The Gospel Music Association (GMA) today announced that GRAMMY winners Mary Mary and Kirk Franklin will take the stage at the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards, along with iconic artists Angie Stone, Wess Morgan and Jaci Velasquez.
With the addition of these powerful artists who have inspired millions, the GMA Dove Awards are poised for their biggest year ever with a star-studded roster of performers that includes: Donnie McClurkin, Jason Crabb, Lecrae, Natalie Grant, Jamie-Grace, Kim Burrell, Kari Jobe, Danny Gokey, Ruben Studdard, Mandisa and The Isaacs. The high-wattage presenters already announced include music artist and actress Tamela Mann, of Meet the Browns and Madea fame, and GRAMMY nominated R&B artist and Worship Leader Montell Jordan known for his hit songs This is How We Do It and Let’s Ride and the soundtracks to The Nutty Professor, 8 Mile, and The Fighting Temptations.
The chart topping sister act Erica Campbell and Tina Campbell who comprise Mary Mary are currently starring in their own reality series on WE based on their shared lives and career. The duo had their break-through cross-over hit in 2000 with Shackles (Praise You), and within a decade they had earned 3 GRAMMY Awards, 2 American Music Awards, an NAACP Image Award and a BET Award.
Kirk Franklin is up for four Dove Awards heading into the ceremony and for this accomplished Gospel artist, 2012 has already been an unparalleled year with two GRAMMY Awards, two NAACP Awards and his chart-topping album, Hello Fear being certified gold by the RIAA. He is currently starring as Baylor Sykes in the feature film Joyful Noise with Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah. His performance of his #1 hit single I Smile with Gladys Knight on the finale of American Idol was a show-stopper.
R&B and soul singer-songwriter, Angie Stone has had four Top 10 albums, including a number one album, and ten singles. She has sold over 1.4 million albums in the U.S. and over 5 million albums worldwide. She is a GRAMMY nominee and a winner of the 2000 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist, Solo as well as for her single No More Rain (In This Cloud). Recently, as an actress, she has been featured in the films School Gyrls, The Dreams and The Wonder Girls.
Wess Morgan released his debut contemporary Gospel CD Look at Me Now in 2007 as a testament to the transformation in his life – from a battle with drugs, alcohol and prison to a positive place where he brings hope and inspiration both as an artist and as a pastor. He has performed before audiences across the world with Christian artists and leaders, including Paula White, Carmen, Pastor Rod Parsley, Dr. Bobby Jones, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Walter Hawkins, Fred Hammond, Kim Burrell, The Crabb Family and Daryl Coley.
Contemporary Christian and Latin music artist Jaci Velasquez has sold nearly five million albums around the world and recorded three Platinum and three Gold albums, along with 16 singles that hit No. 1. In 2010 she started working on and recording her first Spanish project since 2003 with Juan Carlos Rodriguez, from the Christian Latin pop duo Tercer Cielo, as well as writing a new book. She released her latest album, Diamond, this February. A talented actress, Velasquez is starring in two films, The Encounter and Jerusalem Countdown.
The 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards will take place on April 19 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. The award show is produced by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) to offer the most comprehensive platform celebrating Christian and Gospel music. The awards ceremony will be nationally televised on GMC TV on April 24 at 8:00PM and 10:00PM ET.
The public is invited to purchase tickets to see and experience all of the performances and awards ceremony live at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on April 19 at www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com> . Last year, the popular event sold-out and was one of the hottest tickets in Atlanta.
For more information and the complete list of nominated artists, please visit www.doveawards.com <http://www.doveawards.com>
(NASHVILLE, Tennessee) -- Christian music stars Jaci Velasquez and Salvador will unite for a flood relief benefit concert on Saturday, June 5th at the Trinity Music City Auditorium in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The free event, which will also be taped for an upcoming broadcast special and DVD release, is sponsored by CCM Magazine and 94FM The Fish. Donations will be accepted, with all proceeds going to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s Emergency Response Fund.
Trinity Music City Auditorium is located at One Music Village Boulevard in Hendersonville, 18 miles north of Nashville. All seats for the 7:00 PM concert are general admission, and the doors open at 6:00 PM. Admission is free and there are 1500 seats available.
Velasquez previously partnered with The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for the “Music City Keep on Playin’” flood relief telethon, broadcast live on GAC from the Ryman Auditorium on May 16th, and featuring performances by Velasquez as well as Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow, Keb’ Mo’, Kellie Pickler, CeCe Winans, Martina McBride, Will Hoge and many more. The event raised more than $1.8 million.
The Community Foundation’s disaster response funds will strategically address needs as they emerge and evolve and as lives are rebuilt from the floods. Grants from the Tennessee Emergency Response Fund will be made to nonprofits supporting relief and restoration in areas of Middle Tennessee affected by the floods. Donations can be made to the fund at www.cfmt.org.
(NASHVILLE, Tennessee) -- The career of Jaci Velasquez, one of the world’s most successful and beloved Christian/Latin/pop singers, has expanded beyond the planet Earth thanks to NASA astronaut Ron Garan, who carried Velasquez's album Llegar a Ti with him on a recent trip to space.
Garan flew onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on a recent 14 day mission that included nearly 9 days docked at the International Space Station, 220 miles above Earth. The disc orbited Earth 218 times, traveling over 5.7 million miles and reaching speeds over 17,000 miles per hour (Mach 25).
“I want you to know how much I appreciated listening to your music while I was in space," wrote Garan. "The environment on board the space station is very sterile and the only sounds you hear are that of pumps and fans. It was very important to be able to listen to music while living and working onboard. You definitely have a feeling of isolation while you’re off the planet and listening to music allows you to have a real connection with your home. It was a wonderful experience to be able to look down at Earth while listening to your beautiful music."
Following the mission, Garan sent the disc that he had carried into space to Velasquez, along with a Certificate of Authenticity and a photo of Garan holding the CD on board the International Space Station.
"There are so many milestones in my career that I could never have anticipated," says Velasquez. "And this is definitely one of them. To hold this CD in my hands and to know that it's literally been around the world is incredible. I'm so honored."
New York, NY – (April 16, 2008) – Jaci Velasquez, who has been releasing albums for over a decade, is garnering success once again with her current album Love Out Loud. With this release being her debut release on her own A’postrophe Records, its first week’s scans bettered her previous album by 22%. She not only is touring non-stop, but is also making key appearances in the media. This month, People En Espanol featured her and she is also getting coverage on TBN’s Crystal Cathedral and The 700 Club.
Other noticeable coverage includes an upcoming interview on Life Today, reviews at allmusicguide.com, ChristianityToday.com, CMCentral.com and a feature show on the popular XM Satellite Radio show called “The Messenger.” This is only the beginning on Jaci coverage as she heads into GMA Music Week where she will be doing three solid days of interviews at her first time back in several years.
Jaci is currently on the road doing select dates with her husband Nic Gonzales’ band Salvador as well as select dates on her own.
