The Southern Gospel Music Guild

Richard Green (EMI Christian Music Group Exec. VP & General Counsel) was the official speaker covering "State of the Music Industry: Surviving the Digital Era" during SGMG’s board meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Pictured Seated L-R: Rhonda Thompson, Judy Nelon, Richard Green, Chris White; Standing L-R: Joy Fletcher, Emily Higinbotham, Ed Harper, Tammy Kirkland, Donnie Williamson, Melinda Hames, Cricket Lee, Clarke Beasley, Beckie Simmons Bates, Ed Leonard, Gary Casto, Michael Davis. (photo by Crystal Burchette-Johnson)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"SGMG Announces New Executive Board "

--Richard Green Speaks During First Official Board Meeting--

Nashville, Tenn - The SGMG (Southern Gospel Music Guild) elected their 2008-2009 Executive Board during an annual membership meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. Newly elected officers include Judy Nelon, President; Beckie Simmons-Bates, Vice-President; Clarke Beasley, Vice-President; Les Butler, Vice-President; Gary Casto, Vice-President; Ed Harper, Vice-President; Zane King, Vice-President; Crystal Burchette-Johnson, Publicist; Melinda Hames, Treasurer and Rhonda Thompson, Secretary. The Executive Board is pleased to announce the SGMG will be hosting it's annual Harmony Honors on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at the Renaissance Hotel Ballroom located downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The event will be presented during the annual GMA Week/Dove Awards, April 18-22, 2009.

The SGMG held its first official board meeting in Nashville, Tennessee at the BMI building located on Music Row. Executive Vice-President and General Counsel for EMI CMG, Richard Green was the featured speaker. Green handles all the legal issues that face EMI CMG, but has done extensive work on the legal aspect of problems that face today’s music industry. He spoke to SGMG members about illegal downloading, new laws to protect performers and writers, as well as where regulations are headed in the future. Green also encouraged everyone to join together and uphold a high level of recordings and use cyberspace to our advantage as much as possible for marketing purposes. SGMG President, Judy Nelon concluded the meeting by encouraging new members to join the SGMG in order to take advantage of speakers like Green during upcoming meetings.

In September, the SGMG recognized Bill and Gloria Gaither with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at a special VIP reception held during the 2008 National Quartet Convention. Newly elected SGMG President, Judy Nelon presented the honor where a group of industry friends and colleagues gathered to share in the special occasion. The afternoon celebration included congratulations and numerous stories from Les Beasley, NQC Executive Vice-President Clarke Beasley, ASCAP’s Dan Keen, Ken and Lisa Abraham, Ben Speer and Sue Dodge. The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who exhibits and upholds the SGMG Mission Statement which states, “With Jesus Christ as our cornerstone, to create a cooperative environment designed to encourage excellence, education, awareness and growth, while preserving the essence of Southern Gospel Music” over a lifetime. Bill and Gloria concluded the event with separate speeches of appreciation to the southern gospel industry and the SGMG. The celebratory afternoon of recognition was sponsored by the National Quartet Convention.

For more information on the SGMG, to join the SGMG and for up-to-date details on the 2009 Harmony Honors, log on to www.sgmg.org.

--Higher resolution photo available by e-mailing aaron@thejudynelongroup.com--

SGMG
In 1986, several Southern Gospel music leaders decided the industry needed an organization to foster the growth of the Southern Gospel music genre. Through the years, the Guild has grown to include every facet of the Southern Gospel music industry, encompassing artists (full-time and part-time), record companies, radio, promoters, publishers, distributors, talent management, media representatives, and booking agents. Looking beyond the needs of today, the Southern Gospel Music Guild hopes to affect the future of the industry. Through communication and education, we hope to significantly impact the image and awareness of Southern Gospel music for generations to come. This is accomplished by a variety of means: getting Southern Gospel music introduced to new audiences and promoting quality and professionalism within the industry. By working together we can learn how to better utilize our skills. Through extensive, persistent efforts, we can increase the visibility of and appreciation for our music, thereby touching tomorrow....today.

SGMG Press Contact: Crystal Burchette-Johnson crystalpr@comcast.net

Bill and Gloria Gaither Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award By Southern Gospel Music Guild - National Quartet Convention Sponsored Afternoon Reception

Bill and Gloria Gaither were honored with the 2008 SGMG Lifetime Achievement Award on September 11, 2008 at the National Quartet Convention in Louisville,KY. Presenters from left: Ben Speer, Gaither Music Director; Les Beasley, President, NQC; Sue Dodge, Gaither Homecoming Friends artist; Ken Abraham co-author of the Bill Gaither memoir "More Than The Music;" Lisa Abraham, Spring Hill Music; Judy Nelon, SGMG President and organizer of lifetime honor and Dan Keen, Vice President of ASCAP. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Crisler / The Judy Nelon Group, Nashville, Tennessee)

Louisville, KY - The SGMG (Southern Gospel Music Guild) recognized Bill and Gloria Gaither with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at a special VIP reception held during the 2008 National Quartet Convention. Newly elected SGMG President, Judy Nelon presented the honor where a group of industry friends and colleagues gathered to share in the special occasion. The afternoon celebration included congratulations and numerous stories from Les Beasley, NQC Executive Vice-President Clarke Beasley, ASCAP’s Dan Keen, Ken and Lisa Abraham, Ben Speer and Sue Dodge. The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who exhibits and upholds the SGMG Mission Statement which states, “With Jesus Christ as our cornerstone, to create a cooperative environment designed to encourage excellence, education, awareness and growth, while preserving the essence of Southern Gospel Music” over a lifetime. Bill and Gloria concluded the event with separate speeches of appreciation to the Southern Gospel industry and the SGMG. The celebratory afternoon of recognition was sponsored by the National Quartet Convention.

Judy Nelon, SGMG president and organizer of the lifetime honor stated, "Having the opportunity to pay tribute and recognize Bill and Gloria Gaither for their significant contributions in southern gospel music is one of my greatest honors. It is impossible to separate one from the other as both Bill and Gloria have been successful in their collaborations together as well as individuals: by composing over 700 songs, performing with The Gaither Trio, Gaither Vocal Band and for over ten years now with the phenomena recognized around the world as the Gaither Video and Television series. More than 40 years ago, they founded Gaither Music which includes publishing, copyright management, record labels, recording studios and concert tour management. Gloria has created The Gaither Family Resources; a model store for their visitors in their hometown, Alexandria, Indiana. No one on earth has done more for music than Bill and Gloria Gaither."

Gloria ended her appreciation speech by explaining she came into southern gospel music through Bill's love of the music. This Southern Gospel Music Guild honor made her feel like she is at last one of us. It was apparent that everyone agreed as they all responded with a standing ovation of appreciate and applause especially for Gloria.

Bill added, "Gloria and I are highly honored to receive this award. The Southern Gospel Music Guild has been very kind to us and we don't ever take these awards for granted. Thank you very much.”

When two young teachers met in the hallways of Alexandria Monroe High School in Alexandria, Indiana more than 40 years ago, little did they dream that they would one day be named Christian Songwriters of the Century by ASCAP, a prestigious national performing rights society.

As she writes in her book, “Because He Lives,” Gloria points out that “When Bill Gaither finally got the courage to play me a couple of gospel songs he’d written, we were already planning to be married. By then, too, I had gotten up the nerve to show him some of my poetry. Neither of us would have believed it then if someone had told us we’d spend the rest of our lives writing songs together. We both knew, though, that wherever life took us, we had each found a soul mate who could understand our passions for great ideas and eternal truths that could change lives and shape destinies.”

Bill had already been traveling the country with his brother, Danny, and sister, Mary Ann, as the Bill Gaither Trio, and it was to this smooth trio harmony that Gloria brought the new dimension of her deeply moving narratives. Before long Bill began seeking Gloria’s critique of his latest song lyric, and she gradually began writing the lyrics to the music Bill was creating. Then their songs such as “Because He Lives,” “He Touched Me,” “The King Is Coming,” and “Something About That Name,” began to find their way into church hymnals, and they are generally credited as revolutionizing church music in the ‘60s.

Since they first joined their destinies in 1963, the “First Couple of Gospel Music” has written more than 700 songs and forever changed the landscape of contemporary inspirational music. Yet to know the Gaithers is to know humility, an abiding faith in God, a commitment to family and a love of all people. They still live on the 15 acres in Alexandria they bought for $3,800 in 1964, and in between Bill’s 150 Homecoming dates and video shoots around the world and Gloria’s ever-increasing demand as an author and motivational speaker, they still find time to spend with their three children, Suzanne, Amy and Benjy and their six grandchildren. After all this time, they’re still headed in the same direction with the same set of values.