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2010
SGMA INDUCTION CEREMONY/SINGING NEWS FAN AWARDS MERGE AT DOLLYWOOD
SEPTEMBER 29th
The
Southern Gospel Music industry's premier awards show, the Singing
News Fan Awards, is moving to a new home beginning in 2010.
"Dollywood,
the home of the Southern Gospel Music Association's Hall of Fame and
Museum, has opened its doors to the 2010 edition of the Fan
Awards," says Singing News Editor Danny Jones.
"Additionally,
the SGMA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be incorporated into
the Singing News Fan Awards presentation to present a new
program that will not only honor the artists that Singing News
subscribers have chosen as their favorites, but to acknowledge the
contributions of Southern Gospel Music pioneers and those who have
greatly influenced our industry."
The
first Fan Awards were presented in 1970 at the "International
Gospel Song Festival," an event promoted by Singing News
founding publisher, the late J.G. Whitfield. "When Mr.
Whitfield acquired the National Quartet Convention a few years
later," Singing News Editor-In-Chief Jerry Kirksey
recalls, "the Fan Awards moved to the NQC stage and remained
there through 2009."
"The
National Quartet Convention has been gracious in sharing their time
and facilities with us for four decades," says Jones. “We
will continue to support that grand tradition of Southern Gospel
music even as we look forward to our move. We will continue to have
one of the largest booths at NQC as well as expanded editorial
coverage, pre and post convention.”
The
2010 Singing News Fan Awards and the 2010 SGMA Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony will be held 3:00 PM - Wednesday, September 29,
2010, in DP's Celebrity Theatre at Dollywood.
The
new program will be the opening feature each year for Dollywood's
National Gospel & Harvest Celebration with the premiere
presentation followed by an entire month of Southern Gospel artists
performing throughout Dollywood. The music presented is quite
special to someone who is very familiar with Dollywood.
"Southern
Gospel music has been a part of my life for as long as I can
remember,” Dolly Parton says. “I am proud Singing News
chose Dollywood as the home of their Fan Awards in conjunction with
the SGMA's Induction Ceremony. The park is a unique place where we
not only focus the whole month of October on Southern Gospel music
but our guests can also enjoy Southern Gospel singing almost every
day throughout the year."
SGMA
Executive Director Charlie Waller, who was instrumental in bringing
this new event to life, says, "The SGMA Executive Board
unanimously voted in favor of the merger of the Fan Awards and
Induction Ceremony, and I look forward to working with everyone
involved to produce a first class event centrally located in the
heartland of Southern Gospel music fans.
"On
behalf of the SGMA, I would like to thank Barbara Joines,
Dollywood's Vice President and General Manager, as well as the
entire Dollywood staff, for their commitment to this event and for
housing the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum."
Tickets
for the event are on sale now. Call 865-908-4040 to order.
- The Southern Gospel Music
Association is a non-profit organization that maintains the Southern
Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame, the only facility honoring this
genre of music, for the historic preservation of the accomplishments
of the music and its people. Museum hours match those of Dollywood.
Donations are tax-deductible.
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