith walked away with six Dove Awards Wednesday (March 24), the most of any artist honored during the 30th annual ceremony of the Gospel Music Association in Nashville, Tenn.
Among his honors, Smith was named Artist of the Year and Producer of the Year. He also was honored for his work as performer and producer of”Live the Life”in the Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year category, and as performer and producer of”Exodus”in the Special Event Album of the Year category.
As the gospel music industry took time to honor its own, the Recording Industry Association of America announced that gospel music showed the largest market growth of any genre last year, increasing its market share from 4.5 percent in 1997 to 6.3 percent in 1998.”Its increasing popularity over the past three years is due largely to the cross-over success of a number of gospel/Christian artists who appeal to R&B, pop, country and rock fans,”the RIAA said in a statement released Tuesday about its annual demographic survey.
The RIAA pointed specifically to Kirk Franklin’s”The Nu Nation Project,”which has certified platinum and reached number seven on the Billboard charts.
Franklin received four Dove Awards this year. He was honored as a performer and writer of”Revolution,”the Urban Recorded Song of the Year, and as performer and producer of”The Nu Nation Project,”in the Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year category.
The RIAA also noted the work of artists such as Lee Ann Rimes, dc Talk and Point of Grace, in addition to the popular”VeggieTales”children’s videos and the inspirational soundtrack to”The Prince of Egypt.””We are happy to see the two most important measuring devices in the music industry _ SoundScan and RIAA _ both confirm the tremendous growth rate of gospel music,”Gospel Music Association president Frank Breeden said in a statement.”This is the first time since SoundScan began tracking Christian music sales in 1995 that the two have matched in how they attribute the market share for gospel music.” Southern gospel music legend Bill Gaither also garnered four Doves. He was honored for performing and writing the Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year,”I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary,”and for performing and producing”Still the Greatest Story Ever Told,”the Southern Gospel Album of the Year.
The late Rich Mullins, who died in an auto accident in 1997, continued to reap rewards for his work with three awards this year.”My Deliverer,”which Mullins co-wrote with Mitch McVicker, was named Song of the Year and Mullins was named Songwriter of the Year.
In addition, the performance of Mullins’ composition”Awesome God”by The Insyderz was honored as Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year.
Avalon, a group named New Artist of the Year at last year’s Doves, also was honored with three awards this year. Their performance of”Testify to Love”was named Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year and their song”Adonai”was named Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year. They also were among the artists honored for their role in”My Utmost For His Highest,”which was named Long Form Music Video of the Year.
Jennifer Knapp was named New Artist of the Year and Chris Rice and Jaci Velasquez were named Male Vocalist and Female Vocalist, respectively.
The Dove Awards show will be televised across the country until April 12 through a syndication agreement, airing on different dates in different regions.
The show continued to display the range of gospel music, including the debut of contemporary Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman’s”Dive,”a final performance of The Cathedrals, a Southern Gospel group that is retiring after 30 years, and a finale performance of”Lean on Me”by Kirk Franklin and Nu Nation.”The vocal medley performed by The Centurymen, which is a 106-man choir composed of worship leaders from churches across the country, illustrated the connection that continues to remain strong between the Gospel Music Association and the church,”Breeden said.
The GMA, which is based in Nashville, was founded in 1964 and includes 6,000 members.
(STORY MAY END HERE. OPTIONAL TRIM FOLLOWS)
Following is a list of some of the Dove Awards winners:
Song:”My Deliverer”by Rich Mullins and Mitch McVicker
Songwriter: Rich Mullins
Male Vocalist: Chris Rice
Female Vocalist: Jaci Velasquez
Group: Point of Grace
Artist: Michael W. Smith
New Artist: Jennifer Knapp
Producer: Michael W. Smith
Modern Rock/Alternative Recorded Song:”The Devil is Bad”by The W’s
Hard Music Recorded Song:”Awesome God”by The Insyderz
Urban Recorded Song:”Revolution,”by Kirk Franklin
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song:”Testify to Love”by Avalon
Rock Recorded Song:”Undo Me”by Jennifer Knapp
Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song:”Let the Praise Begin”by Fred Hammond & Radical For Christ
Traditional Gospel Recorded Song:”Is Your All on the Altar?”by Yolanda Adams
Rap/Hip Hop/Dance Recorded Song:”Plagiarism”by Grits
Bluegrass Recorded Song:”He Still Looks Over Me”by The Lewis Family
Inspirational Recorded Song:”Adonai”by Avalon
Southern Gospel Recorded Song:”I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary”by Gaither Vocal Band
Country Recorded Song:”Count Your Blessings”by The Martins
Modern Rock/Alternative Album:”Fourth from the Last”by The W’s
Hard Music Album:”Brightblur”by Massivivid
Contemporary Gospel Album:”The Nu Nation Project” Traditional Gospel Album:”Christmas with Shirley Caesar”by Shirley Caesar
Southern Gospel Album:”Still the Greatest Story Ever Told”by Gaither Vocal Band
Pop/Contemporary Album:”Live the Life”by Michael W. Smith
Country Album:”A Work in Progress”by Jeff and Sheri Easter
Rock Album:”Anybody Out There?”by Burlap to Cashmere
Rap/Hip Hop/Dance Album:”Heatseeker”by The World Wide Message Tribe
Inspirational Album:”Corner of Eden”by Kathy Troccoli
Southern Gospel Album:”Still the Greatest Story Ever Told”by Gaither Vocal Band
Instrumental Album:”Acoustic Sketches”by Phil Keaggy
Children’s Music Album:”Veggie Tunes 2″by VeggieTales
Praise and Worship Album:”Focus on the Family presents Renewing the Heart Live: Hymns and Songs of Worship”by Kim Hill
Special Event Album:”Exodus”by various artists
Choral Collection:”Peace Speaker”by Geron Davis
Recorded Music Packaging:”The Jesus Record”by Rich Mullins and A Raggamuffin Band
Short Form Music Video:”Entertaining Angels”by Newsboys
Long Form Music Video:”My Utmost for His Highest _ The Concert”by various artists
Enhanced CD:”Steady On Enhanced CD”by Point of Grace
Musical:”Mary Did You Know?”by David Guthrie and Bruce Greer
Youth/Children’s Musical:”2Extreme!”by Steven V. Taylor
Spanish Language Album of the Year (tie): Libertad de Mas”by Sandi Patty and”Oro”by Crystal Lewis
IR END BANKS
