2016 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards Recap

ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY SWEEPS 31st ANNUAL STELLAR GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS WITH HISTORIC 10 FOR 10 WIN

Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago’s “Any Given Sunday” Takes Four Awards;

And Tasha Cobbs’ “One Place Live” Rounds Out Top 3 Winners with Three Wins

Gospel Music’s Biggest Night Premieres on TV One, Sunday, March 6 at 6 p.m. ET; Also Broadcast March 12-April 10 in National Syndication On 150 Stations in Over 120 Markets

LAS VEGAS, NV – Feb. 22, 2016 – Anthony Brown & group therApy made history on Saturday night as their album, “Everyday Jesus,” was blessed with 10 trophies during the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awardsat the Las Vegas Orleans Arena. In a Stellar Awards first, the gospel songwriter-turned-singer and his group won each of its 10 nominations – a feat that hasn’t been done since Bishop Marvin Sapp’s 7 for 7 wins in 2009.  Celebrating and honoring the best of Gospel music’s artists, writers and industry professionals, the Stellar Awards also honored Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago’s “Any Given Sunday” with four awards, with Tasha Cobbs rounding out the top three recipients with three honors for her album “One Place Live.”

Hosted by comedian and syndicated radio and TV personality Rickey Smiley (Dish Nation, Rickey Smiley For Real), and actress and TV personality Sherri Shepherd (Ride Along 2, The View),the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards – the biggest night in Gospel Music – premieres on TV One on Sunday, March 6 at 6 p.m. ET with encores at 8 p.m. & 10 p.m. ET. The two-hour taped telecast, produced by Central City Productions, will also be broadcast in syndication on 150 stations in more than 125 markets throughout the country from March 12-April 10.

Grammy-nominated Anthony Brown & group therApy kicked-off the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awardswith a spirited, crowd-pleasing medley consisting of “Bless the Lord” and their Billboard Gospel Airplay chart-topping hit “Worth.” Their performance brought the packed house to their feet demonstrating why they garnered top honors with 10 wins.

During the live show, Anthony Brown & group therapy took home trophies in the much sought-after categories of Artist of the Year, State Farm Song of the Year (“Worth”) and Male Vocalist of the Year. The wins secured their spot as the overall winner of the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards and rounded out their pre-show award accolades, which included Group/Duo of the Year, CD of the Year, Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year, Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary CD of the Year, Producer of the Year (Anthony Brown and Justin Savage) and Record Music Packaging (Denise Trotman and Conni Treantefeles).

When accepting his award for Male Vocalist of the Year, he said, “As a baritone, as a lower voice, as a raspy voice person, I never felt good enough to sing, period. I always felt like my voice was a curse. And then one day God told me I gave you what I wanted to give you. And I want you to use it for my glory.”

“There’s a system to God’s order. He finds you in the pasture,”  the State Farm Song of the Year recipient also proclaimed. “He finds you in the pasture where you serve. He doesn’t just find you on stage. He finds you while you are serving. We have to serve our way into the kingdom.”

Three-time Stellar Award winner Tasha Cobbs returned to the stage to perform “Put A Praise On It” and to accept three awards for Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year and Praise and Worship CD of the Year. The elated first-ever six time Stellar Award nominee shared with the audience, “There was a hunger in my heart, a longing in my spirit to be at the feet of Jesus. I was thinking, the world is talking about formation, but I believe the church needs to get back to our formation and that’s at the feet of Jesus.”

Sharing her acoustic versions of “Fill Me Up” and “I’m Yours” earlier in the program, Casey J was surprised later on when she was donned New Artist of the Year for her debut album, “The Truth.”  Proud and humbled, she shared her heart.

“As much as we support Gospel music, make sure you’re praying for those artists – beyond just buying their albums – pray for them.  And I just hope that you share that with me, as I pray for you, you pray for us.”

After accepting Choir of the Year at the top of the show, Grammy Award-winning Pastor Charles Jenkins and his electrifying choir Fellowship Chicago captivated the audience with their smash No. 1 hit, “WAR.” Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago’s sophomore album, “Any Given Sunday,” continues to delight the Gospel community as they took home a total of four awards, including Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year (Charles Jenkins), Music Video of the Year and Traditional Choir of the Year. Jenkins, an Inspired People recording artist, proclaimed, “Every church that sings – if you fight for victory anywhere – we agree with you – this means war!”

Brian Courtney Wilson, Hezekiah Walker,Kirk Franklin, Travis Greene and William McDowell also provided inspirational, rousing and spirit-filled performances throughout evening. The audience raised their voices in song during an all-star collaboration featuring the Dream Team of Gospel Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Karen Clark Sheard and Bishop Marvin Sapp’s medley of “A Secret Place,” “Never Would Have Made It,” “That Name” and “Stand.”

During the show, Stellar Gospel Music Awards Founder Don Jackson and nominee Erica Campbell bestowed the Stellar Honors, a special award and medallion commemorating excellence in their respective fields upon versatile film and television comic actor Jonathan Slocumb, and legendary Gospel figures multi-platinum recording artist and nationally syndicated radio host Yolanda Adams, highest-charting Gospel recording artist of all time Bishop Marvin Sapp, and featured vocalist on the landmark recording, “Oh, Happy Day” and the very first Stellar Awards host in 1985 Lady Tramaine Hawkins.

The Allstate James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by award-winning producer songwriter Byron Cage and the reigning queen of Gospel Pastor Shirley Caesar posthumously to Grammy Award-winner O’landa Draper with riveting tribute performances by his true disciples Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker and Ricky Dillard. The Brat Pack “turned up the testimony” with a medley of his well-known songs: “He Touched Me,” “Gotta Feelin’,” “My Soul Doth Magnify,” and “I Gotta Reason.” Accepting the award on his behalf was his sister Teresa A. Draper, who was deeply touched that his songs continue to resonate with fans.

Joe Ligon, founder and lead vocalist of the Mighty Clouds of Joy, also received the Chevrolet Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award, which was presented by Dr. Bobby Jones who accepted on his behalf.

Prior to the show, this year’s celebration began with urban contemporary Gospel singer Janice Gaines hosting a live stream on the star-studded red carpet featuring Gospel greats, television, film and political luminaries such as self-help author Iyanla Vanzant, actresses Wendy Raquel Robinson (Here We Go Again),LeToya Luckett (Here We Go Again) and Trinitee Stokes (K.C. Undercover), War Room actor T.C. Stallings, Pastor Marlon Lock, nationally syndicated radio host Willie Moore, Jr., award-winning photographer and Director Derek Blanks, and Gospel singers Jason Nelson, Jonathan McReynolds, Dorinda Clarke Cole, Alexis Spight, Briana Babineaux, Maurette Brown Clark, Tim Bowman, Jr., Jekalyn Carr, Pure N Hart, Jada Redmond, Virtue, Robyn and Tiff Joy.

The Stellar Gospel Music Awards Pre-Show also occurred the day before on Friday, Feb. 19, to celebrate non-televised awards winners, such as The Rance Allen Group for Traditional Group/Duo of the Year, Tina Campbell for Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year and Dr. Marabeth Gentry and The Thomas A. Dorsey Foundation for the Thomas A. Dorsey Notable Achievement Award. The Stellar Gospel Radio Awards & Showcase, honoring top radio stations and announcers serving urban gospel music audiences, followed Saturday, Feb. 20 with Praise 104.1-WPRS in Washington D.C. as Major Market of the Year, AllNationsRadio.net as Internet Station of the Year and Tracy Bethea Bodie of Memphis, Tennessee’s WHAL, earning Gospel Announcer of the Year.

The 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards‘ winners are selected by online voters who recognize the year’s best performances in the genre, honored Gospel music icons and acknowledge the accomplishments of individuals instrumental in advocating for the industry.  Additional information and updates are also available by following the Stellar Awards on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more information on TV One’s telecast of the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, viewers can join the conversation by visiting the network’s companion website at www.tvone.tv and connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@tvonetv) using the hash tags #StellarAwards and #Represent. For more information on syndicated airings of the show, visit www.thestellarawards.com

Prestige family don’t make sure you tune in and watch the Stellar Awards premiering on TV One on Sunday, March 6 at 6 p.m. ET with encores at 8 p.m. & 10 p.m. EST. The two-hour taped telecast, produced by Central City Productions, will also be broadcast in syndication on 150 stations in more than 125 markets throughout the country from March 12-April 10.

*** THE 2016 AWARD WINNERS ***

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

SONG OF THE YEAR

• ANTHONY BROWN, WORTH – EVERYDAY JESUS (ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY), KEY OF A/TYSCOT

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• ANTHONY BROWN, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

ALBERTINA WALKER FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• TASHA COBBS, ONE PLACE LIVE, MOTOWN GOSPEL

GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR

• ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

• CASEY J., THE TRUTH, MARQUIS BOONE/TYSCOT

CD OF THE YEAR

• ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

CHOIR OF THE YEAR

• CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY,INSPIRED PEOPLE LLC/MOTOWN GOSPEL

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

• ANTHONY BROWN & JUSTIN SAVAGE, EVERYDAY JESUS (ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY), KEY OF A/TYSCOT

CONTEMPORARY GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR

• ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

TRADITIONAL GROUP/DUO OF THE YEAR

• THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP, CELEBRATE, TYSCOT

CONTEMPORARY MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• ANTHONY BROWN, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

TRADITIONAL MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• CHARLES JENKINS, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, INSPIRED PEOPLE LLC/MOTOWN GOSPEL

CONTEMPORARY FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• TASHA COBBS, ONE PLACE LIVE, MOTOWN GOSPEL

TRADITIONAL FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• TINA CAMPBELL, IT’S PERSONAL, GEE TREE CREATIVE

CONTEMPORARY CD OF THE YEAR

• ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY, EVERYDAY JESUS, KEY OF A/TYSCOT

TRADITIONAL CD OF THE YEAR

• TINA CAMPBELL, IT’S PERSONAL, GEE TREE CREATIVE

URBAN/INSPIRATIONAL SINGLE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

• KIRK FRANKLIN, WANNA BE HAPPY? (SINGLE), FO YO SOUL RECORDINGS/RCA RECORDS

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

• CHARLES JENKINS & THE SPIN SINGERS, #WAR – ANY GIVEN SUNDAY (CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO), INSPIRED PEOPLE LLC/MOTOWN GOSPEL

TRADITIONAL CHOIR OF THE YEAR

• CHARLES JENKINS & FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY,INSPIRED PEOPLE LLC/MOTOWN GOSPEL  

CONTEMPORARY CHOIR OF THE YEAR

• J.J. HAIRSTON & YOUTHFUL PRAISE, I SEE VICTORY, LIGHT RECORDS/EONE MUSIC

INSTRUMENTAL CD OF THE YEAR

• BEN TANKARD, FULL TANK 2.0, BENJAMIN UNIVERSAL MUSIC

SPECIAL EVENT CD OF THE YEAR

• VARIOUS ARTISTS, WOW GOSPEL 2015, RCA INSPIRATION

RAP HIP HOP GOSPEL CD OF THE YEAR

• DEREK MINOR, EMPIRE, REFLECTION MUSIC GROUP/EONE MUSIC

YOUTH PROJECT OF THE YEAR

• GOD’S GIFT AND SOLDIERS YOUTH CHOIR, THROUGH THE FIRE AND FLOOD, DIR/MOTOR CITY PRAISE RECORDS

QUARTET OF THE YEAR

• THE RANCE ALLEN GROUP, CELEBRATE, TYSCOT

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING OF THE YEAR

• DENISE TROTMAN & CONNI TREANTEFELES, EVERYDAY JESUS (ANTHONY BROWN & GROUP THERAPY), KEY OF A/TYSCOT

PRAISE AND WORSHIP CD OF THE YEAR

• TASHA COBBS, ONE PLACE LIVE, MOTOWN GOSPEL

JAMES CLEVELAND LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

• O’LANDA DRAPER (POSTHUMOUSLY)

AMBASSADOR DR. BOBBY JONES LEGEND AWARD

• WILLIE JOE LIGON

THOMAS A. DORSEY MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

• DR. MARABETH GENTRY & THE THOMAS A. DORSEY FOUNDATION

STELLAR HONORS

• TRAMAINE HAWKINS
• YOLANDA ADAMS
• MARVIN SAPP
• JONATHAN SLOCUMB

GOSPEL RADIO OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

MAJOR MARKET OF THE YEAR

• PRAISE 104.1 WPRS, WASHINGTON, DC, RON THOMPSON

LARGE MARKET OF THE YEAR

• HEAVEN 600 – WCAO – AM, BALTIMORE, LEE MICHAELS

MEDIUM MARKET OF THE YEAR

• PRAISE 104.7 FM WPZZ 104.7, RICHMOND, REGINALD BAKER

SMALL MARKET OF THE YEAR

• WIMG 1300 AM, TRENTON, NJ, ED LONG

INTERNET STATION OF THE YEAR

• ALL NATIONS RADIO, ALLNATIONSRADIO.NET, BISHOP SAMUEL MCGILL III

GOSPEL ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR

• TRACY BETHEA BODIE, WHAL – MEMPHIS, TN