(St. Louis, MO – August 18, 2025) – As we rejoice the forty sixth Anniversary of Black Music Month, the Gospel Music Corridor of Fame (GMHOF) at the moment proclaims its 2025 Induction Gala Ceremony and Expo, the two-day occasion is scheduled throughout Gospel Music Heritage Month on Friday, September 5, and Saturday, September 6, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the St. Louis Conference Heart, 701 Conference Plaza, St. Louis, MO.
With a record-breaking variety of inductions totaling greater than 100 people, this yr’s Gospel Music Corridor of Fame occasion shall be one for the data. “Via the ability of Gospel music, we not solely rejoice our wealthy heritage but additionally unite hearts and souls in religion, hope, and pleasure,” says Dr. Monica R. Butler, founding father of the Gospel Music Corridor of Fame, headquarters in St. Louis. Butler can be a profession radio and tv broadcaster and filmmaker. “Allow us to protect and promote the timeliness messages of affection and redemption, inspiring future generations to hold the sunshine of the Gospel ahead.”
The 4th Annual Gospel Music Corridor of Fame Honorary Inductees and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipients will embrace a number of Grammy, Stellar, and Gospel Music Associations’ Dove Award winners and recording artists together with Kirk Franklin (20-time Grammy Award winner); Yolanda Adams (four-time Grammy Award winner); The Clark Sisters with Elbertina “Twinkie” Clark (two-time Grammy Award winner), Karen Clark Sheard (four-time Grammy Award winner), Dorinda Clark-Cole (two-time Grammy Award winner), and Jacky Clark-Chisholm (two-time Grammy Award winner); Erica Campbell (six-time Grammy Award winner), Tina Campbell (four-time Grammy Award winner), Warryn Campbell (five-time Grammy Award winner), Dr. Jekalyn Carr (one-time Grammy Award winner), and Dr. Ricky Dillard, “The Choir Grasp” (eight-time Grammy-nominated recording artist).
Different double award recipients embrace legends of the Gospel music trade together with Claude Lataillade, who’s the co-founder of Gospo Centric Information, Lilly Mack Publishing, and co proprietor of Central South Distribution. Vicki Mack Lataillade is the enterprise companion and spouse of Claude Lataillade. She revolutionized the Gospel Music trade. Billboard journal named her report label, Gospo Centric, the No. 1 Gospel label in America with gross sales of greater than 30 million models. Her efforts within the music trade have resulted in gross sales of greater than 100 million data. She based Gospo Centric Information and Lilly Mack Publishing in 1992. She has grown her publishing firm to a catalog of greater than 1,200 songs with music from Kirk Franklin, Walter Hawkins, Kurt Carr, Byron Cage, Hezekiah Walker, and plenty of extra. D3 Leisure Group is a premier advertising company that oversees multi-media campaigns for music, movie, and tv tasks, in addition to faith-based establishments and initiatives, beneath the management of its co-founders Kelvis “Clyde” Duffie, Michelle S. Duffie, Kendall J. Duffie. Melanie Few is the founder and long-term govt producer of the now renamed The Tremendous Bowl Soulful Celebration. Vy Higginsen is a playwright, theatrical producer, theater director and broadcast legend. She is finest recognized on Broadway and New York Theater circles because the co-creator of the musical, MAMA, I WANT TO SING! and its subsequent MAMA theatrical manufacturers. For greater than ten years, Higginsen hosted radio reveals on each WBLS-FM and WWRL-AM.
The opposite double award recipients conclude with Dr. Pat Houston, an creator, world ambassador, entrepreneur, inventive visionary, producer, and govt producer. With greater than forty years of promoting, branding, and administration expertise, she is the president and CEO of WhitNip Inc., the executor of The Property of Whitney E. Houston, The Property of Emily Houston, and the president of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Basis. Dr. Cheryl Jackson is an creator, public speaker, enterprise strategist, marketing consultant, and multimillion-dollar social entrepreneur. She is the Energy of Motion advocate that equips folks around the globe with instruments to empower them to behave for his or her life and speed up their profession. Oprah mentioned, “Cheryl is relentless.” Debbie Might is a number one marketing consultant for dwell live shows and stage manufacturing. She works as a stage supervisor, tour supervisor, manufacturing supervisor, ground director, dwell producer and expertise coordinator. Celebrating greater than 20 years in Gospel music and ministry, Rosie Trenia Moore is a marketing consultant advisory strategist and the founding father of RTM Group Providers. Her firm gives providers in advertising, promotions, company occasions, mission administration, audio/video productions, media buys for tv and radio, web site/graphics, public relations, social media, artist improvement, radio monitoring, branding, picture marketing consultant and extra. Gwendolyn Quinn is a world award-winning publicist and media/advertising strategist, content material creator, broadcast producer and an leisure marketing consultant. A Stellar Award-winning Gospel Radio Announcer Meta Washington is a radio host and program director of SiriusXM’s Kirk Franklin’s Reward channel. Rev. Joseph L. Williams is the senior pastor of Salem Bible Church of Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Harvey Watkins, Jr. is the lead singer of the world-renowned Canton Spirituals.
The Gospel Music Corridor of Fame Posthumous Inductees
The Gospel Music Corridor of Fame will posthumously inductee a number of legends who’ve been instrumental within the Gospel Music trade. Celebrating 40 years in music and leisure, Dr. Whitney Houston started singing Gospel music on the age of 5. She recorded a number of Gospel Music tasks, which made a big impression on the music trade. On tour, she at all times carried out two-three Gospel tunes on all of her worldwide live performance dates. Identified globally as “The Voice,” with greater than 220 million mixed albums, singles and movies bought worldwide and counting, Whitney Houston has established a benchmark for superstardom. She can be the primary Black recording artist to obtain three RIAA Diamond licensed albums. Born Emily Drinkard in Newark, NJ, and globally often known as Dr. Cissy Houston, two-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist Cissy Houston led a profitable profession as a solo and performing artist. She recorded one album with The Drinkard Singers, 4 albums with The Candy Inspirations, greater than ten solo albums, 4 compilations albums, 5 collaborative recordings, and quite a few reissues tasks have been launched. As a first-call backup vocalist, she recorded and carried out with a variety of artists throughout a number of genres. The late Inez Andrews was a member of the long-lasting Gospel group, The Caravans, Andrews recognized around the globe for her hovering contralto and vocal ship on many songs together with “Mary, Don’t You Weep.” The Grammy Award nominated and a number of Stellar Award winner additionally obtained the Ambassador Bobby Jones Legend Award. Bishop Michael Alan Brooks was a founding member of the legendary Gospel group, Commissioned. Identified for his multifaceted abilities as a musician, songwriter, and producer, he helped to craft the signature sound of the Grammy-nominated and Stellar Award profitable group. He additionally based the all-female modern gospel group Witness, together with his then future spouse Lisa Web page who was a member. Years later, the group additionally included his daughter, BET’s Sunday Greatest winner Tasha Web page-Lockhart. Ruby Summerville-Dickson was a widely known gospel radio persona and singer within the St. Louis neighborhood. Affectionately often known as Mom Ruby, she was the one most beloved individual within the Gospel neighborhood. She toured with Gospel greats resembling Mahalia Jackson, Rev. James Cleveland, The Caravans, and The Mighty Clouds of Pleasure, amongst quite a few others. She was additionally the president of the St. Louis Chapter of the American Gospel Quartet Conference.
The Gospel Music Corridor of Fame posthumous inductees conclude with Al “The Bishop” Hobbs, a visionary who began his profession in Gospel music as a radio announcer. He was Vice Chairman of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA). He additionally co-founded the Gospel Announcers Guild inside the GMWA. Former Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was a lawyer and U.S. Consultant serving Texas’ 18th Congressional District of Houston. She additionally labored intently with Gospel music govt Alvin V. Williams to assist set up Gospel Music Heritage Month in June 2008. Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson was a Grammy Award nominated and seven-time Stellar Award gospel singer-songwriter who launched greater than ten profession albums that efficiently charted on Billboard Gospel charts. Harold Lashaun Martin was a multi-genre artist, producer, and songwriter. He was a winner of quite a few Grammy Awards and Stellar Awards and is finest recognized for his manufacturing work with Kirk Franklin. He additionally collaborated with different artists together with Erykah Badu, Snarky Pet, Chaka Khan, Fred Hammond, Timberland, Tamela Mann, Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, Tasha Web page-Lockhart, and God’s Property, simply to call a number of. Each Edgar O’Neal (pianist) and Edward O’Neal (vocalist) had been often known as The O’Neal Twins and had been trailblazers within the then widespread quartet sound with such classics as “Jesus Dropped The Expenses,” “Throw Out The Lifeline,” and “Energy In The Blood.”
The Gospel Music Corridor of Fame Inductees embrace a wide range of music and leisure artists, executives and entrepreneurs throughout the US who’re legends in a large ranging variety of fields and careers. Bishop Bruce V. Allen is an inspirational jazz musician with a profession spanning 30 years and is finest recognized for collaborations with the long-lasting duo, Allen & Allen. Celebrating greater than 40 years in music, Vanessa Bell Armstrong is a Stellar Music Award-winning recording artist and a seven-time Grammy nominated artist. Gene Andrews Jr. is a trailblazing music govt and founding father of International Leisure Group. He’s at present the Commissioner of Arts & Tradition in Alpharetta, GA. Monica Bacon is the founding father of Sovereign Company with greater than a 35 yr profession in music, tv, movie and philanthropy. Dr. Percy Bady is a Grammy Award nominated musician, songwriter, and producer, in addition to a Gospel Music Associations’ Dove and BMI Award-winning songwriter. Evangelist Lemmie Battles is a Christian recording artist whose music incorporates each Gospel and Blues. Toya Beasley is a broadcast legend and on-air radio persona on New York Metropolis’s 94.7 The Block, the place she hosts and produces the Sunday morning present, “Inspirations On The Block.” For the previous 18 years, Rev. Dr. Jerome Allen Bell is the senior pastor of The Maryland Household Christian Heart. He additionally launched a brand new extension of the ministry, “The Fellowship DMV,” which holds providers within the theme of “Good old school fellowship” whereas additionally offering a platform for different ministries from music to bop to visible arts to spoken phrase as a spot to train and be in fellowship. Dr. Laval W. Belle is the founding father of the non-profit group, Caring Ministries in St. Louis. He’s additionally a producer, creator, playwright, advocate, and minister.
Rev. Sheilah Belle is publicly often known as The Belle, with greater than 30 years in music and leisure, an creator, inspirational speaker, promoter and govt producer, Mid-Day radio persona and Music Director for Reward 104.7FM (100,000 watts), the legendary broadcast journalist is the writer and editor-in-chief of “The Belle Report.” Tracey Bethea is trailblazer on this planet of broadcasting and Gospel Radio. She is a two-time Stellar Award winner for “Radio Announcer of the 12 months. In 2023, she made historical past as the primary African American girl to be named program director of the legendary iHeartRadio station, WDIA-AM 1070 in Memphis, TN. Dr. Liz Black is the CEO of Impressed Dwelling Community LLC, which presents Aspired Dwelling Community that gives family-friendly 24-hours of inspirational programming per day and Aspired NYC Radio, New York’s Heartbeat for Religion and Inspiration. Dr. Kevin Bond is a ten-time Grammy Award and 30-time Stellar Award-winning producer who has produced top-charting names in Gospel music and is celebrating greater than 40 years in music and ministry. Lisa Web page-Brooks is a Gospel recording artist and a co-founder of the modern gospel quartet, Witness. Charlotte B. Brown is a St. Louis native, organist, pianist, producer, songwriter and entrepreneur, who grew to become often known as probably the most well-respected musicians, educators, and mentors within the metropolis. Phyllis Caddell is the founder and lead strategist of PCPR Communications, a strategic communications and PR company, primarily based in Los Angeles.
Congresswoman Erica Lee-Carter was elected to the U.S. Home of Consultant by particular election, filling the seat vacant by the passing of her mom, the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. She is a devoted advocate for kids, financial fairness, and neighborhood empowerment. Reggie Chandler, publicly often known as “The Bishop of Comedy” stands out as one of many funniest Christian comedians with a singular and energetic comedic type that brings laughter and pleasure to audiences throughout the nation. Dennis Cole is at present the Administrator of the Stellar Academy of Gospel Music Awards (“SAGMA”). Cole additionally serves because the Director of Regional Radio Promotions of one of many nation’s main Radio Promotion Firm, Mighty Dominion Leisure primarily based in Chicago, IL. A Brooklyn native, Jarvis E. Cooper, publicly often known as “B.B. Jay,” is an actor, creator, producer, licensed and ordained minister. Neily Dickerson is the founding father of ND co., an impartial advertising and promotions agency baring her initials. Celebrating greater than 30 years in music and ministry, she has additionally expanded her expertise as a producer of tv and movie. Future Diggs is a tradition changemaker, media communicator, and influencer within the New York Metropolis Tri-State space. She is the Vice President of Community Programming on the Stellar Award multi-winning community, Attain Gospel Radio, which covers greater than 20 markets together with Canada. Multi-genre recording artist Keith Dobbins incorporates his model of music with Christian, Gospel, Modern and R&B music. He excursions all through North America and Europe selling the Gospel. Rodney East is a gifted pianist, musician and producer. He collaborates with a Who’s Who of Gospel music and past. Chuck Flowers began in leisure as a member of group, The Gospeleers of St. Louis, which later led him to additional his profession as a performer, performing in quite a few theater and opera productions, modeling and industrial work. A legendary radio broadcaster, Neiko Flowers is a two-time Stellar Award-winning programmer and a 2024 Stellar Award Gospel Announcer of the 12 months nominee with a broadcast profession spanning greater than 15 years in music, ministry and leisure. Celebrating greater than 25 years within the music/recording trade, Eboni Funderburk is likely one of the high main executives and entrepreneurs in Gospel music. In 2008, she based her firm, EFG Promotions & Consulting, which features a high charting roster of recording artists in Gospel Music.
A virtuoso musician and recording artist, Richard Gibbs is the son of gospel royalty. His mom is the late Gospel pioneer Inez Andrews of The Caravans. His father was a vocalist for the distinguished group, The Soul Stirrers. He accompanied Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul on lots of her live performance and tv appearances for greater than 20 years. GRIFF is a nationally syndicated on-air persona, comic, and the founding father of The Course of Success Basis. Deitrick Haddon is a gospel recording artist, actor, film producer, and the Pastor of Hill Metropolis Church in Los Angeles. He’s a two-time NAACP Picture Award winner, a Stellar Award winner, a Soul Prepare Music Award winner and a three-time Grammy-nominated recording artist. Carlos Hale is a celebrated radio host and entrepreneur. He established City Soul Café, an occasion planning and promotion firm that brings neighborhood collectively by dwell music in non-traditional settings. Aulsondro Hamilton, publicly often known as Emcee N.I.C.E., is a Christian hip-hop recording artist, singer, songwriter, report producer, movie producer and entrepreneur. With a profession within the Gospel Music trade spanning greater than 30 years, Debra Renee “Snoopy” Hanna is a music govt and entrepreneur, who’s a number one radio promoter for high Gospel and impartial recording artists. Dr. Steven Harris, publicly recognized Bro. Steve Harris, is celebrating greater than 35 years within the broadcast and leisure industries. He has authored 5 books and has created and produced almost 7,500 radio, tv, and multi-media tasks. Bernie Hayes is a longtime journalist in print media and radio and tv broadcasting. He’s additionally a recording artist and report producer.
Dr. Debroah E. Holmes is a minister, creator, emcee and psalmist. She is the founding father of Divine Evangelistic Helps Ministry and The Barbara G. Moore Memorial Basis with a long time of management in Christian broadcasting, educating, and ministry. audio broadcast legend and Stellar Award winner Dr. Lonnie V. Hunter is the host of a nationally syndicated radio present, “The Lonnie Hunter Present.” Stellar Award-winning recording artist Rev. Dr. Stephen Hurd is the creator of the e book, The Seed of David: A Worshipers Information to Mend the Coronary heart and Self-discipline The Contemporary. In April 2018, Hurd was ordained to the Gospel Ministry of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden (MD), the place he faithfully serves as Minister of Music for me than 20 years. A local of The Bronx, NY, Hasan James is the founding father of the Roots journal, one of many main and premier publications within the Gospel trade. After only some brief years, Roots journal has partnered with multi-million greenback firms together with BET, International United Fellowship, The MERGE Summit, I Hear Music, GMWA and BMI to provide magazines and journals for a lot of of his purchasers particular occasions. Celebrating greater than 30 years within the Gospel Music trade, Roderick Jemison is the CEO and president of Jemison & Associates, a marketing consultant firm serving as a liaison to Gospel artist within the space of distribution. He works with two of the biggest impartial Gospel distributions firms together with Central South Distribution and New Day Distribution. Charles Edward Johnson, additionally recognized “Pastor CeJay” serves as Pastor at Religion Metropolis Church (previously Religion Chapel.) He’s the Director of KOKA-AM, The Coronary heart of Gospel Music in Shreveport, LA. Benita Bellamy-Kelley is the founder and CEO of The Bellamy Group in Nashville, TN. She is a advertising and public relations govt with greater than 25 years within the arts and leisure.
St. Louis native Kevin Kelley is one in every of nation’s most versatile and wanted producers within the nation who supplies full-service music manufacturing for dwell and studio recordings, mixing, mastering, and engineering. Min. Michael J. Latchison is the founding father of The Latchison Singing Ministry. The 35-member neighborhood choir is the longest and most lively neighborhood choir in St. Louis, MO. Doc Lewis is an on-air radio persona with KFSR 90.7 FM at Fresno State College in California, who has suffered all through his life with numerous disabilities. He has been an inspiration to his household, buddies, and the area people. Greg “Uncle G” Lyons is the president and CEO of Uncle G Promotion and Leisure and Uncle G Information. He’s an invisible and invincible pressure behind the success of a variety of recording artists in Gospel and widespread music. His full-service firm gives radio promotions, artist administration, and live performance and church bookings. Rev. Dr. Manfret McGhee is the pastor of the Straightway Baptist Church of East St. Louis, MO. Gina Water Miller is a musician educator, govt and entrepreneur, her love for music and the humanities has formed her life’s goal and profession. She spent greater than twenty years with MNRK Music Group (previously Leisure One/Life Information/Indie Blue Music), constructing a storybook profession from intern to label head. Stellar Award winner Willie Mae McIver is a broadcast legend with numerous awards and honors. She is the founding father of the boutique Covenant Media Group, a media, advertising, PR, branding and occasion firm, situated in Dallas, TX.
Kymberlee Norsworthy is the founding father of Price Ink Public Relations & Media Methods. She is a veteran public relations strategist who has helped outline, develop, promote, and shield personalities and types for greater than 20 years. Presently, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Instruction, Public Relations at Temple College. A local of St. Louis, MO, Min. Joseph Worth is a pianist, singer, songwriter, producer, conductor and educator of Gospel music. Award-winning Gospel recording artist Johnny Sanders data and excursions worldwide in Africa, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, England and the Caribbean. Legendary recording artist Bishop Leonard Scott helps protect the normal Gospel music idiom. A husband and father of seven kids, Scott has written three books: Hovering with Eagles, Be Lifted Up and his most up-to-date e book, The Final Increase from Inside: 31 Days to Well being, Wealth, Wholeness, and Happiness. A broadcast legend and on-air persona, Jerry Smith is celebrating greater than 40 years on radio. His background on radio contains curating Gospel, Rock, High 40, R&B, City Grownup Modern, Basic Rock, Oldies, Hip Hop and Grownup Modern. Award-winning govt producer and marketing consultant, Tia A. Smith is likely one of the most sought-after creators within the leisure trade. Greatest recognized for spearheading and figuring out industrial marketable tasks, Smith is a uncommon inventive whose work spans digital, impartial, company, scripted and unscripted tv, movie, improvement/present manufacturing, and dwell occasions.
Rickey Smiley is a legendary comic, actor, creator, tv host, and award profitable radio host of the top-rated, nationally syndicated, The Rickey Smiley Morning Present for which he received the Marconi Award (the radio equal of the Oscar Award). Damien Sneed is a multi- style recording artist and instrumentalist. He’s a pianist, vocalist, organist, composer, conductor, arranger, producer and educator. Stellar Award nominated Gospel recording artist and songwriter Renee Spearman has labored with a few of music largest names in music together with Gladys Knight, Yolanda Admas, and Dr. Bobby Jones, amongst others. Pastor Angela Spivey, also referred to as Pastor Angie, she is a recording artist, an educator, a radio persona and a businesswoman. Damon Stewart is the founding father of IGA Expertise Administration & Consulting, Inc. He’s a promotions and advertising professional in Gospel, City and Pop promotions for top-charting recording artists. Dr. Spencer Taylor Jr. joined The Freeway QC’s, a gospel quartet that when included Lou Rawls and Sam Cooke. In 1964, Taylor grew to become the chief of the group. Presently, he continues to steer the Freeway QC’s, now comprised of a brand new era of singers, together with his sons. Tammy Taylor is the founding father of One Entity, a full service leisure consulting agency that handle and develop Gospel artists, coordinate expertise for dwell performances and recording classes. Moreover, she collaborates with report labels to extend artists total consciousness domestically, regionally, and nationally. Senior stage music govt Walter P. Thomas is the Vice President of Artist Growth at Motown Gospel/Tamla Information who works diligently to mildew, educate, and place artists to succeed in their best success. The founding father of M.A.N.D.A.T.E. Information, Dr. Leonard Thompson III has additionally launched Mandate Challenge Affect, a 501 3c nonprofit program that focuses on coaching inner-city youth and younger adults within the areas of music manufacturing and recording, TV, movie, radio and occasion manufacturing. Up to now, the nonprofit has skilled an unlimited variety of youth and younger adults who’ve moved ahead with careers within the leisure trade. Three-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist Tye Tribbett is a songwriter and motivational speaker. He’s additionally a recipient of six Stellar Awards, two Gospel Music Affiliation’s Dove Awards, two BET Awards, and three Soul Prepare Awards. Bishop Larry D. Trotter serves because the senior pastor of Chicago’s historic Candy Holy Spirit Church. St. Louis native Eric C. Tyler, publicly often known as “Snoopy” is a well-respected and revered musician, poet and creator who has been a bassist for greater than 40 years. St. Louis native Evangelist Gloria Jean Vann is a global recording artist and evangelist. Adrian Warren is a Success Coach and the principal of Vessel Leisure (VE), an leisure consulting agency helping with shopper conduct methods.
The Gospel Music Corridor of Fame Broadcasts its 2025 Inductees
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