GMA Dove Awards Celebrates Diverse Talent
by Ginny McCabe
May 7, 2007
NASHVILLE, TN (ANS) -- Contemporary Christian recording artist, record label and music industry executive and actor, Michael W. Smith was one of six inductees, who was recently honored with a star on the Music City Walk of Fame. The induction ceremony was held on Sunday, April 22nd in Nashville. Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House was packed out on Wednesday Night, April 25th as the Gospel Music Association, industry executives, artists, their peers and fans gathered to celebrate and recognize more than 30 artists who received GMA Dove Awards at the 38th Annual Dove Awards.
Chris Tomlin was honored with six GMA Dove Awards that he can now add to the five awards he received in 2006. He was saluted in categories including "Artist of the Year," and "Male Vocalist of the Year," two of the same categories he received Doves for last year. Four more trophies were added for Tomlin with "Holy Is The Lord," a song he co-wrote with Louie Giglio, as well as his involvement in the Special Event Album of the Year, Passion: Everything Glorious. His most current CD release, See the Morning accounted for two additional awards, as it was honored as both the "Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year" and "Praise & Worship Album of the Year."
In the "overall" categories, GMA Dove Awards were presented for:
Song - "My Savior, My God" (Aaron Shust)
Artist - Chris Tomlin
New Artist - Aaron Shust
Female Vocalist - Natalie Grant
Male Vocalist - Chris Tomlin
Group - Casting Crowns
Songwriter - Aaron Shust
Producer - Ed Cash
"For me, I feel like God's given me a sense of how to communicate my songs, and to write a song that people can pick up, and that is what I feel like I can do best," Tomlin said. "So, I love to help people that way. I love to help people with their songs..."
Aaron Shust was recognized with three awards for "Songwriter," "New Artist of the Year," and he was also honored for writing the song, "My Savior My God," which was named song of the year.
"I'm a huge fan of Christian music, I always have been, which makes me feel very out of place here, just because I'm supposed to be on the fan side of everything, said Aaron Shust. "It is an absolute honor to be here. I thank my mom because she gave a turkey baster when I was three years old that I used as a microphone when she played the piano and I practiced the songs that I would sing for church."
"Chris Tomlin and Aaron Shust deserve their moment to rejoice in the recognition their community has bestowed on them with their multiple Dove Awards and it is evident they will be impacting gospel and Christian music for some time to come," said John Styll, CEO and President of the Gospel Music Association.
The GMA Dove Awards were hosted by Natalie Grant, Brian Littrell and Donnie McClurkin, and were presented live at the Opry House. The show will also begin airing in national television syndication in May.
Other GMA Dove Award recipients included Alan Jackson, Jars of Clay, Amy Grant, Andrae Crouch, Kirk Franklin, Casting Crowns, The Crabb Family, The Oak Ridge Boys, Lewis Family, as well as, Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber from the popular VeggieTales. For a full list of recipients, visit Gospelmusic.org.
The 38th Annual GMA Dove Awards were produced by Steve Gilreath Television for the sixth straight year. Dove Awards were handed out in 43 categories, and there were fifteen musical performances featuring 25 different artists. Many of the awards were presented during opening ceremonies but only seven awards and all the performances are a part of the television broadcast of the Doves.
Overall, the evening was a night to remember with a variety of highlights, including all of the musical performances and the recognition of the various award recipients.
"The Dove Awards is evidence that the message of the good news of the Gospel knows no musical boundaries and reaches across generations, genres and cultures," Styll said.
© 2007 ASSIST News Service, used with permission.
