The Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards are presented annually by the Gospel Music Association for outstanding achievements in the Christian music industry. The awards for Male and Female Vocalist of the Year Award has been awarded every year that the GMA has given the awards since 1969. [1] Eighteen different men and seventeen different women have won the award in forty-three years. James Blackwood won seven of the first eight (1969–1970, 1972–1975, 1977) Male Vocalist of the Year awards and is tied for the most with Steven Curtis Chapman (1990–1991, 1995, 1997–1998, 2000–2001). Sandi Patty has the most Vocalist of Year awards overall with eleven (1982–1992). [2] Other multiple award winners include Natalie Grant (five), Sue Chenault Dodge (three), Michael English (three), Larnelle Harris (three), Russ Taff (three), Chris Tomlin (three), Twila Paris (three), Francesca Battistelli (two), Jeremy Camp (two), Cynthia Clawson (two), Steve Green (two), Brandon Heath (two), Dallas Holm (two), Nicole C. Mullen (two), Nichole Nordeman (two), Evie (two), Jaci Velasquez (two), and Cece Winans (two). Chapman's seventh and most recent Vocalist of the Year award in 2001 came eleven years after his first in 1990—the longest span between awards. In the awards forty-three year history, only in 1969, 1976, 1996, 1999, 2002, and 2006, did both the male and female award winners win for the first time in the same year. The most recent winners were Jason Crabb and Grant; it was Crabb's first win.
GMA officials rescinded the Dove Awards of 1971 due to solicitation of votes by the James Blackwood family. James Blackwood and Sue Chenault would have won the male and female vocalist of the year awards, respectively. If the awards had not been removed, Blackwood would have had the most male vocalist of the year awards with eight. [3] The only other year in which there were no awards was in 1979 when they were moved from October to April. [4]
The Gospel Music Association (GMA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of gospel music. As of 2011, there are about 4,000 members worldwide. The GMA's membership comprises a network of artists, industry leaders, retail stores, radio stations, concert promoters and local churches involved with the wider Christian music industry.
A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. The awards have been held in Nashville, Tennessee every year except 2011 and 2012 when they were held in Atlanta, Georgia. The ceremonies feature live musical performances and are broadcast on TBN.
James Webre Blackwood was an American gospel singer and one of the founding members of legendary Southern gospel quartet The Blackwood Brothers. He is the only person in any field of music to have been nominated for a Grammy Award for 28 consecutive years. He received 31 nominations and won nine Grammy Awards.
The 3rd Annual GMA Dove Awards moved to Nashville, TN was held October 9, 1971, at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium after two years in Memphis. As a result of the voting irregularities controversy, most awards were nullified.
The 20th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 13, 1989, recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1988. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation was held on April 23, 2009 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2008. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Rebecca St. James, Matthew West, and Lisa Kimmey.
The 25th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 28, 1994, recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1993. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Amy Grant.
The 26th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 27, 1995, to recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1994. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Gary Chapman, Steven Curtis Chapman, Twila Paris and CeCe Winans.
The 23rd Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 9, 1992, recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1991. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Marilyn McCoo and Glen Campbell.
The 22nd Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 11, 1991, recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1990. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Clifton Davis and Sandi Patti.
The 21st Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on April 5, 1990, recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1989. The show was held at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Clifton Davis and Sandi Patty.
The 19th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on 1988 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1987. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 18th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on 1987 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1986. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 17th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on 1986 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1985. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 16th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on 1985 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1984. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 15th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on 1984 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1983. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee.
The 14th Annual GMA Dove Awards were held on 1983 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 1982. The show was held in Nashville, Tennessee.
More Than Wonderful is a live album by Gospel singer Sandi Patti issued in 1983 on Impact Records. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. The track "More Than Wonderful" would win many accolades including a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group at the 26th Grammy Awards, winning both Patti and Larnelle Harris their first Grammys together and a Dove Award for Song of the Year for its writer Lanny Wolfe and the album would win Inspirational Album of the Year and Patti won both Female Vocalist and Artist of the Year at the 15th GMA Dove Awards in 1984. In 1985, the track "Upon This Rock" wins Song of the Year, given to its writers Gloria Gaither and Dony McGuire at the 16th GMA Dove Awards. The album was certified Gold in 1985 and Platinum in 1990 by the Recording Industry Association of America. In 1990, More Than Wonderful was re-issued on Word Records.
Love Overflowing is the third studio album by Christian singer Sandi Patti, released in 1981 on Impact Records. It would be the beginning of her reign at the GMA Dove Awards as Female Vocalist of the Year as a title she would win for the next 11 years until 1992. The track "We Shall Behold Him" written by Dottie Rambo would be her signature song and a concert favorite as Patti has performed this at everyone of her concerts until her retirement from touring in 2016 and would win 2 Dove Awards for Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, both given to Rambo. In 1984, Love Overflowing climbed to No. 26 on the Top Christian Albums chart.Benson Records re-issued Love Overflowing on CD in 1987 with a new cover featuring a portrait painting of Patti. Word Records would use the same cover for their re-issue in 1990.
Sandi Patti and the Friendship Company is the eleventh studio and first Children's music album by Christian singer Sandi Patti, released in 1989 on Word Records. The theme on this album is about friendship and how special children are to God. The album features a children's choir and Gerbert, a popular children's character based on the late 1980s television series of the same name that teaches children about kindness and friendship, making good choices, the importance of loving your neighbor and learning a valuable lesson in life, which is pretty much what this album is about. Sandi Patti and the Friendship Company went to No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and would win her a GMA Dove Award for Children's Music Album of the Year at the 21st GMA Dove Awards.