Choirs, Groups and Quartet Take Top Honors at Rhythm of Gospel Awards

By Bob Marovich

Photo: Dr. E. LaQuint Weaver II & the Hallelujah Singers perform on the main stage Saturday night.
Credit: Candice Shavalia / Big Red Hen Films

Dr. E. LaQuint Weaver II & the Hallelujah Singers and Dr. Patrick Bradley & Westside Baptist Church Choir, the Christian rock band True Witness, and the Eternal Light Singers quartet were among the big winners during the Sixth Rhythm of Gospel Awards.

The awards weekend was held July 24-27, 2014, at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Activities shifted Saturday evening, July 26, to the beautiful Alys Robinson Stevens Performing Arts Center on the campus of University of Alabama at Birmingham, where the main awards event was taped for television broadcast.

The top awardee was Dr. Patrick Bradley & Westside Baptist Church Choir. The Lewisville, Texas, church choir earned four Rhythm of Gospel Awards, including Song of the Year and Church Choir of the Year.

Dr. E. LaQuint Weaver II & the Hallelujah Singers, True Witness, Johnny Sizemore & One Accord, Jeremy Littlejohn & Higher Praise, and the Eternal Light Singers took home three awards a piece. Many of the winners also performed during the weekend. Littlejohn’s group, which helped close out the Media Awards program Saturday morning, received New Artist of the Year.

KHVN (Heaven 97) in Dallas, Texas, was named Radio Station of the Year, and Gospel Announcer of the Year went to Freddie Rhodes of WCGL Victory AM 1360 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Dr. Vera Goodman, whose Anointed Praise ensemble received two awards, was crowned Ms. Rhythm of Gospel at the beauty pageant that opened the event Thursday evening.

Founded by Dr. Mark Rogers, who serves as CEO, the Rhythm of Gospel Awards is the largest independent gospel awards event in the country and the third largest gospel awards ceremony. Journal of Gospel Music Editor-in-Chief Bob Marovich is a member of its executive board and served as this year’s media chair.

For more information, visit www.therhythmofgospelawards.com. For a list of all 2014 awardees, visit www.igospelmusic.com.