Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Diamond Awards 2019 to be aired December 27, 2019

Williamsons at Diamond Awards 2019

Atlanta, GA. (December 24, 2019) – WATC Television out of Atlanta, Georgia, will be airing the SGNScoops 2019 Diamond Awards celebration on Friday, December 27, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. The ceremony was held at Creekside Gospel Music Convention on Tues. Oct. 29, 2019, at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. This year’s awards honored industry veterans Eddie Crook, Jan Goff, Kenna Turner West, and Gerald Crabb, as well as newcomers Jessica Horton, Chronicle, Day 3, and Justified. “King Jesus” singers, Eagle’s Wings, swept the Bluegrass awards, winning all four categories.

Ken and Jean Grady of Gospel Music Today produced the 2019 Diamond Awards op

Patricia Mathis and her crew of WATC TV, Atlanta’s TV 57, recorded the 2019 Diamond Awards. Those outside of the Atlanta, Georgia viewing area can view it online at www.watc.tv.

Rob Patz and Jan Goff at the 2019 Diamond Awards

The Williamsons, The Dodrill Family, Mark209, Cami Shrock, The Pine Ridge Boys, and Josh and Ashley Franks, were a few of the artists on the Diamond Awards schedule. The program will re-air again in 2020 on the WATC network.

About WATC TV: WATC TV provides Atlanta with a mix of family, Christian and educational programming. It is known to viewers as the home of Atlanta Live and is seen over the air throughout the metro Atlanta market and also in over one million cable and satellite homes. WATC is the home of many original series and has been honored with numerous Angel and Telly Awards, as well as receiving its first EMMY in 2010. The station’s programming can be seen around the world via video streaming located on the WATC website at  http://www.watc.tv/

About SGNScoops: SGNScoops Digital is a fully-downloadable monthly magazine that exists to promote the gospel by unveiling what is intriguing and real about Southern Gospel and Christian Country music. SGNScoops offers music news and views as well as concert and book reviews, inspirational articles and features reaching beyond our gospel music world. SGNScoops is the home of the Diamond Awards, a fan-based annual awards program recognizing the best in Southern, Bluegrass, and Country Gospel music. For more information: https://www.sgnscoops.com/

Diamond Awards 2019 celebrate Williamsons, Triumphant, Jan Goff, more

The Williamsons at the 2019 Diamond Awards

Pigeon Forge, Tenn. (October 30, 2019) — The 2019 Diamond Awards presentation was held last night, Tues. Oct. 29, 2019, at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Held as part of the Creekside Gospel Music Convention, the awards ceremony honored industry veterans Eddie Crook, Jan Goff, Kenna Turner West, and Gerald Crabb, as well as newcomers Jessica Horton, Chronicle, Day 3, and Justified. “King Jesus” singers, Eagle’s Wings, swept the Bluegrass awards, winning all four categories.

The evening began with Justified singing outdoors at the Creekside Singing on the Square. From there, the festivities moved indoors to the Creekside mainstage. The Williamsons, The Dodrill Family, Mark209, Cami Shrock, The Pine Ridge Boys, and Josh and Ashley Franks, were a few of the artists on the evening schedule. Pastor Josh Franks gave an encouraging and inspiring message.

The 2019 Diamond Awards were produced and directed by Jean Grady of Gospel Music Today and Rob Patz of SGNScoops Magazine and Coastal Media.

Robert York with Jan Buckner Goff 

Here are the winners of the 2019 Diamond Awards:

J.D. SUMNER LIVING LEGEND AWARD – Eddie Crook

MIXED GROUP OF THE YEAR – The Williamsons

QUARTET OF THE YEAR – Triumphant Quartet

TRIO OF THE YEAR – The Hyssongs

DUET OF THE YEAR – Josh and Ashley Franks

FEMALE VOCALIST Of THE YEAR – Sheri Easter

MALE VOCALIST Of THE YEAR – Jason Crabb

SUNRISE AWARD – Jessica Horton

Vonda Armstrong, Ashley and Josh Franks 

SUNRISE DUET OF THE YEAR – Chronicle

SUNRISE TRIO OF THE YEAR – Day 3

SUNRISE QUARTET OF THE YEAR – Justified Qt

SONG OF THE YEAR – “Sun’s Gonna Come Up” – The LeFevre Quartet

SUNRISE SONG OF THE YEAR – “Living For The Call” – The Ferguson Family

CHRISTIAN COUNTRY GROUP OF THE YEAR – Mark209

CHRISTIAN COUNTRY SONG OF THE YEAR – “Hide Me Behind The Cross” – Tonja Rose

Ken and Jean Grady of Gospel Music Today 

ANTHONY BURGER INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR – Jeff Stice

DOTTIE RAMBO SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – Gerald Crabb

BLUEGRASS GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR – “King Jesus” – Eagle’s Wings

BLUEGRASS GOSPEL MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Matthew Wilson

BLUEGRASS GOSPEL FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR – Debra Wilson

BLUEGRASS GOSPEL GROUP OF THE YEAR – Eagle’s Wings

Gospel Music Today VIDEO/DVD OF THE YEAR – “When The Mountain Can’t Be Moved” – Tonja Rose

PAUL HEIL AWARD (Broadcasting) – Dave Taylor – KWFC

Kenna West and Cami Shrock 

PUBLISHER’S AWARD – Kenna West

MOUNTAINTOP INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL AWARD – Sheila Blackwell

JERRY GOFF AWARD – Jan Goff

For more information on Creekside Gospel Music Convention please click HERE.

Mark209

Eagle’s Wings

Mike Stankovic with Tim and Missy Kinchen of Chronicle at 2019 Diamond Awards

Hope’s Journey at the 2019 Diamond Awards

Rob Patz with Debi Crabb and Gerald Crabb at Diamond Awards 2019

Dennis and Leslie McKay with Jessica Horton at Diamond Awards 2019

Justified at the Singing On The Square at Creekside 2019

For live video presentations of the Diamond Awards 2019 and more from Creekside, visit the SGNScoops Facebook page HERE.

Creekside Gospel Music Convention is an annual event held in Pigeon Forge, featuring over 50 artists, daytime showcases, evening concerts, the Dr. Jerry Goff Honors, Diamond Awards and Midnight Prayer.  For more information, call Rob Patz at 360 – 933 – 0741.

For more Gospel music features, read the latest SGNScoops Magazine HERE.

Listen To Todays Gospel Music Here

Creekside 2019 Begins with a Bang, Convention runs until Oct. 31

Pine Ridge Boys at Creekside Kick Off

Creekside Gospel Music Convention 2019 has begun in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The kick-off concert on Sunday night, Oct. 27, was well attended and a great experience for those in attendance. An attentive crowd became a part of the first Creekside Live DVD, as the Pine Ridge Boys hosted a boisterous concert to celebrate the event. The Chordsmen Quartet also appeared at this concert as part of the Classic Artists Music Group. The taping was held at the Mill Creek auditorium, a satellite venue for Creekside.

The main site for Creekside is the Smoky Mountain Convention Center, where the convention was in full swing on Monday, Oct. 28. Morning events featured the Pine Ridge Boys Breakfast, artist load-in, and the Nashville Heartsong Showcase. In the afternoon, some attendees took part in the Radio Promotions Seminar with Richard Hyssong, Tiffany Noecker, Vonda Armstrong. Joy

Holden began the inaugural Singing on the Square in front of the Smoky Mountain Convention Center, where a lovely dinner was whipped up and served free to the first 100 fans.

The evening concert at the Smoky Mountain center began at 5:00 p.m., featuring the Down East Boys, Hyssongs, The Bibletones, and guest preacher, Pastor Bill Bailey. The Dr. Jerry Goff Honors highlighted the career of Troy Burns. Midnight prayer was hosted by Tim and Missy Kinchen in the lobby of the Ramada Inn.

Stay tuned to the SGN Scoops Facebook page for live interviews by Tonja Rose

Crowd at the kick-off concert for Creekside

Taping the live DVD

and live feed of the various concert events.

Creekside continued today with special showcases, Singing on the Square with Justified, an exciting evening concert including a word from Pastor Josh Franks and singing by The Williamsons, The Pine Ridge Boys, Josh and Ashley Franks, as well as others. The evening’s highlight will be the 2019 Diamond

Rob Patz and Vonda Armstrong

Altar service at Creekside 2019 Monday night

Rob Patz, Vonda Armstrong, Bill Bailey

Hyssongs at Creekside Oct 28

Bill Bailey

Mark209

Don’t miss the rest of Creekside Gospel Music Convention 2019!

Awards. Following this, Christian Country at the Creek Kick-Off and Midnight Prayer will be held at the third Creekside satellite venue, the Creekstone Inn.

Don’t miss the rest of Creekside 2019, at Pigeon Forge through Oct. 31.

For more information click HERE

For more Gospel music features, read the latest SGNScoops Magazine HERE.

Listen To Todays Gospel Music Here

Have You Voted? Living Legend

J.D. SUMNER LIVING LEGEND AWARD A once-in-a-lifetime honor to recognize the living performer for whom the fans feel has made the greatest contribution to Southern Gospel music
over a career spanning 25 years or more.

And the nominees are:

Peg McKamey

Les Butler

Eddie Crook

Gary Epperson

Jimmy Blackwood

Have you made your choice?

Vote HERE today!

The Diamond Awards take place at Creekside Gospel Music Convention on Tuesday evening. Get VIP Tickets HERE

Click HERE for more information on Creekside 2019.

Diamond Award nominees featured in Columbus newspaper

The top five nominees in the 2019 Diamond Awards were announced live on Facebook on June 25, 2019. Although Christian music artists and events are often ignored by mainstream media, the nomination of a couple of local artists was noticed by a Columbus Mississippi newspaper.

Leslie and Dennis McKay of McKay Project and M.A.C. Records

Diamond Award nominees Jessica Horton and the McKay Project were featured in a recent edition of the Columbus Dispatch, described in a halfpage article as part of M.A.C. Records of Columbus.

Jessica Horton recently signed with M.A.C. Records and has been nominated for Sunrise Artist of the Year.

Jessica Horton

Dennis and Leslie McKay, known as the McKay Project, have been nominated for Duet of the Year, and for the Christian Country Song of the Year for “Taking Me Home.”

The Diamond Awards are presented by SGNScoops Magazine and Coastal Media. Rob Patz, CEO of Coastal Media, is thrilled that a local paper would feature Diamond Award nominated artists.

Creekside 2019

“Creekside artists being recognized by city newspapers is terrific,” says Patz. “The more the average citizen is aware of Christian music and those who perform it, the more likely they will be to attend a concert and hear the gospel. That’s what we are about: sharing our music and our lives with those around us at a grassroots level, building our audience and the Church. Together, we can be a vessel for revival across our country.”

The 2019 Diamond Awards will be held as part of Creekside Gospel Music Convention on Oct. 29, 2019 at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. For information, lodgings, VIP tickets, and more, call Rob Patz at 360-933-0741.

Voting for the Diamond Awards can be found HERE.

For more information on the McKays go HERE.

For more information on Jessica Horton go HERE.

Read the June SGNScoops Magazine Online HERE

Creekside 2019 , Are You Ready?

In a little over 3 months, one of the most creative and festive events in Christian music will occur in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. On Oct. 27, hundreds of fans will return to the Smoky Mountain Convention Center to enjoy the musical artistry of over 50 Southern, Country and Bluegrass gospel music artists. The Convention continues through Oct. 31, 2019.

Creekside 2019 will present daily musical showcases, evening concerts, midnight prayer, keynote speakers, and a large exhibit hall for fellowship and interaction with artists. Special events include the Life Achievement Honors, 2019 Diamond Awards, Creekside Choir, and main event artists.

Here is a complete lineup of the Artists and speakers.

For more information on all of these events as well as hotel accommodations, and VIP tickets, please contact Rob Patz at rob@sgnscoops or 360-933-0741. Be sure to follow Creekside on Facebook HERE for all the latest news and updates.

Buy Your VIP Ticket HERE

Butler Music Group celebrates Top Five Diamond Award Nominees

Les Butler of Butler Music Group

Nashville, Tenn. (June 25, 2019) —The news is out!  The Top 5 Nominees in the Diamond Awards have been announced and Butler Music Group/Family Music Group is blessed to have artists in 12 categories!

We’re excited that our very own, Les Butler, has been nominated for the Living Legend Award.  Heaven’s Mountain Band leads our list with 4 nominations followed by the Williamsons and the Ferguson Family with 3 nominations each and the Barber Family with 1 nomination.

2019 Diamond Awards Top Five nominees

The Diamond Awards will be presented on Oct. 29, at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center in Pigeon Forge, TN, during the 2019 Creekside Gospel Music Convention.

To place your votes, click HERE

Heaven’s Mountain Band

About Butler Music Group

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Butler Music Group provides professional management  services to Southern Gospel and Bluegrass artists including Heaven’s Mountain Band, Williamsons, Old Time Preachers Quartet, Barry Rowland & Deliverance, and Jason Davidson. 

They also provide consulting services for Bob Sellers, the Arenos, Barber Family, Birchfield Family, Cheri Taylor, Covenant, GloryWay Quartet and Sacred Harmony.

BMG subsidiary, Family Music Group, is the label and radio promotion division of BMG. Label artists include Williamsons, Old Time Preachers Qt and Jason Davidson.   Over the last 40 years, radio Promotion artists have included Canton Junction, David Phelps, Goodman Revival, Ivan Parker, Guy Penrod, Hagees, Jimmy Fortune, Oak Ridge Boys, Booth Brothers, Dunaways, Larry Gatlin, and many others.

Les Butler has been actively involved in Southern Gospel Music for 41 years as a musician, producer, manager, former publisher of the Singing News, and as a nationally syndicated radio host. Butler started Butler Music Group in 1978 and purchased Family Music Group in 2003.

He is a past March of Dimes AIR award, as well as winner of the Paul Heil Broadcasting Award in 2011. Butler’s syndicated radio show, Les Butler and Friends, is heard across America and abroad. Butler’s playing and production credits include Palmetto State Quartet, Darryl Worley, Richard Sterban, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, Fairfield Four, Steeles, Dunaways, Crabb Family, Easter Brothers, Marksmen Quartet, Earl Scruggs, Bowling Family, Jimmy Fortune, Marty Raybon, Larry Gatlin and many more. Butler’s publishing companies are Hurry-Up Publishing/BMI and Hush Jean/ASCAP.

Read the June SGNScoops Magazine Online HERE

Download SGNScoops Magazine On PDF HERE

Find SGNScoops Magazine On Facebook HERE

Listen To Todays Gospel Music HERE

Vote today for 2019 Diamond Awards Top Five

Diamond Awards

SGNScoops Magazine is proud to announce that voting for the Top Five nominees for the 2019 Diamond Awards is now open on the SGNScoops website HERE.

Vote today for your favorite artists from the Top Five nominees and make plans to attend the 2019 Diamond Awards ceremony, as the best in today’s Southern, Country, and Bluegrass gospel music are celebrated.

The Diamond Awards will be presented on Oct. 29, at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., during the 2019 Creekside Gospel Music Convention. Don’t forget to make sure your voice is heard by voting HERE.

Creekside Gospel Music Convention brings national and regional gospel music to Pigeon Forge from Oct. 27 through Oct. 31. This year, special features include Creekside Bluegrass, and Christian Country at the Creek, as well as the Lifetime Achievement award, keynote speakers and preachers, chapel services, live concert tapings, and midnight prayer.

Reserve your tickets at www.creeksidegospelmusicconvention.com and your space at the Convention headquarters, the Ramada Inn. Book your place today as rooms are filling up fast. For reservations call Rob at 360.933.0741.

Don’t forget to order your Creekside VIP pass today! There are a limited number of bracelets available, so please contact Rob today at 360.933.0741.

Find out more about the 2019 Diamond awards by visiting the Creekside Gospel Music Convention Facebook page HERE.

SGNScoops to announce 2019 Diamond Awards Top Five Nominees

SGNScoops Magazine is preparing to announce the Top Five Nominees for the 2019 Diamond Awards. This announcement will be made by Jean Grady on a Watch Party, Tuesday, June 25, at 2:00 p.m. (EDT) on the SGNScoops Facebook page.

Rob Patz and Jean Grady discuss the 2019 Diamond Awards.

Jean Grady hosts Gospel Music Today with her husband Ken, and also produces the Diamond Awards along with Rob Patz of Coastal Media.

The Top 10 nominees were voted on until June 15 when the polls closed on the SGNScoops website page. Voting for the Top Five will begin after the announcement on June 25, on the SGNScoops website.

The 2019 Diamond Awards will be presented on October 29 during the Creekside Gospel Music Convention, held at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Diamond Awards 2018 at Creekside Gospel Music Convention, with Dr. Jerry Goff, Jean Grady, Gerald Crabb

Creekside is held Oct. 27 – 31, featuring Southern, Country, and Bluegrass gospel music in daytime showcases and evening concerts. Some of this year’s featured artists include 11th Hour, the Down East Boys, the Hyssongs, Masterpeace Quartet, Gerald Crabb, Day Three, and many more. New events include Creekside Bluegrass and Christian Country at the Creek.

Creekside also features special speakers, preachers, fun, fellowship, and midnight prayer.  For more information, accommodations, and VIP tickets, contact Rob Patz at 360 – 933  – 0741. #wearefamily

Read the May SGNScoops Magazine Online HERE

Diamond Awards Count Down to Top Five

Three Days Left to vote on the 2019 Diamond Awards Top 10

The 2019 Diamond Award Top 10 voting is nearing completion. Vote HERE The journey for this year began in February with the call for nominees for each Southern, Country, and Bluegrass gospel category. Those nominees were compiled to create the top 10 and voters have been streaming toward the site to make their preferences known. Thank you to everyone who has recorded there favorites for each award.

Rob Patz and Jean Grady discuss the 2019 Diamond Awards.

Voting for the Diamond Awards top 10 will be coming to a completion in only three days. To those who have not voted yet, we are urged you to head right over to the Diamond Awards site so you can be a part of the voting process. These awards represent who you believe to be the best at what they do. Be sure your vote is cast today.

The 2019 Diamond Awards will be presented during the Creekside Gospel Music Convention, on October 29, 2019, at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Hosted by Dr. Jerry and Jan Goff, this gala awards presentation will be attended by the top nominees in each category. Special performances and surprise guests are always a part of this celebration of the best in gospel music.

To ensure your seat at the 2019 Diamond Awards, as well as for more information on the Creekside Gospel Music Convention, accommodations, and VIP tickets, contact Rob Patz at 360 – 933 – 0741.