Downhere, Vince Gill Lead Music Award Winners
Gospel Music Association Canada (GMAC) and the Inspirational Country Music Association (ICM) have presented their annual awards, while the Stellar Awards nominees have been announced.
Gospel Music Association Canada presented its awards during the 34th Annual Covenant Awards ceremony in Calgary, Alberta, Nov. 7.
Nominated in eight categories, Downhere won Album of the Year (On The Altar of Love, Centricity Music), Group Of The Year and Male Vocalist of The Year (Marc Martel).
“After 12 years of music, this was a fantastic way to cross the finish line,” said the band, which announced in July that the group would retire in January 2013. “To hear ‘well done’ from our peers in Canada meant the world to us.”
The City Harmonic won Praise and Worship Song of the Year for “I Have A Dream (Feels Like Home),” and Ben Cantelon took home his first Covenant Award for Modern Worship Album of the Year forEverything in Color (Integrity Music).
The 18th Annual Inspirational Country Music Association’s Faith, Family & Country Awards took center stage Oct. 18 at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Awards were given in more than 20 categories with Vince Gill honored as Mainstream Country Artist of the Year, and he also won Mainstream Inspirational Country Song for “Threaten Me With Heaven.” Chuck Day was named Entertainer of the Year, while Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver received Vocal Group or Band top honors.
Big Machine Label Group’s Justin Moore won the Mainstream Inspirational Country Song honors for “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” while Jeff Bates received Mainstream Country Artist top honors.
Nominees for the 2013 Stellar Awards were announced Oct. 29 in Atlanta via webcast by the show’s co-host Kirk Franklin. Sister duo Mary Mary came on strong with nine nominations, including the nod for Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year and Contemporary CD of the Year” for Go Get It (Integrity Music/Columbia Records/Provident-Integrity), Producer of the Year, Music Video of the Year and Recorded Music Packaging of the Year.
Newcomer Charles Jenkins received eight nominations, including Best New Artist of the Year and Artist of the Year. Other multiple nominees include Marvin Sapp and Fred Hammond, with six nominations each, including both nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year. Andre Crouch garnered five nominations, including Artist of the Year.
Kurt Carr will be honored with the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award at the 28th Stellar Awards event, to be held Jan. 19 at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
For a complete list of winners, click here for the ICM awards, here for GMAC and here for the Stellar Awards nominations.
