(Photo : Gaither Music)
AbsolutelyGospel.com has announced the nominees for the 2014 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards. As in years past, the nominees were chosen by the staff and select media representatives. Starting on February 1, 2014, the fans will get a chance to vote for their favorites in certain categories.
In a press release, Chris D. Unthank, Editor-In-Chief of AbsolutelyGospel.com described this year's picks, saying, "Once again, we feel like our staff and media representatives have done a fantastic job of choosing this year’s nominees. Our awards program isn’t always about representing the most popular, but rather the songs, albums and artists that made a splash in an artistic way. We are proud of this year’s crop of nominees."
At the top of the pile this year are two groups - The Isaacs and the Bowling Family. Each walked away with 10 nominations. Close behind the two family groups was Karen Peck & New River, who came through with 9 nods. The man with the most individual nominations was songwriter, producer and Signature Sound’s pianist Wayne Haun, who, for the fifth straight year, led the pack (with an impressive 14 nominations). Kenna West also earned nine nominations for her songwriting work in 2013 including four Song of the Year mentions.
2014 Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Nominees:
Song of the Year
"Calvary's Cry" - Brian Free & Assurance (J.Cox, S.C.Smith, K.West)
"Excuse Me, Are You Jesus?" - The Nelons (B.Gaither, G.Gaither, L.Gatlin)
"Good News From Jerusalem" - Tribute Quartet (D.Wilkinson, J.Salley)
"He Didn't Just Carry the Cross, He Carried Me" - The Hoppers (M.Garinger, J.Lindsey)
"I Got a Hold of God This Morning" - The Perrys (K.Rowland)
"I Played In the Band and Sang In the Choir" - Booth Brothers (B.Gaither, L.Gatlin, H.Slaughter)
"Revival" - Karen Peck & New River (K.Gooch, D.Poythress, K.West)
"Somebody's Believing" - Bowling Family (L.Black, J.D.Rowsey, K.West)
"Stubborn (Psalm 151)" - Michael English (B.James, D.A.Schlitz, Jr.)
"Voice In the Desert" - The Freemans (L.Black, J.Cox, K.West)
Album of the Year:
All Things New - Gordon Mote (F.Rodgers, W.Haun, R.Mauldin, G.Mote)
Classics Collection - Sisters (K.Lord, V.Medkiff, T.Parton, H.Ruppe)
Living For the Moment - Beyond the Ashes (W.Haun)
Love Is Stronger - Jason Crabb (E.Cash, J.DeMarcus, W.Haun)
Revival - Karen Peck & New River (W.Haun)
Safe…After the Storm - Bowling Family (M.Bowling, T.Peach)
The Living Years - The Isaacs (B.Gaither, B.Isaacs)
The Lord Is Good - Collingsworth Family (W.Haun)
Time Machine - The Browders (K.Ward)
Voice In the Desert - The Freemans (D.Freeman, D.Maguire, M.Sykes)
Pacesetter: (awarded to any artist, individual, or organization that has shown great strides in the industry and has raised the bar for others)
Collingsworth Family
enLighten XM Sirius Satellite Radio
Memphis Quartet Show
StowTown Records
Write About Jesus Conference
Breakthrough Artist:
The Erwins
High Road III
Sneed Family
Union Street
Zane & Donna King
Male Vocalist:
Mike Bowling (Bowling Family)
Riley Harrison Clark (Tribute Quartet)
Adam Crabb
Jason Crabb
Michael English
Devin McGlamery (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
Female Vocalist:
Kelly Bowling (Bowling Family)
Becky Isaacs Bowman (The Isaacs)
Chris Freeman (The Freemans)
Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
Kim Lord (Sisters)
Amber Nelon Thompson (The Nelons)
Male Group:
Beyond the Ashes
Booth Brothers
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
The Old Paths
Tribute Quartet
Triumphant Quartet
Female Group:
High Road III
McClellan Singing Sisters
Red Roots
Sisters
Sweetwater Revival
Mixed Group:
Bowling Family
The Browders
Collingsworth Family
The Isaacs
Karen Peck & New River
The Nelons
Songwriter (Artist):
Jim Brady (Booth Brothers)
Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & New River)
Scott Inman (Triumphant Quartet)
Becky & Sonya Isaacs (The Isaacs)
Daryl Williams (Daryl Williams Trio)
Songwriter (Professional):
Lee Black
Joel Lindsey
Rebecca J. Peck
Sue C. Smith
Kenna West
Dianne Wilkinson
Jimmy Yeary
Producer (Artist):
Darrell Freeman (The Freemans)
Wayne Haun (Ernie Haase & Signature Sound)
Ben Isaacs (The Isaacs)
Donna King (Zane & Donna King)
Roger Talley (The Talleys)
Producer (Professional):
Nick Bruno
Jeff Collins
Ricky Free
Lari Goss
Michael Sykes
Engineer:
Van Atkins
Gus Gaches
Kevin McManus
Troy Peach
Kevin Ward
Musician:
Becky Isaacs Bowman (The Isaacs)
Kim Collingsworth (Collingsworth Family)
Channing Eleton
Matthew Holt (Gaither Vocal Band)
Gordon Mote
Josh Singletary (Tribute Quartet)
Traditional Song:
"Good News From Jerusalem" - Tribute Quartet (J.Salley, D.Wilkinson)
"He Didn't Just Carry the Cross, He Carried Me" - The Hoppers (M.Garinger, J.Lindsey)
"I Get Down" - Gold City (J.Pearles, J.Salley)
"I Got a Hold of God This Morning" - The Perrys (K.Rowland)
"Just Preach Jesus" - Kingdom Heirs (D.Wilkinson)
Traditional Recording:
For All He's Done - Greater Vision (L.Goss, G.Wolfe)
Redeeming the Time - Kingdom Heirs (J.Collins, A.Rice)
That's Why We're Here - The Whisnants (M.Hayes)
The Greatest Story - Triumphant Quartet (J.Stice, W.Haun)
The Lord Is Good - Collingsworth Family (W.Haun)
Progressive Song:
"Glorious Freedom" - Gaither Vocal Band (H.Lillenas)
"I Played In the Band and Sang In the Choir" - Booth Brothers (B.Gaither, L.Gatlin, H.Slaughter)
"I'm Gonna Make It" - Sisters (G.Davis)
"Revival" - Karen Peck & New River (K.P.Gooch, D.Poythress, K.West)
"Somebody's Believing" - Bowling Family (L.Black, J.D.Rowsey, K.West)
"Stubborn (Psalm 151)" - Michael English (B.James, D.A.Schlitz, Jr.)
Progressive Recording:
Classics Collection - Sisters (K.Lord, V.Medkiff, T.Parton, H.Ruppe)
Here Comes Sunday - Wilburn & Wilburn (B.Isaacs)
Living For the Moment - Beyond the Ashes (W.Haun)
Love Is a Verb - Devin McGlamery (W.Haun)
Revival - Karen Peck & New River (W.Haun)
Surrender - Adam Crabb (A.Crabb, J.Crabb)
Country Song:
"A Little Bit of Sunshine" - Jeff & Sheri Easter (L.Black, K.West)
"From My Rags to His Riches" - Devin McGlamery featuring Dailey & Vincent (E.Haase, W.Haun, J.Lindsey)
"I'll Be Alright As Soon As I Touch Calvary" - Bowling Family (R.Hinson)
"Voice In the Desert" - The Freemans (L.Black, J.Cox, K.West)
"Walk Together Children" - The Isaacs (B.Gaither, S.Jennings)
Country Recording:
All Things New - Gordon Mote (F.Rodgers, W.Haun, G.Mote)
Safe…After the Storm - Bowling Family (M.Bowling, T.Peach)
The Living Years - The Isaacs (B.Gaither, B.Isaacs)
Time Machine - The Browders (K.Ward)
Voice In the Desert - The Freemans (D.Freeman, D.McGuire, M.Sykes)
Special Event Project:
Cathedrals Family Reunion – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Danny Funderburk, Greater Vision, Legacy Five, Mark Trammell Quartet (W.Haun, G.Wolfe)
Hymns From Home - Collingsworth Family (P.Collingsworth, E.Haase)
Like Father, Like Son - James & Jeff Easter (J.Easter, J.Easter, T.Surrett)
Quartet Style - Booth Brothers with Nick Bruno and Gene McDonald (M.Booth, R.Booth, J.Brady, N.Bruno)
Song of Noel - Donna King (D.King, Z.King)
Best Live Performer:
Booth Brothers
Collingsworth Family
The Isaacs
Karen Peck & New River
Tribute Quartet
Fan Favorite Artist:
Adam Crabb
Bowling Family
Brian Free & Assurance
The Isaacs
Ivan Parker
Jeff & Sheri Easter
Karen Peck & New River
Michael English
The Nelons
Sneed Family
The winners will be announced at the Absolutely Gospel Music Awards Celebration on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at the River of Life Church in Smyrna, Tennessee. It is free to the public.
