Contemplations of Stellar Awards 2016.... Live Blogging....

Thus far, we have seen Maurette Brown Clark, Donald Lawrence and Brian Courtney Wilson. I have been impressed with the contemplations and energy shared by each of these artists. They have a great testimony and perspective on their art. For Brian Courtney Wilson, I watched him receive an honor from ASCAP during the ASCAP/Motown Gospel breakfast. I was immediately struck how humble Brian is. He is one who definitely isn't forgetting where he came from and remains grounded in the memory of his previous circumstances. He shared a profound perspective in that he talked about coming to the Stellar Awards in previous years wondering if anyone even saw him. You know we can come to events and no one knows our name... Brian reminded us that faithfulness is the way to success... We have got to keep at it...

Donald Lawrence and Maurette Brown Clark shared how proud they are to see Anthony Brown gain so may  accolades in this day and time.... He paid his dues playing and singing for them and now it is his time....

I am curious about Iyanla VanZant .....

Interesting... Ricky Dillard says that when he first came to the Stellars he was considered contemporary, now he is considered traditional.. just to show how long he has been around. He also remarks that when he firs came out he was revolutionary, controversial, but nowadays there are many imitators....

I must say that covering the Stellar Awards and how they manage their media room is a different experience from other awards shows....

Hezekiah Walker shares with us how he has been going to South Africa for the last nine years.. he has a church, he's adopted a school and continues to do mission work on the continent. He encourages everyone to step out from here in America and we will learn there is more to life than what we see and are conditioned....

Listening to Ben Tankard and his wife.... they have a reality show and financial empowerment programs for women....

The 2016 Stellar Awards - Gospel's Biggest Night - live blogged

So it's awards season and her I am again... in the media room trying to share sights and sounds as today's hottest artists receive their honors for their efforts and releases of the past year. The Stellar Awards is gospel music's biggest night. It is a huge honor to say one is Stellar Award nominated artist or radio station and it is an even more magnificent honor to say one is Stellar Award winner.

In my many years of experience, I have never experienced the Stellar Awards. I am an integral member of the team that earned a Stellar Award for KJLH Radio as Radio Station of the Year. But I have never attended this auspicious occasion. And so here I am.

Now you must understand that this isn't just one evening of an awards show... This is an entire weekend of showcases and special events. I attended the official All White Party when I arrived in LAs Vegas. And while I had no idea what to expect, I was really impressed with the attendance and the quality of attendees. I mean Doug Williams, Edwin Hawkins, Byron Cage, Richard Smallwood just to name a few. I witnessed some excellent music ministries of up and coming  artists... it was awesome.

I then rushed over to the other side of town to attend Gerald and Tammi Haddon's Love and Lyrics Showcase. Now THIS was rockn.... I saw Anthony Brown and Group Therapy, Jonathan McReynolds,  plus an exceptional lineup of independent artists. It was phenomenal.

I also attended the ASCAP/Motown Gospel breakfast. This performing rights agency took this opportunity to honor all the nominees on the Motown Gospel Label. It was a nice way to start the day.... And now I'm backstage at the Awards Ceremony.

The opening number was delivered by Anthony Brown and Group Therapy and it definitely set the tone for the evening... I really like this group. He is authentic and his song Worthy really ministers to me..

Charles Jenkins won for Choir of the Year and Anthony Brown just won for Male Vocalist of the year.

I have some more observations in a bit