Brentwood, TN (Sparrow Records) - EMICMG artists
Chris Tomlin (sixstepsrecords),
Steven Curtis Chapman (Sparrow Records), and
David Crowder*Band (sixstepsrecords) were among the top honored winners at the 37th Annual GMA
Music Awards - also known as the Dove Awards - held April 5 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Tomlin, who had earned the most nominations, won the most awards of the event (five) including Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist, Song and Worship Song of the Year ("How Great Is Our God"), and Special Event Album (for his original contribution to MUSIC INSPIRED BY THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA). The handful of honors caps a breakthrough year for Tomlin whose current album, ARRIVING, recently received RIAA gold certification for sales of over 500,000 copies.
Chapman, who has won more Dove Awards than any other artist through the years, won his 50th trophy for contributing to the NARNIA Special Event Album. In relation, one of the evening's highlights was a surprise tribute to Chapman for this landmark achievement. Gospel music legends such as Andraé Crouch provided testimonies while younger artists Jeremy Camp, David Crowder, Casting Crowns' Mark Hall, and Third Day's Mac Powell performed an acoustic set of classic Chapman Dove Award-winning music. Chapman, unaware of the tribute, was visibly moved by the outpouring from his musical colleagues.
David Crowder*Band also won a Dove Award for contributing to the NARNIA project plus honors for Rock/Contemporary Song ("Here Is Our King") and Rock/Contemporary Album (A COLLISION). Currently on tour with Third Day, David Crowder*Band will release B COLLISION, a creative companion to its award-winning predecessor, on May 2.
Other EMICMG winners at the 37th Annual GMA Music Awards included Matt Redman for Praise & Worship Album (BLESSED BE YOUR NAME: THE SONGS OF MATT REDMAN VOL. 1), Andy Hunter for Instrumental Album (LIFE), Switchfoot for Short Form Music Video ("Stars"), tobyMac for Rock Recorded Song ("The Slam"), and, as mentioned, MUSIC INSPIRED BY THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE for Special Event Album. The latter also features original new music from Delirious?, Bethany Dillon, Nichole Nordeman, Rebecca St. James, Jars of Clay, and others.
The 37th Annual GMA Music Awards was recorded live and will air in syndication from April 15 to May 21, 2006. For broadcast details and a complete list of award winners, visit GMAMusicAwards.com.
