Chicago “in the house” at the Stellars!

Heather Headley performed Roberta Martin Singer Eugene Smith’s “I Know the Lord Will Make a Way.” Ricky Dillard was part of the program and, with New G, was a Stellar Awardee for Choir of the Year and Contemporary Choir of the Year.

Shekinah Glory Ministry received a Stellar for Praise & Worship CD of the Year for Jesus (Kingdom Records).

Joann Rosario, Percy Gray, VaShawn Mitchell, Donald Lawrence, Darius Brooks and the Tommies Reunion, and Chicago Mass Choir were all nominees.

Yes, Chicago was definitely “in the house” at the Stellar Awards yesterday.

Also present, and part of the pre-show (to be aired on-line at RushmoreDrive.com on January 24) was Chicago’s own Acme Church Choir, winners of the national “How Sweet the Sound” competition to find the best church choir in America.

The choir, directed by Janet Sutton, is from Acme Missionary Baptist Church on Chicago’s south side. The group wowed the audience with its vocal gymastics, transforming a hymn into an Olympic-like singing event.

And of course, Don Jackson and Central City Productions hails from the Windy City, where it was established in 1970.

Behind the scenes making things happen throughout the weekend were plenty of members of the Chicago Area Gospel Announcers Guild, including President Dennis Cole, Debra “Snoopy” Hanna, Geraldine Bates, Shirley Bell, Wanda Ewing, Willie Jones, and probably others whom I have failed to mention (count it to my head and not my heart).

Congratulations to all on a spectacular event!

Below is a photo of Pastor Marvin Sapp accepting one of his seven awards (his CD Thirsty won an additional two), with his daughters and Pastor Shirley Caesar.