By Bob Marovich
Chicago’s Malcolm Williams & Great Faith walked off with no less than four honors, including Contemporary Choir of the Year and the coveted Rhythm of Gospel CD of the Year, during the 10th annual Rhythm of Gospel Awards this past week.
Held in “Yeah That Greenville,” South Carolina, from June 20 to 24, the Rhythm of Gospel Awards celebrated its tenth anniversary with music showcases, awards ceremonies, banquets, and pageants.
Other top honorees at the ceremonies included the remarkable holy hip hop artist Jonathan J. Wimbush with three awards; Ms. C. Ashley Brown-Lawrence, who picked up Contemporary Song of the Year and Rhythm of Gospel Song of the Year for “I’ve Got the Victory;” and the Connecticut-based Kergyma Community Choir, which took home two awards, including Community Choir of the Year.
Gospel rap artist Jerrell Golden received Holy Hop Hop Artist of the Year and Holy Hip Hop Song of the Year for his captivating “B.Y.O.B.” (Bring Your Own Bible). Todd Curry and his featured artists earned three Rhythm of Gospel Awards for their “Tear Down the Walls.”
At the formal awards ceremony, held at the Relentless Church in Greenville on Saturday evening and hosted by Lady Michelle Prather and Sir Jamal Bates, Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to songwriters V. Michael McKay and Pastor Rudolph Stanfield Jr., Praise & Worship legend Kurt Carr, and gospel music media executive Dr. Teresa Hairston.
JGM Editor-in-Chief Bob Marovich’s radio program, “Gospel Memories,” which airs every Saturday morning on Chicago’s WLUW-FM, was named Gospel TV/Radio Show of the Year.
In addition to being named Ms. Rhythm of Gospel, LaVarnga Hubbard won Traditional Artist of the Year at the closing ceremony. In her official position as Ms. ROGA, she walked up to present the award to the winning artist, only to discover that she was the winning artist!
Special thanks to Dr. Mark Rogers, Founder and CEO; Kris Jackson, COO; and the staff, volunteers, and executive board of the Rhythm of Gospel Awards for creating and sustaining a platform for independent gospel artists to receive the recognition that encourages them to keep going.
As an event participant, I noticed something you don’t often see at awards ceremonies: the artists truly bonded and supported one another. All too often, awards platforms can be cliquey and superficial, with the big Is ignoring the little Us. Here, everyone stood on equal footing and, if Facebook Messenger is any indication, a significant bond was created among the artists that can only benefit the industry.
Here is the complete list of 2018 Rhythm Of Gospel Awards winners, courtesy of the Rhythm of Gospel Awards and Missy Harrison:
Contemporary CD Of The Year
Malcolm Williams & Great Faith – “My Plea”
Special Event CD Of The Year
Joletta Sells – “Change The Station”
Traditional CD Of The Year
Malcolm Williams & Great Faith – “My Plea”
Urban Contemporary/R&P CD Of The Year
Quota – “Rescue Me”
Praise & Worship CD Of The Year
Gabriel “Saxman” Johnson – “Past Forward”
Quartet CD Of The Year
Ricky McDuffie & The Family – “He Changed Me; “Live”
Rhythm Of Gospel CD Of The Year
Malcolm Williams & Great Faith – “My Plea”
Holy Hip Hop/Instrumental/Alternative Gospel
Ree – “Your Instrument”
Alternative Christian Gospel CD Of The Year
AC – “All Through Christ”
EP/Digital Album Of The Year
Jonathan J. Wimbush – “The Calling”
Producer Of The Year
Michael White & True Praise – “Sing Over Me’
Product Packaging Of The Year
Kergyma Community Choir – “The Proclamation”
Rhythm Of Gospel Music Video Of The Year
Todd Curry/featuring… – “Tear Down The Walls”
Contemporary Song Of The Year
C. Ashley Brown-Lawrence – “I’ve Got The Victory”
Holy Hip Hop Song Of The Year
Jerrell Golden – “B.Y.O.B.”
Rhythm Of Gospel Song Of The Year
C. Ashley Brown-Lawrence – “I’ve Got The Victory”
Traditional Song Of The Year
Frozene Lott Hayes – “Holy Ghost”
Gospel Urban/R&P Song Of The Year
Terri McConnell – “I Thank You Lord”
Quartet Song Of The Year
Burkett Lyburn & All Together Gospel Singers – “Church Time”
Inspirational Song Of The Year
Arissie Taylor – “Secret Place”
Praise & Worship Song Of The Year
Kerri Gordon – “God In Control”
Urban Contemporary Song Of The Year
Brandon Watson – “Got A Feelin”
Holy Hip Hop/R&P Song Of The Year
Richard Davis – “Thirst 4 U”
Contemporary Christian Worship/R&P Song Of The Year
Will Harris & Friends – “Never Forget It”
CCM Christian Song Of The Year
Arissie Taylor – “Secret Place”
Alternative Christian Song Of The Year
Jonathan J. Wimbush – “The Calling”
New Artist Of The Year
Quinten Simon – “Lufkin, TX”
Rhythm Of Gospel Artist Of The Year
Frozene Lott Hayes – “Antioch TN”
Male Quartet Group Of The Year
Meant By God – “Earle, AR”
Church Choir Of The Year
Shonda English & Greater St. Paul Church – “Sumter SC”
Community Choir Of The Year
Kergyma Community Choir – “New Haven, CT”
Traditional Choir Of The Year
Darryl Chaney & Christ Fellowship Chorale – “Murfreesboro, TN”
Contemporary Choir Of The Year
Malcolm Williams & Great Faith – “Chicago, IL”
Traditional Artist Of The Year
LaVarnga Hubbard – “Homewood, IL”
Traditional Group/Ensemble Of The Year
Nick Reynolds & Family – “King Of Prussia, PA”
Contemporary Artist Of The Year
Ryan Keith Reed – “Pflugerville, TX”
Contemporary Group/Ensemble Of The Year
Darryl Chaney & Christ Fellowship Chorale – “Murfreesboro, TN”
Urban Contemporary Group/Ensemble Of The Year
Meant By God – “Earle, AR”
Urban Contemporary Artist Of The Year
Anya Dixon – “Columbia, SC”
Praise/Worship Group Of The Year
Will Harris & Friends – “Fayetteville, NC”
Praise/Worship Artist Of The Year
Arissie Taylor – “Deerfield Beach, FL”
Contemporary Male Vocalist Of The Year
Jonathan J. Wimbush – “Sayville, NY”
Urban Contemporary Male Vocalist
Jermane C. Milton – “Wichita, KS”
Traditional Male Vocalist Of The Year
Markees Williams – “Los Angeles, CA”
Praise & Worship Male Vocalist Of The Year
Marlon McDaniel – “Springdale, OH”
Praise & Worship Female Vocalist Of the Year
Fiona Varner – “Moncks Corner, SC”
Contemporary Female Vocalist Of The Year
Sheila Moore-Piper – “Houston, TX”
Traditional Female Vocalist Of The Year
Carolyn Traylor – “Greenville, TX”
Urban Contemporary Female Vocalist
Kara Nichole – “San Antonio, TX”
Best Recording Artist With Featured Soloist
Todd Curry/featuring… – (Tear Down The Walls) “feat. “Mod-G”, “Young Saint”, “PJ McKeithan”, & “Megawatts
Quartet Group Of The Year
Burkett Lyburn & All Together Gospel Singers
Female Quartet/Mixed Group Of The Year
Apostle James Alston & Fellowship
Holy Hip Hop Artist Of The Year
Jerrell Golden
Special Event/Instrumental Artist Of The Year
James Patterson – “Moncks Corner, SC”
Youth/Young Adult Artist Of The Year
Morgan Monk – “Pine Bluff, AR”
International Gospel Artist Of The Year
Kay Morris – “Hallelujah Train”
Best Performance By Group/Duo
Apostle James Alston & Fellowship
Best Performance By Holy Hip Hop Artist
Todd Curry/w featuring Artist
Best Performance By Choir/Director
Nadja Scott & Divine Anointing Choir
Best Performance By Quartet Group
Burkett Lyburn & All Together Gospel Singers
Best Performance By Female Artist
Anita Franklin
Best Performance By Male Artist
Marlon McDaniel
Best Faith/Culture Book Of The Year
Craig Morrisey – “The Art Of Worship” (Morehead City, NC)
Best Author/Writer Of The Year
Gwen Goolsby Tillery – “Willingboro, NJ”
Liturgical Dance/Mime Team Of The Year
St. John Divine Praise Dancers – “Joliet IL”
Gospel Internet Promotion & Marketing Group Of The Year
Round The Clock Entertainment – (Carlton McConnell)
Internet Print/Press Group Of The Year
The Gospel Round-Up – (Lisa Collins)
Internet Radio/Media Outlet Of The Year
The Living In Harmony Show – (Eddie Boyd)
Gospel TV/Radio Show Of The Year
Gospel Memories Radio Show – (Bob Marovich)
Internet Radio Announcer Of The Year
Joyce Washington – (The Rejoyz Show)
Radio Announcer Of The Year
Amber Shaw –AM 1480 KLVL – “Houston, TX”
Radio Station Of The Year
KOER-LP 101.5 FM (Rhema Gospel Radio) – “Houston, TX”
Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
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