Gospel Music Heritage Awards Program Booklet

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7 September 2019 FROM WAAW GENERAL MANAGER DONNA MOORE WESBY To God be the glory! It is God who is glorified and lifted up through our first ever CSRA Gospel Music Heritage Awards. With a grateful heart, I am humbled that Pastor Billy Smith entrusted me with the vision he was given from God to have an annual awards ceremony to honor persons from the CSRA who have helped to keep Gospel music alive.

The Word of God reminds us to “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands� (Psalm 100). Without a doubt, a joyful noise has been offered up here tonight to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Special thanks and recognition to a great collaborative team of LB Productions, LLC., and the USC Aiken Office of External Programs, Continuing Education and Conferences. It has been a pleasure working with you.

Where there is vision, the Lord provides. So, we must acknowledge our presenting sponsor, George Sink, P.A., Injury Lawyers, in addition to other financial sponsors and contributors: McDonalds owned by Tom and Pam Powers; Wesby's Products & Services; Dr. Shelia Milot of Premier Medical & Medaesthetic Center; Pastor Billy Smith; and Gerald Jones auto.

To Pastor John P. Kee, Mr. Bryan Popin, Akintunde, Pastor Lenny, Chasity McDaniel, Renza Bing and staff, CDR Productions, Kevin's Events & Floral Decor, Traemel Crawford (Here For A Purpose Graphics), XRO Studios (Thomas Glover), Trey Lamar (Deus Media), Brianna Barnes (Videographer), Trell Martin (Photographer), and all the awesome artists, nominees, award recipients, musicians, and presenters -- God bless you and thanks for sharing your gifts with us tonight. You all worked diligently to make tonight come alive.

Your unselfishness and teaming spirit shows what can happen when God is number one and we work together for Kingdom building.

Thanks to all who traveled from near and far and spent your dollars to help us honor your family, friends, and community servants. I pray that someone who did not know Christ before tonight will come to Jesus.

That's what it's all about! The staff of WAAW Shout 94.7 FM is here to serve, and we wish all of you continued blessings.

God bless, Donna Moore Wesby WAAW Shout 94.7 FM General Manager/Sales Dept. Manager 3

BIO FOR PASTOR JOHN P. KEE Pastor John P. Kee was born the 15th of 16 children to John Henry and Lizzie Shannon Kee, and he affectionately describes his childhood home as “outside the county line” in Durham, NC. Mrs. Ethel G. Shannon, John’s maternal grandmother, also played a pivotal role in his upbringing and although she’s gone, remains a consistent source of encouragement and spiritual guidance today.

When John was 8 years old, a piano was purchased for two older siblings to take lessons in the home. While they were both totally disinterested in it, John was fascinated by the instrument. John began mimicking a young pianist from Cleveland, Daryl Bailey, who was the church musician at the time. Drawing inspiration from the music he heard in church Kee began to play and write his own material by age 9.

At age 13 John and his best friend at the time, jazz bassist Clinton “Chip” Shearon, started a jazz trio and a gospel community choir in the city of Durham. He would later be graced with the opportunity to study piano under the tutelages of the late Margaret Shearon, Yusuf Salim, and master of jazz Mary Lou Williams.

As a very young man in of the late 70’s early 80’s, he was privileged to work with some of the Nation’s greatest Pop, Jazz and R&B groups. He landed a job as National Musical Director with Miss Black Teenage Pageants, a position that would bring him back to North Carolina.

In his late teens, he drifted into a street lifestyle that brought him to Charlotte, NC. Once in Charlotte, he moved to the Double Oaks Community and began a life of corruption. The senseless violence that encompassed him became insufferable until material possessions offered John no consolation. After witnessing an untimely death to a very close friend, John knew it was time to change course.

In his early twenties John found himself working at the PTL Network’s Buffalo Park. It was there where the young man initiated his transformation from a street thug and drug dealer named PeeKee, to gospel legend John P. Kee, and ultimately to Pastor Kee. He had gained foundational principles that gradually and eventually propelled him into victorious living.

In the mid 1980’s he started a community choir in Charlotte. This choir, which got its rise from a “feed the hungry” street ministry, achieved rapid success and eventually grew to become the renowned and much awarded New Life Community Choir. As a solo artist as well as with the NLCC, John P. Kee has received a flood of awards and nominations to name a few: • Thirty seven GMWA Excellence Awards, • Twenty two Stellar Awards, • A Trailblazer Award from former President Bill Clinton, • A Soul Train Award, • One Gospel Heritage Award • Two Billboard Music Awards, • Nine Waljo Awards, • Seven Grammy nominations • 2005 International Gospel Hall Of Fame Inductee Over the course of his professional career that spans three decades, he has written music for Hallmark, Inc., Stephanie Mills, Jonny Lang, The Hawkins Family, Daryl Coley, Billy Preston, Dorinda Clark Cole, Joe Walsh, Rev. James Cleveland, Bishop Rance Allen, Florida Mass Choir, Mississippi Mass Choir, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and made history in 1982 as one of the first writers to ever write more than one song for the legendary Dr. James Cleveland’s Gospel Music Workshop of America.

Since its inception in 1995, Pastor Kee has been the full-time pastor of the New Life Fellowship Center. Although he is one of gospel music’s greatest pioneers, his real passion is for clear, genuine, and aggressive street ministry. His heart’s desire is to show the love and power of the Lord to the world - specifically to the Inner city communities of our Nation.

BIO FOR BRYAN POPIN Classically trained pianist, lover of soul and R&B music, church boy and rising gospel star Bryan Popin (pronounced POP-in) got out, stepped in the name and now wants it ALL BACK! Stepping into his musical calling to share the love, the hurt, the pain, the loss and lack, as God turned his brokenness and insecurities into great strength.

Ultimately lighting a fire within to encourage others straight from his own experiences. Popin’s desire to assess his “next steps” after going through a series of difficult and unexpected life challenges that could have easily shaken his faith, he made a promise to God and to himself to not only be honest and transparent in sharing his struggles, but to ultimately be as intentional in celebrating his victories over all of them.

The insecurities, the fear, the lack, the rejection, the questions of why, how, when… all of it. What should have broke him, actually did. But, instead of it taking him out, or making him burnt out and bitter, it made him stronger, wiser and even more determined to pursue his calling.

Popin has had to deal with insecurities his entire life. Not looking the part, not feeling like he belonged or was good enough. He’s dealt with the highs and lows of life. From hanging and jamming with legendary singer Stevie Wonder and Justin Timberlake to almost losing it all… there have been quite a number of almost(s).

Almost claiming bankruptcy, almost losing his marriage, almost losing his children, almost losing his ministry, almost losing himself. Much rejection, much confusion, frustration and loss. Yet God, through it all, was breaking him and making him stronger. Years of crying out to God on his knees, worshiping, praising, and finding his way, theme songs began being birthed. God gave Popin the grace to see his own faults and realign. Get his confidence back. Re-prioritize his life, his family, his values and re-discover his calling. Years later, God continues to use Popin to light a fire of hope and encouragement to others through his testimony and music.

“All Back”, Popin’s brand new single for 2019 was recorded LIVE with Tennessee State University’s award winning New Direction Gospel Choir. Produced by super duo, Bryan Popin and AyRon Lewis, this driving old-school footstomping church song will definitely be another anthem from Popin we’ll remember for a long time.

“I Got Out”, the Album (released July 21, 2017), garnered Popin his first No. 1 on both the Billboard Top Christian and Gospel Albums sales charts under the umbrella of his own imprint label (Little Boy Wonder Music | Flaydo Music). The title cut and chart-topping radio single “I Got Out”, a swingy congregational anthem with a contemporary edge that compels you to sing along, featured music production from super-producer AyRon Lewis (Kirk Franklin, James Fortune, Bishop Paul Morton Jr. et al.) and vocals from Pastor CeCe Winans’ Born Again Church Choir. “As soon as I stopped stressing about my situation and knew God was going to work it out, the song “I Got Out” was birthed in my heart spiritually as a message of hope before I even really got out of the situation naturally.” The most exciting part of his testimony is that Popin shares this part of his story from his dream home and recording studio built on the very same property he almost had to sell. God did it, and yes, Popin got out!

Most recently, Popin was nominated for two Stellars for the upcoming 34th Annual 2019 Stellar Awards held LIVE in Las Vegas on March 28, 2019. Popin is nominated for “Producer Of The Year” for his song, “Beautiful Savior” on BET Sunday Best Winner Tasha Page-Lockhart’s “The Beautiful Project”, co-produced by super producer AyRon Lewis (Kirk Franklin, James Fortune, Bishop Paul S. Morton) and “Special Event CD Of The Year” for his song “Step In The Name” on WOW Gospel 2018.

Bryan Popin has appeared at Bishop T.D. Jakes’ Megafest as well as the International Pastors’ & Leadership Conference. He’s shared his music around the country in churches and before thousands. Popin has also had numerous television appearances including a memorable performance of his timely song “Such A Time As This” on BET’s Joyful Noise, hosted by Tye Tribbett.

A philanthropist and humanitarian, Popin especially lends his support to three notable charities: The Sphinx Organization, Lifewater and Compassion International. Bryan Popin is a native of NJ. He is married to his wife Susan and they reside in a suburb of Nashville, TN where together they raise their 6 children.

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HOSTS FOR THE EVENING

Listen To Sundays With Pastor Lenny and Akintunde every Suunday, 3:30pm - 5:30pm on WAAW SHOUT 94.7FM

ORDER OF THE AWARDS KEEPING QUARTET ALIVE NOMINEES SIS MARY HARRIS ELDER CALVIN STALEY THE SWANEE QUINTET

MALE RADIO ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES DALLAS “TONY D” FRAZIER MINISTER EDDIE HARRIS BRO. MAVERICK JACKSON

FEMALE RADIO ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES SIS. VELICE CUMMINGS DR. SCTONDA KELLY SIS. MARY KINGCANNON

GOSPEL MUSIC RISING STAR NOMINEES BRO. TREY MCLAUGHLIN BRO. MYKAL MOORE BRO. CHRIS PARKER SIS. LAURA WILSON-JOHNSON

CSRA GOSPEL MUSIC HERITAGE AWARDS

MEDIA AWARD WINNER

PARADE OF QUARTETS ( THE HOWARD FAMILY)

SUSTAINER AWARD WINNER

ATTORNEY EVERETT K. CHANDLER

LIVING LEGEND AWARD WINNER SIS. THELMA J. ROBINSON

EUGENE SHELBY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER PASTOR JOHNNY BUSSEY

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

BRO. BRYAN ERBY (ONE NATION UNDER GOD) BRO. JAVEN MCCASTER, SR. (SOUL NOTE ENTERTAINMENT) BRO. DOUG STALEY (IT’S BETTER LIVE ENTERTAINMENT)

FEMALE QUARTET OF THE YEAR NOMINEES BLESS-ED MV DIVINE THE PINCKNEY SISTERS

MALE QUARTET OF THE YEAR

THE ABRAHAM BROTHERS THE BREWSTERAIRES JOHNNY TALBERT AND THE GOSPEL SILVERTONES

GOSPEL MUSIC TRAILBLAZER WINNER (NATIONAL) PASTOR JOHN P. KEE

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CSRA GOSPEL MUSIC HERITAGE AWARDS

WAAW Shout 94.7 FM Radio 2166 Park Avenue, SE Aiken, SC 29801 Business office: 803-649-6405 Fax: 803-641-8844 Community Happenings email: waawnews@gmail.com Request lines: 803-641-6497 or 803-641-6499 Facebook and Instagram: @waaw.shout Free downloadable app: "WAAW Shout 94.7 FM" 9

CSRA GOSPEL MUSIC HERITAGE AWARDS

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A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE 1ST ANNUAL GOSPEL MUSIC HERITAGE AWARDS 11

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Special thanks to the following for helping to make the first CSRA Gospel Music Heritage Awards unforgettable for our nominees, award recipients, and the community at large:

PATRON Pastor Billy Smith GIFT BAG CONTRIBUTORS WRDW City of Aiken Tourism Aiken YMCA Marcos Carolina Academy of Music Return Engagement Etherredge Center Super Smart Girls Club Rose Hill Aiken USC Aiken Convocation Center Wesby's Products & Services (Don's Seasoning Delight) Reserve Infusibles Aiken Regional Medical Centers

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PROGRAM BOOKLET DESIGNED BY HERE FOR A PURPOSE GRAPHICS