BMI 11TH ANNUAL TRAILBLAZERS OF GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS

BMI will honor Gospel greats Andraé Crouch and Donnie McClurkin at the organization’s 11th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon, slated for January 15, 2010. Held the day before the 25th Annual Stellar Awards, BMI’s invitation-only ceremony will take place at Rocketown in Nashville, and will welcome gospel music’s premier songwriters, recording artists and music industry executives, as well as the genre’s legends. This has grown to become “the” premier events during the Stellar Awards weekend.

Eight-time Grammy winner Andraé Crouch is legendary, and as a songwriter, he is behind classics, including “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power,” “Through It All,” “Bless His Holy Name,” and “My Tribute,” which has been performed by more than 600 artists all over the world. He has collected a host of Dove and Stellar Awards. In addition to working with pop icons including Madonna, Diana Ross, and Elton John, Crouch contributed songs to films including The Color Purple and The Lion King. The vocal arranger for Michael Jackson’s smash “Man in the Mirror” and the star’s Invincible album, Crouch also penned “You Will Be There,” featured in the film Free Willy. He became the only living gospel artist to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004.

Donnie McClurkin, the two-time Grammy winner is one of the genre’s finest producers, beloved vocalists, and most inspiring communicators. A discerning songwriter, he has composed a rich catalog of worship songs, including “Stand” and “We Fall Down”. Being honored alongside the genre-shaping Andraé Crouch is a deeply personal accomplishment: He fondly refers to Crouch as his mentor.