Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

LANDREE BROTHERTON NAMED ADMINISTRATOR OF SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC ASSOCIATION (SGMA)

Pigeonn Forge, TN – The Southern Gospel Music Association (SGMA) is pleased to welcome Landree Brotherton as Administrator. Landree will assist President, Arthur Rice, in daily operational tasks and special event coordination as needed throughout the year.

Landree has been heavily involved in the Southern Gospel Music Industry for many years, a friend to many artists and has assisted with countless events in support of the SGMA. He has worked in the Hall of Fame and Museum, assisted with fundraising, and provided practical assistance during National Quartet Convention.

Arthur Rice

Arthur Rice stated, “Landree not only brings the professional experience necessary to assist with tasks needed to keep the SGMA operations running smoothly, his relationships with the artists and industry professionals will be extremely beneficial in pursuing the goals for the coming year. We are excited to have Landree on board.”

The Southern Gospel Music Association will celebrate some landmark events this year with the grand opening of the SGMA Research Library and the addition of some special upgrades and renovations for the Hall of Fame and Museum.

Since 1994, the SGMA has worked hard to preserve the southern gospel history and cherished heritage of both artists and industry leaders.

JP Miller commented, “It takes the efforts of a large team to keep the SGMA running smoothly. We appreciate our Board of Directors, dedicated museum staff, many volunteers and supporters, and Dollywood Theme Park for allowing us a place to share the Hall of Fame and Museum with visitors from all over the world. We are thankful for the skill set that Landree adds to the team.”

Make plans to visit the SGMA Hall of Fame and Museum on your next trip to East Tennessee. Visit our website at www.sgma.org to become a member or learn more about the Class of 2019 Inductees into the Hall of Fame. 

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

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SGMA HALL OF FAME 2019 INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED

SMGA ANNOUNCES 2019 SGMA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Pigeon Forge, TN (May 16, 2019) — The Southern Gospel Music Association (SGMA) is pleased to announce the Class of 2019 SGMA HALL OF FAME Inductees: Ruben Bean, Ernie Phillips, Jackie Wilburn and Gerald Wolfe. Each year, members of the SGMA nominate individuals to be inducted into the Hall of Fame that is located at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Arthur Rice

SGMA President Arthur Rice stated, “We were so excited with the response of the SGMA members nominating their choices for the newest inductees into the Hall of Fame. The official induction ceremony will take place during the 2019 National Quartet Convention during a fundraising concert held at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge.”

Individuals are nominated and selected for their contribution to the industry of Southern Gospel music. After their induction, a bronze plaque will be displayed in the Hall of Fame with a hand carved portrait and a biography of their life devoted to our music.

For more information on the SGMA, log onto the website at www.sgma.org, or visit them on Facebook at @thesgma.

SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC ASSOCIATION RECEIVES THE HAROLD TIMMONS COLLECTION

SGMA Pictured (left to right) are: Travis Bridgeman, Arthur Rice, Karen Peck, Harold Timmons, Aaron Rich, Dean Adkins, and Rick Shelton

10,000 items donated to establish research library

Hendersonville, TN – The Southern Gospel Music Association is pleased to announce the acquisition of a massive Gospel Music collection from Harold Timmons of Nashville, TN. The collection consists of nearly 10,000 items procured over his 65-year association with the genre. This important contribution will form the foundation of the SGMA Research Library soon to be established.

The Timmons collection contains 19th-century songbooks and original recordings dating back to the 1920’s and includes the best available copy of nearly 80% of releases by the major artists of the genre since its inception. In response to receiving this significant gift, SGMA President, Arthur Rice, stated: “We’ve always wanted a great library and a collection of artefacts. The SGMA looks forward to Harold’s collection, his knowledge, and that of his associates.  Not only will this be good for our organization, it will be good for artists and fans as well, and anyone wanting to research anything related to Southern Gospel Music. We look forward to this new endeavor.”

Mr. Timmons commented, “I wanted the collection to be displayed, and available for research and for me to be able to continue to be involved with this work as long as physically able.” He continues, “The SGMA now has the possibility of developing a comprehensive historical online database. My long-term goal is that a song may be researched as a recording, video, or printed music, and every reference contained within the library will be displayed.  A large percentage of the materials are already cataloged, and I’m encouraged to know that effort will continue through the new SGMA Research Library.”

Harold Timmons

Harold Timmons is recognized as a touring musician with The Hemphills and Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees The Chuck Wagon Gang. He is also well known for the large exhibit that he operated at various music festivals, including 38 consecutive years at the National Quartet Convention where he provided fans the opportunity to peruse and purchase classic Gospel recordings and collectibles. His recent effort includes the establishment and management of “We Love Our Southern Gospel Music History,” which is a Facebook page and community consisting of 42,000 members.

Established in 1994, the Southern Gospel Music Association (SGMA) is a professional preservation association of artists, songwriters, industry leaders and fans founded to preserve, protect and promote Southern Gospel Music, its history and heritage.

For more Gospel Music news, read the latest SGNScoops Magazine HERE

Southern Gospel Music Association Call for Hall of Fame Nominations

Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame

Pigeon Forge, TN (March 17, 2016) – The Southern Gospel Music Association (SGMA) announces that ballots have been mailed for members to make nominations for the Hall of Fame Class of 2016.  

“We expect this to be a great year as members begin the selection process for this 2016 induction”, said Karen Peck Gooch, SGMA Executive Officer.  “The SGMA has never been stronger and it is obvious that Southern Gospel Music is alive and well!”  Gooch continued.

Induction into the SGMA Hall of Fame begins when members are requested to nominate individuals who have made significant contributions to Southern Gospel Music.  Each ballot allows for nominations of

Karen and Rickey Gooch

those living and deceased.  Once these have been returned, the SGMA Board of Directors will continue the process by carefully considering each nominee.  Those selected for induction will be announced during the National Quartet Convention 2016 in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Arthur Rice of the legendary Kingdom Heirs and President of the SGMA further stated, “This museum represents the very best of those who brought the Gospel through music in the past.  The SGMA believes it is our responsibility to leave a legacy for the future while encouraging the next generation to be bold in their stand for leading souls to Christ”.  

The Southern Gospel Hall of Fame Museum is a centerpiece of Dollywood, an

Arthur Rice

entertainment complex located at the base of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  Visitors to Dollywood will find the Hall of Fame Museum just inside the main entrance.  Along with educational exhibits, a gift shop offers patrons an opportunity to purchase items to encourage their faith.  

The SGMA invites everyone to demonstrate his or her support by becoming an SGMA partner.  Partnerships can be obtained at the Hall of Fame Museum or online.

For more information on the Southern Gospel Music Association, visit sgma.org

SGMA Hall Of Fame

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The Southern Gospel Music Association is pleased to announce Class Of 2014

Hall Of Fame 2014

The Southern Gospel Music Association is pleased to announce the eight individuals who are the 2014 inductees to the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Each of the inductees have left their own special touch on Southern Gospel music, and as a result, it is only fitting that his or her contributions and work be forever honored.

Southern Gospel Music Association president Arthur Rice says, “As we have been with each inductee class, we are very excited to have another group of Southern Gospel pioneers and leaders come into the Hall of Fame membership. The Southern Gospel Music community has certainly benefited from the work and dedication of these people through the years.”

The newest members of the Hall of Fame are…

Colbert Croft (deceased)

Eddie Crook

Claris G. “Cat” Freeman (deceased)

Paul Heil

Claude Daniel Hopper

Warren Lester Roberts (deceased)

Faye Ihrig Speer

Francis Jane “Fanny” Crosby Van Alstyne (deceased)

Induction honors will take place during the National Quartet Convention to be held Sept. 21-27, at The LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Inductions and tributes for the deceased members of the “Class of 2014″ will take place during selected evening NQC performances. The Singing News Fan Awards on Thursday afternoon will host the induction honors for the living members of the 2014 class.

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Southern Gospel Music Association’s Hall Of Fame

By Marcie Gray Imagine walking down a hallway filled with familiar faces and voices, some of whom you have listened to since you were a small child, some whom you have met, and perhaps, a few you may be privileged to call friends or family! Just inside the gates of The Dollywood Theme Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee lies a journey through the history of Southern Gospel music, just waiting to be explored. Established in 1994, and opening its Hall of Fame and Museum doors in 1999, the Southern Gospel Music Association (SGMA) is a professional preservation association of artists, songwriters, industry workers and fans, founded to preserve, protect and promote Southern Gospel Music, its history and heritage. The artists within have dedicated their ministries to delivering a message built around biblical truths and spiritual values, and what a legacy they have left and are still leaving! It’s like homecoming week every time I walk through the SGMA Hall of Fame. As I enter the doorway, the first thing that catches my eye is a shaped note typewriter, surrounded by various song books and a chalk board with a music staff on it. Originally, Southern Gospel music was sung by quartets, many who used songbooks with notes identified by their shape. The tour continues as I sit in a church pew and listen to an animatronic quartet singing “Give the World a Smile.” There is literally something to look at in every corner as I wander through the museum. A collection of vinyl records, a replica of The Blackwood Brothers’ bus, instruments and clothing from legendary artists and collectibles, each having a story of their own to tell, are displayed throughout the museum. The centerpiece of the museum is the Hall of Fame, where bronzed plaques of legendary faces line the corridor. One hundred and fifty-five faces grace the walls of the corridor. Each individual who is inducted is honored with a plaque that bears their picture and a list of achievements in the Southern Gospel industry. Danny Jones, Editor of The Singing News and Executive Director of the SGMA shares, “The Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame is the home to more than 3,000 Southern Gospel artifacts, not to mention a place where 155 members of the Southern Gospel community are honored. Earlier this year, as we were getting the museum ready for Dollywood’s opening day, I cleaned all 155 of those 40-pound bronze plaques that hang in the Hall of Fame. It was impossible not to re-read what each plaque said and truthfully, the memories of many of those special people came flooding back to me. It almost like I could talk to George, Glen, Jake, Rex, Brock, J.G. Anthony, Roger, J.D. —and more—again. Suddenly they didn’t feel so far away now that they’ve gone on to their eternal reward. “As I cleaned each plaque I was reminded of how each of those men and women are on the Hall of Fame roster shaped this thing called Southern Gospel Music. Long-time fans need to come to the Hall of Fame and just relive those days. New fans need to come to the Hall of Fame and learn about those made Southern Gospel Music what it is today. It’s more than a roomful of plaques–it’s a roomful of incredible memories.” One of our own SGN Scoops contributors and one of those who have helped shape Southern Gospel Music, Lou Wills Hildreth, was inducted into the SGMA Hall of Fame in 2007. In early February of this year, SGMA President Arthur Rice was minding his own business in Florida, preparing to board a cruise ship with The Kingdom Heirs when his cell phone rang. On the other end one of Dollywood’s fine maintenance men was calling to let Arthur know that a water pipe had burst inside the Hall of Fame and was spewing water throughout the building. Though the water flow was stemmed before any harm could be done to any of the artifacts housed there, substantial facility damage requiring significant repair work was experienced. In the ensuing days, the Dollywood maintenance and construction teams worked diligently to return the Hall of Fame and Museum to its “pre-flood” condition in time for the 2014 opening day festivities. We recently talked to Travis Bridgeman of the Advisory Board of the SGMA Hall of Fame and Museum. “In September 2013, I was elected to the Advisory Board,” says Travis Bridgeman. “I had the privilege to walk on the red carpet during SGMA Day at Dollywood for the 2013 Hall of Fame Induction. I am an administrator for the SGMA Facebook and Twitter pages. I post news and facts about the Hall of Fame, as well as recognize the birthdays and anniversaries of the deaths of Hall of Fame members. As a member of the advisory board, I also make recommendations to the executive board to help them with policy and promotion.” Bridgeman continues, “Our theme for this year is Raising the Awareness, which is our campaign to make Southern Gospel music fans and artists aware of the contributions of the Hall of Fame members and how they can keep their memory and our music alive. The SGMA operates the Hall of Fame and Museum from the support of its membership. It is important to join the SGMA to help us preserve the heritage of Southern Gospel music for the generations that have no first-hand knowledge of the pioneers of our music. Each month, over 30,000 people visit Dollywood and have an opportunity to walk inside the only brick-and-mortar museum paying tribute to our legacy and the genre of Southern Gospel music. It is the living link to our past, and stands as an example of the excellence we should strive for today.” The SGMA Hall of Fame and Museum welcomes more than one million visitors annually to read and observe displays and memorabilia from a century of gospel music. Thousands of items from some of the greatest singers, writers and musicians are displayed. The facility includes a gift shop, which carries one of the country’s largest Southern gospel music selections. The SGMA also specializes in vintage and difficult-to-find Southern gospel music products. The SGMA current membership ranks in the thousands with members from almost every state and several foreign countries. Members come from all walks of life joined by a love for the music, an appreciation for the positive, uplifting lyrics and the music’s central message of salvation through Jesus Christ. The artists in this industry have traveled thousands of miles, often through adverse conditions, to entertain, minister and create a musical genre for which the SGMA is committed to preserving. In 2014, inductions will be conducted during the week of the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Some of the inductions will take place during the nightly NQC programming while other inductions will take place during the Singing News Fan Awards. These inductions are included at no extra cost in your NQC admission. If you have not yet visited the SGMA Hall of Fame and Museum, a wonderful time to do so would be during Dollywood’s National Southern Gospel And Harvest Celebration, which takes place from September 22, 2014 through November 1, 2014. During those six weeks of wonderful Southern Gospel music, there are opportunities to see your favorite artists in concert, all included in the price of your Dollywood ticket! Visit http://www.dollywood.com/themepark/entertainment/Harvest-Celebration-Gospel-Performers.aspx to view the schedule of artist appearances. You can be an important part of helping the SGMA Hall of Fame and Museum to preserve the rich heritage of Southern Gospel music we all love. Visit http://sgma.org/ to find out how you can join the SGMA family. Annual membership is $20, and a lifetime membership can be received for a gift of $1,000. You can also contact the SGMA at (865) 908-4040. From all of us whose hearts are touched by Southern Gospel music and the history that has shaped it into what it is today, we want to say “Thank you” to the SGMA Hall of Fame and Museum Directors and staff. Thanks to your efforts, the legacy of those who came before us will be remembered for generations to come. Photographs and Written by Marcie Gray First Published July 2014 in SGN Scoops digital magazine. For the current issue of SGN Scoops, visit the SGN Scoops website at https://www.sgnscoops.com/

SGMA & DOLLYWOOD REACH 5-YEAR AGREEMENT

The Southern Gospel Music Association (SGMA) is pleased to announce that the organization and Dollywood have reached an agreement that ensures The Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s home for the next five years. “Since 1999, Dollywood has graciously provided a facility for the Hall of Fame and Museum,” says SGMA President Arthur Rice. “The year 2014 marks the 15th Anniversary of the opening of the museum, which currently houses more than 3,000 artifacts and honors 155 members of the Southern Gospel music community. We’re honored that Dollywood continues to recognize the significance and importance of Southern Gospel music, and as both the SGMA and Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame & Museum continue to grow, we are grateful for their support and willingness to showcase this great music.” “Dollywood’s commitment to Southern Gospel music and to the SGMA has been strong during the past 15 years,” says Craig Ross, President and General Manager of The Dollywood Company, Inc. (a subsidiary of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation). “We are thrilled to have the SGMA as part of the Dollywood family and we are honored to commit to providing the SGMA a home.” With an annual monthly average of 30,000 visitors, the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame & Museum is the only facility of its type solely dedicated to honoring a specific genre of Christian music. For more information, visit www.sgma.org.

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SGMA announces the class of 2012 Hall of Fame Inductees

The Southern Gospel Music Association’s (SGMA) announced April 5 the 2012 inductees to the SGMA Hall of Fame. 

Dr. Jim Goff, induction committee chairman, made the announcement:

In the living category, Jim Hill and Buck Rambo 

and in the deceased category, Charlie Burke, Stuart Hamblen, Geraldine Morrison and Ace Richman.

“It will be a great honor to recognize the careers and contributions of our newest inductees this fall at Dollywood,” said Charlie Waller, SGMA executive director .

The 2012 Induction Ceremony and Singing News Fan Awards

is Oct. 3, 2012 at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

These inductees or their families join the Oak Ridge Boys – Duane Allen, William Golden, Joe Bonsall and Richard Sterban who will be honored with the James D. Vaughan Impact Award.

Tickets for the event are on sale now available from the SGMA office by calling (865) 908-4040. 

The SGMA is a non-profit organization that maintains the Southern Gospel Music Museum and Hall of Fame, the only facility honoring Southern gospel music and dedicated to the historic preservation of the genre’s accomplishments, both for the music and the people. Museum hours coincide with Dollywood’s operating schedule. Donations are tax-deductible. For more information about the museum or its inductees, visit www.sgma.org.