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Southern Gospel Music Guild Advocates for Relief Package Inclusion from Congress

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 24, 2020) – Many significant organizations and companies within the music industry have submitted a joint letter to congress on behalf of the music industry asking Congress to please include the music industry in any future relief packages, as the music industry has been uniquely and significantly impacted as the result of government mandates related to the Coronavirus pandemic.  One of the organizations that participated in this joint letter was the Southern Gospel Music Guild.

Clarke Beasley

“The SGMG actively looks for ways to advocate for the Southern Gospel Music industry, and we were glad to sign on to this offer petitioning Congress for relief,” states Clarke Beasley, President of the Southern Gospel Music Guild.  “Never in the history Gospel Music, as it is known today, has the industry faced a calamity of this scale and scope, and we hope our voice added to others will compel Congress to act in order to preserve our industry and our genre of music.”

NATIONAL QUARTET CONVENTION’S 2013 NQC MUSIC AWARDS FINAL NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED TODAY

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (July 23, 2013) – Nominations for the 2013 Annual NQC Music Awards were announced today by Clarke Beasley, Executive Vice President, National Quartet Convention, and reflect a mix of the best and brightest in Gospel music over the past year.

Based on both fan popularity and professional excellence, the awards will be presented in two categories: Fan Awards and Industry Awards. The Fan Award categories will be voted on by members of the NQC email list and the Industry Awards will be voted on by music professionals that participate as exhibitors during the National Quartet Convention.

The awards will be presented on Friday, September 13, 2013, at the 56th Annual National Quartet Convention (NQC) in Louisville, KY during a special afternoon session in Freedom Hall.

“We are excited to once again present the NQC Music Awards during the National Quartet Convention!” states Clarke Beasley. “This event was a highlight of the convention last year and we are thrilled to once again host this ceremony.”

NQC has partnered with the Southern Gospel Music Guild (SGMG) to supervise and determine the category criteria and screened entries for eligibility. The professional membership of the SGMG will also determine the recipient of the Les Beasley Impact Award, given to an individual or company that has made a major impact in the field of Gospel Music.

Voting for the Fan Award categories will begin on July 25 through ballots emailed to voters. For more information, visit www.NQConline.com.

Get social with NQC at Facebook.com/NQConline and Twitter @NQConline. Use the hashtag #NQCMusicAwards to join the conversation.

A complete listing of the Final Nominations for the 2013 NQC Music Awards is below.

To obtain a complete schedule of events scheduled during the 2013 National Quartet Convention, visit www.nqconline.com.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL QUARTET CONVENTION:
2013 marks the 56th Annual National Quartet Convention. The Convention has made its home in the city of Louisville since 1994 but will move to a new facility in Pigeon Forge, TN in 2014. Over 40,000 people are expected to attend the 2013 event with at least 40 states and half-dozen foreign countries represented. The Convention is Christian music’s largest marketplace and largest annual event with more than 500 exhibitors and nearly 300 Southern Gospel recording artists in attendance. Seats for daily and evening performances may be purchased at the NQC office, online at www.nqconline.com or on site during the week of the Convention in the North Wing lobby at the Kentucky Expo Center.

ABOUT THE SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC GUILD:
In 1986, several Southern Gospel music leaders decided the industry needed an organization to foster the growth of the Southern Gospel music genre. Through the years, the Guild has grown to include every facet of the Southern Gospel music industry, encompassing artists (full-time and part-time), record companies, radio, promoters, publishers, distributors, talent management, media representatives, and booking agents. These professionals work together collectively to expand the economic base of the Southern Gospel Music industry.

2013 NQC MUSIC AWARDS FINAL NOMINATIONS:

» FAN CATEGORIES

Bass Singer of the Year Nominees:
Pat Barker – Mark Trammell Quartet
Eric Bennett – Triumphant Quartet
Jeff Chapman – Kingdom Heirs
Tim Duncan – Canton Junction
Tracy Stuffle – Perrys

Baritone Singer of the Year Nominees:
Jim Brady – Booth Brothers
Rodney Griffin – Greater Vision
Scott Inman – Triumphant Quartet
Mark Lowry – Gaither Vocal Band
Mark Trammell – Mark Trammell Quartet

Lead Singer of the Year Nominees:
Ronnie Booth – Booth Brothers
Michael English – Gaither Vocal Band
Scott Fowler – Legacy Five
Arthur Rice – Kingdom Heirs
Gerald Wolfe – Greater Vision

Tenor Singer of the Year Nominees:
Chris Allman – Greater Vision
Michael Booth – Booth Brothers
Brian Free – Brian Free & Assurance
Wes Hampton – Gaither Vocal Band
David Phelps – Gaither Vocal Band
David Sutton – Triumphant Quartet

Soprano Singer of the Year Nominees:
Brooklyn Collingsworth – Collingsworth Family
Kim Hopper – Hoppers
Sonya Isaacs Yeary – Isaacs
Karen Peck Gooch – Karen Peck & New River
Lauren Talley Alvey – Talleys

Alto Singer of the Year Nominees:
Courtney Collingsworth – Collingsworth Family
Kim Collingsworth – Collingsworth Family
Sheri Easter – Jeff & Sheri Easter
Connie Hopper – Hoppers
Libbi Stuffle – Perrys

Soloist of the Year Award Nominees:
Mark Bishop
Jason Crabb
TaRanda Greene
Ivan Parker
Guy Penrod

Male Group of the Year Nominees:
Booth Brothers
Gaither Vocal Band
Greater Vision
Kingdom Heirs
Triumphant Quartet

Mixed Group of the Year Nominees:
Collingsworth Family
Hoppers
Isaacs
Karen Peck & New River
Perrys

Musician of the Year Nominees:
Kim Collingsworth – Collingsworth Family
Gordon Mote
Jeff Stice – Triumphant Quartet
Kevin Williams – Gaither Vocal Band
Gerald Wolfe – Greater Vision

Album of the Year Nominees:
A Tribute to the Songs of Bill & Gloria Gaither – Booth Brothers
For All He’s Done – Greater Vision
Greatest Hits Live – Booth Brothers
Redeeming the Time – Kingdom Heirs
Through the Night – Perrys

Video of the Year:
Classic – David Phelps
I Want to be That Man – Brian Free & Assurance
I Wish We’d All Been Ready – Hoppers
Lari Goss-The Man Behind the Music – Multiple Artists
Pure and Simple – Gaither Vocal Band

Song of the Year Nominees:
Glorious Freedom – Gaither Vocal Band
He Didn’t Just Carry the Cross, He Carried Me – Hoppers

National Quartet Convention announces the NQC Music Awards

Louisville, KY – The National Quartet Convention has announced the creation of a brand new awards presentation called the NQC Music Awards.  In partnership with the Southern Gospel Music Guild, NQC plans to present these awards on Friday afternoon during the Friday afternoon Showcase Spectaculars in Freedom Hall.

“This awards presentation will be unique in several ways,” states Clarke Beasley, NQC Executive Vice President.  “I believe we can expect a very large voting base to participate and much interest will be generated by the fact that awards will be given in both fan popularity and professional excellence divisions.” Read more »

Lou Hildreth, Judy Nelon – SGMG Lifetime Achievement Honor

LOUISVILLE, KY – The SGMG (Southern Gospel Music Guild) recognized industry icons and life-long friends Lou Wills Hildreth and Judy Spencer Nelon with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Honor at a special reception held during the 2010 National Quartet Convention in Louisville, KY. SGMG Vice-President Beckie Simmons Bates presented the honors where a group of industry friends and colleagues gathered to share in the special occasion. The afternoon celebration opened with a welcome from NQC Executive Vice-President Clarke Beasley. The Nelons sang, “The Lord’s Prayer” and host Dr. Jerry Goff, well-known for his masterful MC work, introduced the presenters who included their congratulations and numerous stories. Beckie Simmons Bates, Jimmy Blackwood, Fay Shed and a phone call from Larry Gatlin for his mentor Lou Hildreth contributed to a very heartwarming presentation. Kelly Nelon Clark headed the list of presenters for Judy Nelon followed by Sue Dodge, Lisa Abraham and Eddie DeGarmo. Aaron Crisler presented red roses to Lou Hildreth thanking her for mentoring his mentor Judy Nelon. Crisler also presented red roses to Nelon alongside a heartwarming story of his life since coming into the world of Judy Nelon. Mark Lowry spoke words of appreciation for both honorees. Lowry started with Hildreth whom he told of helping him with her booking agency at the age of 11. Mark’s mom brought him to a concert in Nashville, Tennessee dressed resembling a flag in red, white and blue. Lowry then thanked Nelon for her help in making it possible for him to perform on a showcase at the famous Christian Artists event in Estes Park, CO. He said, “It all started that day and finally landing me with the Gaithers.” The afternoon celebration was sponsored by the SGMG and was attended by a list of prestigious Christian music members.

Lou Hildreth stated, “I am humbled and overwhelmed with gratitude to be the recipient of the 2010 SGMG Lifetime Achievement Award knowing that it came from my peers. The Southern Gospel Music Guild is dear to my heart, and I am thankful that I was there when this strong and growing organization was founded. The board made an excellent choice in giving Judy Nelon a Lifetime Achievement Award also. It made the celebration complete for me. Judy and I have both served the gospel music industry and fans with an equal passion and have combined our efforts on many projects, beginning with the 1971-72 GMA Board Of Directors. It has been a glorious ‘lifetime in gospel music’ and my heart overflows with love and thanks to a gracious Heavenly Father. Thank you my friends and colleagues at the SGMG.”

Judy Nelon continued, “I am grateful and blessed to be the recipient of the 2010 SGMG Lifetime Achievement Honor, especially sharing this with my dear friend Lou Hildreth and surrounded by so many I have loved and worked with for over 40 years in gospel music.

Having Lou in my life has been one of my greatest blessings. She has a soft voice and a powerful impact. Wherever she is, Lou makes a difference in the outcome of any meeting. I have learned from her, but not near enough. In a lifetime, it would be impossible to gain the ability that Lou Wills Hildreth has which seems to have been born in her. She was a legend in gospel music long before I met up with her as board members of the Gospel Music Association in Nashville. It was while we served together, the GMA founded the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1971 and had the first gospel singing and dinner on the grounds of the White House in 1978.

We have shared rooms at most of the Gaither Homecoming tapings and marveled at the wonderful way Bill and Gloria Gaither have shared gospel music with the world: the music we both love so much. We have worked diligently to make everyone in the world know about it and the wonderful gospel music artists we have served as talent agents, publishers, and many other hats we have been delighted to wear when needed.”
More photos from the event can be viewed online at www.GospelMusicUpdate.com
SGMG
In 1986, several Southern Gospel music leaders decided the industry needed an organization to foster the growth of the Southern Gospel music genre. Through the years, the Guild has grown to include every facet of the Southern Gospel music industry, encompassing artists (full-time and part-time), record companies, radio, promoters, publishers, distributors, talent management, media representatives, and booking agents. Looking beyond the needs of today, the Southern Gospel Music Guild hopes to affect the future of the industry. Through communication and education, we hope to significantly impact the image and awareness of Southern Gospel music for generations to come. This is accomplished by a variety of means: getting Southern Gospel music introduced to new audiences and promoting quality and professionalism within the industry. By working together we can learn how to better utilize our skills. Through extensive, persistent efforts, we can increase the visibility of and appreciation for our music, thereby touching tomorrow….today.
For more information on the SGMG, log on to www.sgmg.org.