Vetrea Slack Ruffin Wins Most Powerful Voices Competition

(Dallas, Texas) (June 12, 2013) — The votes have been tallied, and the 2013 Grand Prize winner of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s 4th annual Most Powerful Voices Gospel competition is Vetrea Slack Ruffin from Harvest, Alabama.  Vetrea beat out 651 artists for the coveted title and will receive: 

– The opportunity to perform at a concert with Light Records artists, including $2,500 
– $1,500 cash and a digital single on iTunes from Light Records 
– Personal coaching by a renowned Light Records gospel artist 
– $5,000 in musical instruments and gear from Roland Corporation 
– National recognition on UP TV’s Digital Download of the week  

The top 10 finalists were judged by gospel music industry leaders including Michelle Williams (formerly of Destiny’s Child), James Robinson, former senior vice president/general manager of Light Records, and holy hip hop artist Flame. 

Nikea Marie Jones from Woodbridge, Virginia was chosen as the Fan Favorite.  The top 10 artists will receive prize packs from Light Records. 

Read the 2010 TBGB review of Vetrea Slack Ruffin & the Ruffin Family’s five-star CD, House of Worship.

Most Powerful Voices is an annual online gospel competition of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Power To End Stroke cause campaign.  In conjunction with UP TV, Light Records and Roland Corporation, the competition helps the association to educate people, especially African-Americans, about stroke, the No. 4 cause of death for all Americans and the No. 1 preventable cause of disability.