Industry event draws 1,500 to the Lou
By Gerald Pace
For the St. Louis American
The Missouri Gospel Announcers Guild (GAG) and Midwest Greater Arts Group recently sponsored Praise Break 2005 Annual Artist and Industry Showcase and Seminar at Williams Temple Church of God in Christ and the Pavilion Hotel downtown. About 1,500 people, including artists and record label executives, attended Praise Break 2005.
“We brought together artists from all across the country to unite them with other gospel industry professionals. They were able to spend intimate time with and build relationships with radio announcers, retailers and distributors,” Chuck Spearman, president of the Missouri GAG, said.
The Missouri GAG was co-founded by Spearman and Merdean Gails 17 years ago. The organization covers several cities throughout the Midwestern region. Membership is comprised of retailers, radio announcers, gospel writers, artists, distributors and gospel music magazine editors.
“Our goal is to unite artists and industry professionals on what it takes to make it in the industry. We must learn the quality of marketing, sound, and presentation in this area and remain on the cutting edge of technology,” Spearman said.
Throughout the Praise Break 2005 weekend, 32 artists from across the country performed, including nationally recognized artists Ange?lla Christie, Earl Bynum, The Remnant, Ami Rushes and Eric Carrington. Local artists Arnell Hunter, Rosie Haynes, Edgar O’Neal and Marilyn Davis also performed at the event.
Each concert featured a performance of GTV and Jolia Praise Dancers. Terri Gold, Missouri GAG vice-president and local GAG president, directed the mass choir that consisted of the Eastern Missouri-Western Illinois Jurisdictional COGIC Choir, the Third Missouri Southeast Jurisdictional COGIC choir and the United Voices of Christ.
“We had a glorious time. We were packed all the way to the end of each concert, although we didn’t get out until 1:30 a.m. Friday night,” Gold said.
Ami Rushes of Los Angeles produced a live DVD recording during the Friday night concert featuring songs from her new album produced by gospel great Kurt Carr. Rushes said she is considering airing the footage during a 30-minute time slot on The Word Network, a national religious broadcast channel.
“St. Louis is a beautiful and magnificent city. Of all the traveling I’ve done, this city is the most beautiful. This event was well attended, people were blessed and we had a wonderful time here in St. Louis. Chuck Spearman did an outstanding job,” Rushes said.
In addition to musical performances, Praise Break 2005 included seminar sessions on various aspects of the gospel music industry. Karesa Lang of Point of Grace Distribution conducted a seminar on gaining airplay and distribution for new gospel artists. Donna Price, local proprietor of Downtown Music, along with both Gold and Spearman, were also presenters during these sessions. Gospel music industry magazine, IM Magazine, also had representatives present to meet with artists.
Sanchez Harley was the main speaker for the weekend-long event and talked to aspiring artists about the importance of having quality production that meets industry standards. Harley is a nationally renowned producer who has worked with such gospel luminaries as Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams and Martha Munizzi; many call him the number one gospel producer in the country.
Regional artists, including Vernard Johnson of Kansas City, Pastor Rosie Haynes of East St. Louis and Edgar O’Neal of St. Louis, were among those honored for their contributions to the local gospel scene. The Williams Temple COGIC Radio Choir was recognized at the event as the first church choir to record in the area.
“We honor our pioneer artists. We wanted to reach out to artists that were pivotal to recording in this area,” Spearman said.
A goal of the Missouri GAG is to promote unity within the gospel music industry by attempting to break down denominational barriers. Gold said she hopes the Praise Break 2005 event moved the organization closer to achieving that objective.
“This was our sixth year having the Praise Break and we have had them throughout the country. We originated this idea and now the national Gospel Announcer’s Guild is having Praise Breaks,” Gold said.
“I enjoyed seeing people coming to support each other as artists. We must realize that we are doing this for the glory of God. We’re the gospel industry, and we should be able to come together.”
The Missouri GAG has two Praise Break events are scheduled for April 28-29 and Oct. 5-7, 2006. For more information call Chuck Spearman or Terri Gold at the Missouri GAG office at (314) 436-7GAG.
