Yesterday the GMA (Gospel Music Association) announced the date of the second annual GMA Honors as Tuesday, May 5th at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena. The event celebrates gospel music pioneers being inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame and gives recognition to individuals and organizations that have impacted our culture globally both past and present.

The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees include BeBe and CeCe Winans, Mark Lowry, Roland Lundy and Twila Paris. In addition, the GMA will honor Founding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International, Bishop Paul S. Morton, The Bridge founded by Candy Christmas, Passion founded by Louie and Shelley Giglio and Porter's Call founded by Al Andrews.

Tables and individual tickets are available for purchase, which include dinner and admission to the honors ceremony. Sponsorships are also available for the event. The event will begin at 6:00PM on Tuesday, May 5th, and tickets can be purchased at www.gmahonors.org.

"Last year's inaugural event was an amazing evening of firsts for our industry. We have been encouraged by the many comments surrounding the ceremony and are thrilled to honor this year's recipients," said John Huie, CAA and Co-Chair of GMA Honors in a press release.

"The GMA Foundation is charged with observing our gospel music history and its trailblazers," said Jackie Patillo, President of the GMA Foundation. "With the ongoing support from our music community, we can fulfill the mission to foster an appreciation for our heritage and its impact for generations to come. We, as always, thank all of those involved in helping make these special celebrations possible."

Hall of Fame inductees:
BeBe & CeCe Winans have been recording music together for more than 25 years. The brother/sister duo, part of the gospel singing Winans family and one of the most successful gospel artists of all time, have had 12-charting R & B singles, and numerous No. 1 singles on Christian, AC and CHR radio. Their accolades include numerous gold and platinum releases, plus a plethora of Dove, Grammy, Stellar, Soul Train and NAACP Image Awards.

Mark Lowry is a singer, storyteller, humorist, author and songwriter whose is a loved and trusted voice in the realm of gospel music and beyond. His 20-plus years as the baritone singe the Grammy and Dove award-winning Gaither Vocal Band and serves as the comedic sidekick on tour. He also tours as a solo act with many DVD projects to his credit and has had over 400 artists record his lyric to "Mary Did You Know?"

Roland Lundy starting making noise in the industry in the early 1970's that lead to an 11-year run as President and CEO of Word Entertainment, one of the world's leading Christian music companies. He was responsible for the Thomas Nelson and Word consolidation that grew Word revenues to over $100 million in 1993. He later managed the sale of Word to Gaylord Entertainment. His leadership navigated the entertainment company's very diverse roster and attracted top artistic and creative talent. He currently serves on the board of the Gospel Music Trust Fund and is Chairman of the Board for American Red Cross, Nashville Chapter.

Twila Paris is a pioneer of today's praise and worship music movement that has lead to the informal style of worship. She has released 22 albums, amassed 33 number one singles and has been named the GMA Dove Awards "Female Vocalist of the Year" 3 times as well as several awards in the song and album of the year categories. The accomplished singer/songwriter is not only known for creating timeless worship songs but has also written books and recorded children's music.

Honorees:
Bishop Paul S. Morton is a pastor's pastor, a leader's leader who holds multi advance degrees in Theology and Divinity. He is the Founding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International, as well as the Senior Pastor of Changing A Generation Full Gospel Baptist Church with two locations in Atlanta, Georgia and Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana. In addition to being a pastor and educator he has authored four books and is a celebrated recording artist with over eleven albums to his credit which have garnered six Stellar Awards. Bishop Morton's commitment to the community is evident by many church outreach programs such as the affordable housing projects he began in 1997. He is the president of the Paul S. Morton, Sr. Scholarship Foundation and president of the Paul S. Morton Bible College and School of Ministry. Candy Christmas is an awarding-winning singer/songwriter with five recordings as a solo artist, and six GMA Dove awards to her credit. As founder and President of The Bridge, Inc she has been able to feed and clothe the homeless of Nashville, as well as aide Middle Tennessee's children through the backpack school program. Her weekly hot meal outreach takes place every Tuesday under the Jefferson Street Bridge, come rain or shine. Candy and her team of volunteers meet the physical and spiritual needs of over 350 people each week by sharing the gospel along with each hot meal as well as bags of groceries, toiletries and new clothes to anyone in need.

Passion, founded by Louie and Shelley Giglio began as a bible study at Baylor University and has grown into an international ministry called the Passion Movement. The Passion Conferences has reached hundreds of thousands of college-aged young people in stadiums and arenas across the USA and around the globe to worship Jesus and be shaped by the His Word. Their vision led Louie and Shelley Giglio to launch Passion City Church in Atlanta Georgia, and sixstepsrcords the home to Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Passion and many others.

Porter's Call, founded by Al Andrews is an integral part of the music world in Nashville. The mission of Porter's Call is to be a service of counsel, support and encouragement to recording artists and their families and to provide a safe and confidential refuge for artists to deal with the issues they face, at no charge. Since the beginning in 2001 more than 1000 different artists, from all genres, have walked through the doors of Porters Call. Al Andrews is also accomplished author and speaker.

To view full biographical information and photos of this year's inductees and honorees, please visit: www.gmahalloffame.org

NEWS SOURCE: Wortman Works