Uplifts Gospel’s Grandeur

The Mighty Clouds of Joy Shine As Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

Legendary Natalie Cole Salutes The Clark Sisters

Donald Lawrence leads winners list for second consecutive year

The 22nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards once again elevated gospel music to new heights bringing together a host of stars from music, film and theatre to celebrate their favorite artists. Festivities got underway in Nashville, TN on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007 at the historic Grand Ole Opry House featuring Stellar Award favorites –Kirk Franklin, Tye Tribbett and Mary Mary serving as co-hosts.

Noted psalmist and Stellar Award nominee Byron Cage led the spirit-filled night with an opening melody of “Lift Him Up/I Will Bless the Lord.”

Myron Butler picked up the Stellar for “Male Vocalist of the Year,” and was joined by his choir – Levi – grabbing awards in the categories of “Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year,” “New Artist of the Year” and “Group/Duo of the Year.”

Dorinda Clark-Cole was honored as “Female Vocalist of the Year,” and accompanied her sisters, Jacky Clark-Chisholm, Twinkie Clark and Karen Clark-Sheard, as recipients of the “2007 Chevrolet Most Notable Achievement Award.” The legendary Natalie Cole and hometown Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick were on tap to salute the soulful sisters acknowledging their pioneering work in songwriting, outstanding performances and record sales success in the gospel music industry. The Clark Sisters have established themselves as one of the greatest groups in gospel music history ever since lending their voices to their first recording in 1973.

Gospel diva Yolanda Adams paid homage to the world’s best-selling gospel quartet presenting them with the prestigious “2007 Allstate James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award” for their impact on the development and advancement of gospel music. After 44 years and 35 albums, The Mighty Clouds of Joy are more than gospel legends – they are a national treasure.

Big screen starlet Gabrielle Union and actor Idris Elba, who are both featured in the upcoming Tyler Perry film, “Daddy’s Little Girls,” presented “Artist of the Year” to Donald Lawrence and the Tri City Singers, who led the winners list for a second consecutive year picking up eight awards out of nine impressive nominations. One of the night’s highlights was Lawrence’s acceptance speech for “Artist Of The Year” which moved the crowd when he passed the torch to up-and-coming gospel dynamo Tye Tribbett dedicating his Stellar to him.

Stellar co-host Tye Tribbett got the crowd hyped with one of his famed energetic performances, shouting out “Victory” and experiencing one of his own as he was named “Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year and the winner in the Urban/Inspiration Single/Performance Of The year category. We still remember that experience when he was at The First Cathedral in November 2006.

Among the most moving moments of the night was Patti LaBelle’s soul-stirring selection, “Walk Around Heaven,” garnering her an overwhelming standing ovation from the full house. After decades of success in soul and R&B genres, LaBelle has delivered her first CD devoted to her gospel roots and applauded the gospel music industry for their support of her latest endeavor.

New England was represented by one of Connecticut’s finest choirs James “JJ” Hairston and Youthful Praise performing their national hit which is buzzing throughout the country, “Incredible God Incredible Praise,” written by Deon Kipping.

Stellar sweetheart Vickie Winans graced the stage in a beautiful red velvet gown and lifted the crowd with the powerful song, “The Rainbow.”

Co-host Kirk Franklin continued to show his musical diversity by joining forces with former dc Talk front man tobyMac for a lively performance of “Let It Go,” from Franklin’s certified platinum CD, “Hero,” which won him a Stellar Award for “CD of the Year.” Franklin’s performance featured a dynamic stage entrance in a pale blue Camero in which he gave accounts of his inspiring life story in the song, “Let It Go,” that touched on past hardships and mistakes and the power of forgiveness.

Kirk Franklin deviated from the program in the spirit of God and asked the question, “Where is Jesus in our music?” He also stated that we cannot defeat this new devil with our old ways. He quoted Philippians 3:13 to validate his proclamation (Forgetting those things which are behind…). Franklin admonished Executive Producer of the Stellar Awards, Don Jackson, to get with executives from the Gospel Music Association to have a weekend just for the Gospel Music industry just to heal and hear from God. When the final editing is done I am sure none or most of this will not be shown.

Other artists picking up 2007 Stellar honors included Bishop G.E. Patterson for “Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year,” CeCe Winans for “Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year,” the Pastor Shirley Caesar for “Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year,” and the “Song of the Year” nod went to Isaiah D. Thomas for the inspiring single, “I Will Bless the Lord,” performed by Byron Cage at the start of the show.

Bishop Paul Morton, featuring Kurt Carr and Bartholomew, concluded the star-studded show with a foot-stomping finale of “We Made It,” bringing the crowd to its feet swinging a sea of white towels over their heads in jubilant dance.

The 22nd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards Show will air on March 4, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. on WCTX-TV/MyTV9 in the Hartford/New Haven, CT counties. It has not yet been scheduled for the Springfield/Holyoke, MA area. Please check your local listings for dates and times in those cities.