BMI Stars Shine at Gospel Events

Posted in News on January 31, 2005

BMI honored the best in gospel music at its 6th annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards luncheon on January 14 at Downtown Aquarium in Houston, Texas. The invitation-only special event, hosted by BMI's Catherine Brewton, was held in conjunction with the 20th Annual Stellar Awards, which took place the next day at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Damita Haddon, Fred Jerkins, BMI's Catherine Brewton, Rodney Jerkins

Honorees at the Delta Airlines-sponsored luncheon were BMI contemporary gospel artists The Rance Allen Group and Pastor John P. Kee, who each received a Trailblazer Award plaque in recognition of their outstanding achievements in gospel music. Highlights of the event included performances by gospel greats Men of Standard, Kirk Franklin, J Moss, Vanessa Bell-Armstrong, Smokie Norful and 2005 Stellar Award winner Deitrick Haddon, whose Voices of Unity was named Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year.


Bobby Jones and John P. Kee	Teresa Hairston (Gospel Today) and Bishop Paul Morton

In addition to Haddon's Stellar Award, BMI songwriters and artists celebrated a near sweep of the trophies at this year's ceremony. Multiple winners included the Williams Brothers and Bishop Paul S. Morton & the FGBF Mass Choir, who each earned three, and CeCe Winans and Israel Houghton & New Breed, who took home two wins each. Winans' Born Again Church Choir also picked up an award for Contemporary Choir of the Year.

Steve Allen (The Rance Allen Group), Rance Allen (The Rance Allen Group), Joe Ligon (Mighty Clouds Of Joy)

BMI Award-winning songwriter/artist Dottie Peoples added another Traditional Female Vocalist statue to her collection, while Gospel Music Hall of Fame member Fred Hammond was named Producer of the Year.


Bishop Paul Morton and Bercy Bady	Kirk Franklin and Vanessa Bell Armstrong

BMI's 2005 Stellar Award Winners:

Choir of the Year
New Direction

Producer of the Year
Fred Hammond

Group/Duo of the Year
The Williams Brothers


John P. Kee and Vanessa Bell Armstrong	Kirk Franklin and Tye Tribett

New Artist of the Year
Martha Munizzi

Male Vocalist of the Year
Israel Houghton

Female Vocalist of the Year
CeCe Winans

Fred Jerkins, Tye Tribett, J. Moss

Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year
Deitrick Haddon Presents Voices of Unity

CD of the Year
Israel and New Breed
Another Level

Traditional Group/Duo of the Year
The Williams Brothers


Tye Tribett and Micah Stampley	J. Moss and BMI's Catherine Brewton

Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year
Bishop Paul S. Morton

Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year
CeCe Winans

Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year
Dottie Peoples

Trin-i-tee 57

Traditional CD of the Year
Luther Barnes & The Sunset Jubilaires
It's Your Time

Music Video of the Year
Bishop Paul S. Morton
Let It Rain

Traditional Choir of the Year
Bishop Paul S. Morton & The FGBCF Mass Choir

BMI's Wardell Malloy, BMI's Catherine Brewton, Fred Hammond

Contemporary Choir of the Year
Born Again Church Choir (CeCe Winans)

Quartet of the Year
The Williams Brothers

Donnie McClurkin, Fred Jerkins, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond


JoAnn Rosario, Donnie McClurkin	BMI's Catherine Brewton, Israel (Israel & New Breed), Kim Burrell

Tye Tribett, Lowell Pye (Men of Standard), Rance Allen (The Rance Allen Group), Steve Allen (The Rance Allen Group), Donnie McClurkin, Isaac Carree (Men Of Standard), Kirk Franklin

Lowell Pye (Men Of Standard), Donald Lawrence, BMI's Catherine Brewton, JoAnn Rosario, Rance Allen (The Rance Allen Group), John P. Kee, Steve Allen (The Rance Allen Group), Isaac Carree (Men Of Standard)