COMMENTARY & ANAYSIS: Stellars Minimize Tribute to Richard Smallwood and Other Show Shortcomings

By Mona Austin 

Controversy has erupted out of what viewers and attendees had celebrated as one of the best Stellar Awards to date. Related to entertainment value, the acts were luminous and the special honors were respected.   In a "technical" review of the show, however, there were some significant failures to point out.   Here are the top critiques and "lowlights" from the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. 

Tribute to icon Richard Smallwood omitted from main event 

When the 41st Stellar Gospel Music Awards aired on BET, the omission of a memorial tribute to the iconic Richard Smallwood was noticed and sparked feverish backlash. The controversy is attached to the  fact that, despite Stellar honors and his broader significance as a music artist, Smallwood was not included in the main event of the Stellars and his tribute was relegated to the pre‑show. Gospel music fans are criticizing the producers for an inadequate tribute.    This criticism comes after several mainstream music award shows either recognized  his passing in the in memoriam segment or with a performance.  Fans were anticipating a Stellar Awards tribute to be more fulsome and on a grander scale.  
The Stellars responded to the backlash essentially saying they gave him his flowers while he was alive.  The chorus of disapproval got even louder after this rationale, beckoning a more direct response from leadership.  
Saying she shared in the disappointment, Harrison Jackson admitted that the pre-show alone was not acceptable and promised to make things right. "We did a tribute on the pre-show.  That still does not make it okay," she offered apologetically.  
But a keen observer on Instagram noted the disconnect between the initial response and the latter.  Commentor @Jazzminecw said:
 
"The messages are conflicting. You’ve characterized what happened as an “oversight,” while comments from the Stellars’ Facebook page communicate that a conscious decision was made. Both cannot accurately describe the same action without further clarification.

I’ve yet to see the “attacks” or “craziness” being referenced. The voices I’ve heard have been speaking from a place of genuine concern and calling for accountability — both of which are appropriate and necessary within the Body of Christ.

It’s important that we don’t conflate accountability with attack simply because the conversation is uncomfortable."

This comment received 33 likes (at the time of this reporting)  and  one and a "ditto" from @taraleenrcampbell who wrote:

@jazzminecw exactly! I didn’t see one “attack”. Sometimes truth is uncomfortable. Sometimes it’s unpleasant. Sometimes it’s untimely but it’s ALWAYS truth nonetheless!

Rather, than verbal "attacks" there were an abundance of fan reactions voicing their expectation for the Stellars to exceed previous tribute gestures.  

The Smallwood family released a statement aligning with fans around frustration over the mis-step.  They noted that a legacy of his magnitude deserved to be acknowledged during the main show, admitting they "understand and share the disappointment expressed by so many." 

Smallwood's stature in gospel music can not be overstated.  .

For example, the official Stellar records show that Richard Smallwood with Vision won multiple categories at the 15th Annual Stellar Awards in 2000, including Choir of the Year and Traditional Male Artist of the Year.  And in 2003, Smallwood with Vision won both Traditional Album of the Year and Traditional Choir of the Year for Persuaded – Live in D.C.  The Recording Academy (the organization that runs the Grammys) described him as a legendary gospel composer, pianist and arranger whose work included “Total Praise” and “I Love the Lord,” a classic he wrote and was made popular by Whitney Houston.   His influence extended beyond gospel.

Whether it was Vision, the Howard University gospel Choir, Anthony Brown and Group Therapy or a chorus of other artists there were several performance options for a Smallwood tribute that his legacy deserved. Jamal Roberts as a solo act, despite his vocal prowess, lacked the dynamism a choir or group would have delivered.  

Ron Kenoly, the influential praise-and-worship pioneer who died in February, also was not part of the televised remembrance highlighted in the coverage reviewed for this report. Norman Hutchins and Isaih Thomas were also omitted. That has prompted questions from some longtime gospel fans about whether the awards are adequately recognizing pioneers of the genre.

A group leader received a solo award 

:isa Knowles-Smith won the Albertina Walker female artist of the year award. She leads a quartet and is not marketed as a solo act.  Her nomination and subsequent win appears to have come from mis-categorization.  It is not known whether this was challenged before hand.  The issue is that solo artists who released music may have been left out.

Cutting out Pastor Mike 's remarks about Nolan Wells on the main show was also a faux pas.  Mike McClure in not only a gospel artist but  a pastor and father of sons.  He stated in the press room that he wanted to use the moment to show support to Wells' family.  He realized that the mournful spirit of loss is permeating the Black community and wanted to address it.  That portion of his speech was cut and the larger television audience did not hear it.  Pasrtor Mike played that portion of the speech on social media.  

In light  of September being Gospel Music Heritage Month, the Stellars deserve to be acknowledge