January 17, 2014
BMI Honors Daryl Coley and Richard Smallwood at 15th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon
‘Take Me to the King’ Wins Most-Performed Gospel Song of the Year Honor
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 Daryl Coley and Richard Smallwood at its 15th 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: “Take Me to the King,” written by Kirk Franklin and performed by Tamela Mann. The song, pulled from the Tamela’s #1 album Best Days, topped the Billboard gospel chart and achieved crossover success. To help celebrate this astounding achievement, BMI presented Franklin with a video tribute highlighting some of his most precious moments at past Trailblazers luncheons.
Donnie McClurkin and Erica Campbell (Mary Mary) hosted the luncheon, along with Del Bryant, BMI President and Catherine Brewton, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta.
Musical tributes began with an awe-inspiring nod to Daryl Coley, featuring Zacardi Cortez (“Jesus Saves”), Tasha Page-Lockhart (“He’s Preparing Me”), Earnest Pugh (“More Like Jesus”), Floyd Wilkinson (“II Chronicles”), Beverly Crawford (“Can’t Tell It All”) and Jason Nelson (“Sovereign”). Serving as the event’s triumphant finale, the charismatic songs of Richard Smallwood were then celebrated with dynamic performances by Yolanda Adams (“ Total Praise”/“I Love The Lord”), Anaysha Figueroa-Cooper and Timiney Figueroa (“Angel Watching Over Me”), Y’Anna Crawley (“He Won’t Leave You”), Dorinda Clark Cole (“What He’s Done For Me”), Donnie McClurkin (“Jesus Lover of My Soul”/“Center of My Joy”) and Marvin Sapp (“Healing”).
Photos will be available for download from BMI.com at approximately 7:00 p.m. CST on January 17.
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 others.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Jamil Walker, BMI
212-220-3143;
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Erica Campbell and Michelle Williams arrive at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Erica Campbell arrives at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Sherri Shepherd arrives at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Michelle Williams, Erica Campbell, and BMI Vice President, Writer Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton arrive at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Beverly Crawford delivers an inspiring performance in tribute to Daryl Coley at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Tamela Mann; BMI Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations Wardell Malloy; 2014 Most Performed Gospel Song of the Year writer Kirk Franklin; BMI CEO Mike O'Neill; and BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Tamela Mann arrives at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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BMI Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations Wardell Malloy; Michelle Williams; BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton; and BMI CEO Mike O'Neill arrive at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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2014 BMI Trailblazers honoree Richard Smallwood at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 17 in Nashville..
Photo by Arnold Turner
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BMI President Del Bryant; Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations Wardell Malloy; BMI CEO Mike O’Neill; and BMI Vice President, Writer-Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton flank 2014 BMI Trailblazers honoree Richard Smallwood (second from left) at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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BMI Vice President, Writer-Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton; Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations Wardell Malloy; BMI President Del Bryant, and BMI CEO Mike O’Neill, flank 2014 BMI Trailblazers honoree Daryl Coley at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 17 in Nashville.BMI President Del Bryant; Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations Wardell Malloy; BMI CEO Mike O’Neill; and BMI Vice President, Writer-Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton flank 2014 BMI Trailblazers honoree Richard Smallwood (second from left) at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Dewayne Woods arrives at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Tamela Mann and Kirk Franklin accept the award for BMI's Most Performed Song of the Year, "Take Me to the King," at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Timiney Figueroa delivers a rousing performance in tribute to Richard Smallwood at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Donnie McClurkin delivers a rousing performance in tribute to Richard Smallwood at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Yolanda Adams delivers a rousing performance in tribute to Richard Smallwood at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville..
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Zacardi Cortez delivers an inspiring performance in tribute to Daryl Coley at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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BMI President Del Bryant, 2015 BMI Trailblazers Honoree Richard Smallwood, BMI Vice President, Writer-Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton, and Donald Lawrence pause for a photo on the red carpet at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Marvin Sapp delivers a rousing performance in tribute to Richard Smallwood at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Dorinda Clark Cole delivers a rousing performance in tribute to Richard Smallwood at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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2014 BMI Trailblazers honoree Daryl Coley at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held Friday, January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Y’Anna Crawley delivers a rousing performance in tribute to Richard Smallwood at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Mary Mary's Erica Campbell and Donnie McClurkin host the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Latrice Crawford arrives at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Richard Smallwood performs at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Anaysha Figueroa-Cooper delivers a rousing performance in tribute to Richard Smallwood at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Earnest Pugh delivers an inspiring performance in tribute to Daryl Coley at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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BMI's Wardell Malloy and Del Bryant honor Daryl Coley at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Tasha Page-Lockhart delivers an inspiring performance in tribute to Daryl Coley at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Mary Mary's Erica Campbell hosts the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Anaysha Figueroa-Cooper arrives at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Jason Nelson delivers an inspiring performance in tribute to Daryl Coley at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Tasha Page-Lockhart arrives at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Tamela Mann performs at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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BMI's Catherine Brewton at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Erika Goldring
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Isaac Carree arrives at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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Dorinda Clark Cole and Yolanda Adams arrive at the 15th Annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, held January 17 in Nashville.
Photo by Arnold Turner
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