BMI will honor gospel greats Donnie McClurkin and Andraé Crouch at their 11th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon. The event will take place on January 15, 2010 and will be held the day before the 25th Annual Stellar Awards, BMI’s invitation-only ceremony. The event will be held at Rocketown 401 6th Avenue South in Nashville, and will welcome gospel music’s premier songwriters, recording artists and music industry executives.
Donnie McClurkin is a two-time GRAMMY winner and is one of the industries best producers, vocalists, song writer and speaker. McClurkin has composed a numerous catalog of worship songs, including BMI Christian Award winners “I’m Walking” and “That’s What I Believe,” he has also collected a many Dove, Stellar and other prestigious honors, including the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist. McClurkin released a critically acclaimed new collection entitled We Are All One (Live in Detroit) in March 2009, and in addition to garnering a 2010 Stellar Award nomination for Traditional Male of the Year, he will co-host the Stellar Awards ceremony with fellow BMI trendsetters Kirk Franklin and Vickie Winans.
Eight-time GRAMMY winner Andraé Crouch is one of the most influential creators of contemporary gospel music, Crouch unique combination of traditional and contemporary. His work with The Disciples and later, as a solo artist, is legendary, and as a songwriter, he is behind classics, including “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power,” “Through It All,” “Bless His Holy Name,” and “My Tribute.”
Crouch has collected a many Dove and Stellar Awards as well as worked with pop stars Madonna, Diana Ross, and Elton John, Crouch contributed songs to films including The Color Purple and The Lion King.
He was the vocal arranger for Michael Jackson’s hit song “Man in the Mirror”. Crouch also wrote the song “Will You Be There,” featured in the film Free Willy. Crouch is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and became the only living gospel artist to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004. The following year he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural NARAS Salute to Gospel Music.
Broadcast Music, Inc. ® (BMI) is an American performing right organization that represents more than 400,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works. BMI reported $905 million for its 2009 fiscal year in performing right collections. BMI has represented the most popular and beloved