Photos from First Chicago Black Music Awards

By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.

The Harold Washington Cultural Center was the site of the first-ever Chicago Black Music Awards, which honored the city’s home-grown gospel talent of today.  Dr. Rick Warren and his team produced the event, which took place Saturday evening, January 21, 2012.  Kalamazoo television personality Bee Bee White served as M.C.

Among the winners in a variety of categories were Phil Tarver, Shekinah Glory Ministry, Donald Lawrence, Regula, Pastor Ray Berryhill and the Evangel World Outreach Choir, and the Renowned Voices for Christ.

Chicago Black Music Awards Reach Awards were bestowed on Zadella “Mama” Curtis, Percy Gray, Wanda Ewing, Dr. Jacquie Hadnot and Peyton Bailey.  Special recognition and a standing ovation were given to the late DeLois Barrett Campbell, whose daughter, Mary Campbell, accepted the award on her behalf.

Some of the evening’s highlights (photo credits: Bob Marovich, Laurel Delaney):

Awardee Phil Tarver of Shekinah Glory Ministry always has a way with a song.

Pastor Ray Berryhill accepts the award on behalf of Evangel World Outreach for Choir of the Year.

The Renowned Voices for Christ demonstrate why they have been around for more than two decades.

TBGB’s Bob Marovich and Stellar Award-winning Gospel Synergy’s founder Andre Carter are interviewed by gospel artist Mark Hubbard for “Eyes on Chicago.”

Gospel rapper Regula gets the audience to their feet and rocking to the beat.