St. Louis native inducted this weekend
Merdean Fielding-Gales, music leader for the Progressive National Baptist Convention and board member of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, will be inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame this weekend.
Gales, probably best known as a regular on the nationally syndicated Bobby Jones television show, will be inducted during an awards ceremony on Saturday, October 21.
Gales will be inducted with Joe Bagby, Bishop P.A. Brooks, Kurt Carr, the late Davis Sisters, Bishop Albert Jamison, Dr. Curtis Lewis, Professor Iris Stevenson, Take 6 and Rodena Preston.
Nominated from around the world and selected by the IGMHFM board, the 2006 inductees were announced by founder David Gough. This year
marks the tenth anniversary of the International Gospel Music Hall of
Fame awards. This year’s celebration will be held at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center and Pastor Marvin L. Winans, a 2002 inductee, will serve as master of ceremonies.
“For a decade, we have successfully achieved our goal – the
furtherance of gospel music worldwide,” said Gough. “The awards event
is our annual centerpiece, but our work to celebrate the contributions
of influential individuals and groups and to increase awareness of
gospel music takes place year-round.”
Nominees must have been involved in gospel music activities for at least 25
years. Among the previous inductees are Aretha Franklin, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Dr. Bobby Jones, Della Reese, CeeCee Winans, The Fairfield Four, Shirley Caesar, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Luther Barnes & The Sunset Jubilaires and Dr. Myles Munroe.
Founded in 1995 as a non-profit organization by DoRohn Entertainment’s
president and gospel artist David Gough, the International Gospel
Music Hall of Fame and Museum preserves and celebrates the work of
the world’s legendary and influential gospel music artists and
entertainers. Individual donors and corporate contributors support the museum.
The museum, open for tours by appointment, is now housed in the
studios of DoRohn Entertainment. Its collections include recordings,
documents, photographs and memorabilia. Archivists and music experts
are also available to assist students and researchers. In 2005, IGMHFM
launched “Club 52” a fundraising campaign to build a permanent home
for the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
For more information visit www.igmhf.org.
