January 18, 2013
BMI Honors Edwin Hawkins, Lady Tramaine Hawkins & Kurt Carr at 14th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon
Press Release
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the global leader in music rights management, brought legends and contemporary stars together to celebrate the careers of gospel giants Edwin Hawkins, Lady Tramaine Hawkins, and Kurt Carr at its 14th annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon today in Nashville.
In addition, the event, held at Rocketown, also recognized BMI’s Most-Performed Gospel Song of the Year: Kirk Franklin’s “I Smile.” The song, pulled from the gold-certified album Hello Fear, topped gospel charts and achieved historic crossover success while amassing more than 500,000 performances. To help celebrate this astounding achievement, The Walls Group surprised the audience with a memorable performance of the song Franklin co-penned.
CeCe Winans and Donnie McClurkin hosted the luncheon, along with Del Bryant, BMI President & CEO, and Catherine Brewton, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations.
Musical tributes began with an awe-inspiring nod to Kurt Carr featuring the Donald Lawrence & Co. singers, Lisa Knowles, Sheri Jones-Moffett, and Amber Bullock. The charismatic songs of Edwin Hawkins were then celebrated with dynamic performances by Pastor Shirley Ceasar, Bishop Paul Morton, LaShun Pace, Kierra Sheard, Jason Nelson and Jonathan Nelson. Finally, an all-star collection of artists, including Anaysha Figueroa, Le’ Andria Johnson, VaShawn Mitchell and Yolanda Adams, performed a rousing tribute to Lady Tramaine Hawkins, which served as the event’s triumphant finale.
Photos will be available for download from BMI.com at 7:00 p.m. CST on January 18
visit, http://www.bmi.com/press:
Username: bmimedia; password: songwriter
BMI’s impressive roster of gospel songwriters includes Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Jessica Reedy, Marvin Sapp, Twinkie Clark, BeBe Winans, Wess Morgan, Kim Burrell and many more.
Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in more than 7.5 million musical works created and owned by more than 550,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit bmi.com, follow us on Twitter @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) Facebook page.
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CONTACT:
Jamil Walker, BMI
212-220-3143;
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Anaysha Figueroa pauses for a photo during the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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2013 BMI Trailblazers honoree Lady Tramaine Hawkins serenades the crowd at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Sheri Jones-Moffett delivers an inspiring performance in tribute to Kurt Carr at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Donald Lawrence at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Pictured at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville are 2013 Trailblazers honorees Edwin Hawkins, Lady Tramaine Hawkins and Kurt Carr.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Lisa Knowles delivers an inspiring performance in tribute to Kurt Carr at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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CeCe Winans at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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2013 BMI Trailblazers honorees Edwin Hawkins and Lady Tramaine Hawkins pause for a photo during the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Jason Nelson and Jonathan Nelson deliver an inspiring performance in tribute to Edwin Hawkins at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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LaShun Pace delivers an inspiring performance in tribute to Edwin Hawkins at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Earnest Pugh arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Dewayne Woods arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Kierra Kiki Sheard delivers an inspiring performance in tribute to Edwin Hawkins at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Donnie McClurkin at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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VaShawn Mitchell and Yolanda Adams deliver an inspiring performance in tribute to Lady Tramaine Hawkins at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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BMI President & CEO Del Bryant, BMI Vice President, Writer-Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton and 2013 BMI Trailblazers honoree Kurt Carr pause for a photo during the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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BMI Vice President, Writer-Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton and BMI Senior Director, Writer-Publisher Relations Wardell Malloy flank 2013 BMI Trailblazers honoree Lady Tramaine Hawkins at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Pastor Paula White arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Smokie Norful Franklin arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Jason Nelson arrives at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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BMI Vice President, Writer-Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton (far right) congratulates 2013 BMI Trailblazers honorees Edwin Hawkins, Lady Tramaine Hawkins and Kurt Carr at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Yolanda Adams pauses for a photo during the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Melvin Williams and Doug Williams arrive at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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2013 BMI Trailblazers honoree Kurt Carr arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Yolanda Adams, Amber Bullock, and Le’Andria Johnson pause for a photo during the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Yolanda Adams; BMI President & CEO Del Bryant; BMI Vice President, Writer-Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton; Amber Bullock; and Le’Andria Johnson pause for a photo during the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Isaac Carree, Tina Campbell, Donnie McClurkin, Kirk Franklin, Erica Campbell, and Warryn Campbell pause for a photo during the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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BMI Vice President, Writer-Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton and BMI Senior Director, Writer-Publisher Relations Wardell Malloy flank 2013 BMI Trailblazers honoree Kurt Carr at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
download
Amber Bullock delivers a rousing performance in tribute to Kurt Carr at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
download
Kirk Franklin and 2013 BMI Trailblazers honoree Kurt Carr pause for a photo during the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans pause for a photo during the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Donnie McClurkin and Kierra Sheard pause for a photo during the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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2013 BMI Trailblazers honoree Lady Tramaine Hawkins and Yolanda Adams pause for a photo during the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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William McDowell arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Amber Bullock arrives at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Jessica Reedy arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Pastor Shirley Caesar delivers a rousing performance in tribute to Edwin Hawkins at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Lisa Knowles arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Le’Andria Johnson arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Le’Andria Johnson delivers an inspiring performance in tribute to Lady Tramaine Hawkins at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
download
Alexis Spight arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Jonathan Nelson arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Joshua Rogers arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and BMI Vice President, Writer-Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton flank 2013 BMI Trailblazers honoree Edwin Hawkins at the 14thAnnual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
download
Anaysha Figueroa delivers an inspiring performance in tribute to Lady Tramaine Hawkins at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
download
Kirk Franklin arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
download
Isaac Carree arrives at the14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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The Walls Group delivers an inspiring performance in tribute to Kirk Franklin at the 14th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 18 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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