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This article is a republished here to reflect the history of Gospel Music Heritage Month.  By Mona Austin (Washington, DC) --A sudden downpour of rain washed out the red carpet plans for the 2008 Grammy Salute to Gospel Music, but could not dampen the spirit  at the East Coast tribute event. As a throng of impatient fans were kept waiting outdoors to be seated for over an hour--some reportedly requesting a refund--the President of the Recording Academy, Neil Portnow played doorman. Press scrambled to the interior of Washington D.C.'s historic Lincoln Theater and his team to find “Plan B.” The solution wasn't ideal.  The disgruntled crowds’ wait was prolonged while media cramped an aisle in the theater to get face time with President’s Merit Award honorees Sandi Patty, The Winans and Edwin and Walter Hawkins and the artists who came to salute them in song. Things weren't looking good for the National Association for Recorded Arts & Sciences (NARAS), the governing body ...

Controversy over a missing Stellar Awards tribute for gospel music icon Richard Smallwood exposed a flaw in how the gospel music industry remembers and honors its own. September is Gospel Music Heritage Month, an opportune time to celebrate all influential creators of gospel music and reflect on ways to magnify the legacies and remember the departed artists, musicians and contributors who helped shape the genre. This message comes at an important time to reflect on the music and musicians who are alive an to explore ways to recognize those who have passed away. Following the 41st Stellar Awards, fans resoundingly conveyed that remembrance is a form of respect when they shared their discontent about Smallwood, a beloved composer, singer and choir director being overlooked on the "biggest night in gospel music." Producers of the show faced severe backlash over the absence of the Smallwood* tribute, one of the genre's most influential composers and musicians. Stellar Awards ...

Background:   The article below captures the history of Gospel Music Heritage Monthl.  It also cover the Grammys Salute to Gospel Music event.  It is a rare account of how the observation was formally announced durig the special event.  Prior to the event members of government and the gospel community came to gether to advocate for music right son Capitol Hill.  The article is being re-reun here for the historic record and to cap off Gospel Music Heritage Month 2021. By Mona Austin (Washington, DC) --A sudden downpour of rain washed out the red carpet plans for the 2008 Grammy Salute to Gospel Music, but could not dampen the spirit  at the East Coast tribute event. As a throng of impatient fans were kept waiting outdoors to be seated for over an hour--some reportedly requesting a refund--the President of the Recording Academy, Neil Portnow played doorman. Press scrambled to the interior of Washington D.C.'s historic Lincoln Theater and his team to find “Pla...