Gospel legend Dorinda Clark-Cole of The Clark Sisters will receive the Trailblazer of Gospel Award at the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards 2024. The awards will be held at Flourish Atlanta on Thursday, March 28.
Jonathan McReynolds will receive the BMI Champion Award for his artistry and impact on gospel music, marking the first time this honor has been presented at this ceremony.
The private event will be hosted by BMI President and CEO Mike O'Neill and Catherine Brewton, BMI vice president, creative, Atlanta. Throughout the ceremony, BMI will recognize the songwriters, producers and music publishers of the 25 most performed gospel songs of the past year in the US
“The Clark Sisters are among the legends of gospel, and Dorinda's signature jazzy sound brings a unique sparkle to the group,” Brewton said in a statement. “I'm so proud to honor her work and highlight the impact she has on the genre and community through her music and evangelism. We also pay tribute to one of gospel's most incredible voices, Jonathan McReynolds, whose music is often referred to as 'life songs', speaking to everyone's hearts.”
Clark-Cole and McReynolds are both Grammy winners. With The Clark Sisters, Clark-Cole won two Grammys in 2008 – Best Traditional Gospel album for Live – One Last Time and Best Gospel Performance for “Blessed and Highly Favored.” Earlier this month, the Clark Sisters received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy. McReynolds won a Grammy for Best Gospel Performance/Song three years ago for “Movin' On.”
Clark-Cole, known as the “Rose of Gospel Music”, is a singer-songwriter, talk-show host and evangelist. Born and raised in Detroit, Clark-Cole is the daughter of pioneering choral director Mattie Moss Clark. In addition to her two Grammys, Clark-Cole has won two GMA Dove Awards, three BMI Awards, 13 Stellar Gospel Music Awards and a Lady of Soul Award. The brothers' Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy followed the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award at the Stellar Awards in 2020. That same year, The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel The biopic, produced by Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah, premiered on Lifetime to millions of viewers.
In addition to his Grammy, McReynolds has received four BMI Awards and was named BMI Songwriter of the Year in 2023. He has also been honored at the Stellar Awards and the GMA Dove Awards. He has seven top five albums Advertising signTop Gospel Albums chart, including two that reached No. 1: Life Music: Stage Two (2015) and I make space (2018). He also had 10 top 10 hits on Hot Gospel Songs, including “Movin' On” (a collaboration with Mali Music) and “Not Lucky, I'm Loved.”
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2024-bmi-trailblazers-gospel-music-awards-dorinda-clark-cole-jonathan-mcreynolds-1235612636/
