Rascal Flatts, Don Moen, Tramaine Hawkins To Be Celebrated At GMA Honors And Hall Of Fame Ceremony

This year’s honorees have been revealed for the GMA Honors and Hall of Fame Ceremony, slated for Wednesday, May 8 at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena in Nashville.

The GMA Hall of Fame honorees include CCM artist Don Moen, President and CEO of New Day Christian Distributors Dottie Leonard Miller, southern gospel artist Janet Paschal and GRAMMY® award-winning gospel singer Tramaine Hawkins.

The event also honors individuals and organizations that are impacting culture both past and present. This year’s honorees include Don Finto for Caleb Company, LaDonna Boyd for R. H. Boyd Family Endowment Fund, Roy Morgan and Gary Gentry for Premier Foundation and country group Rascal Flatts. In addition to the inductees and honorees, hit songwriter Laurie Klein will receive the CCLI Milestone Award for her song, “I Love You Lord.”

“This year marks our 6th Annual GMA Honors Celebration,” GMA President and Executive Director Jackie Patillo says. “The Gospel Music Association and our partners, Christian Healthcare Ministries and CCLI, are delighted to celebrate our deserving inductees and honorees who are true heroes of the faith. Those being inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame will forever be acknowledged as musical innovators and the architects of our industry. We are proud to recognize each honoree for their commitment to stretch beyond themselves to make the world a better place.”

Moen is president of Don Moen Productions. In 1984, Integrity Music asked him to lead worship on the first Hosanna! Music album, Give Thanks. The album earned gold certification status. In 1986, Moen was hired at Integrity, and later released his first album as an artist. Don went on to serve as President of Integrity Music and executive vice president/creative director for Integrity Media. During his tenure at Integrity, he sold over 5 million units and signed worship leaders and songwriters such as Paul Baloche, Ron Kenoly, Darlene Zschech, and many others. Don spent over 20 successful years at Integrity Music until leaving to focus more time on touring and his own creative endeavors.

Tramaine Aunzola Davis, known professionally as Tramaine Hawkins, is an award-winning Gospel singer whose career spans over five decades. Since beginning her career in 1966, Hawkins has won two Grammy Awards, two Doves, 19 Stellar Awards , NAACP Image Award, and a BMI Award. Hawkins has more than 10 solo albums to her credit, and is known for singles including “Fall Down (Spirit of Love),” which became one of the earliest gospel songs to cross over onto the mainstream music charts. She later signed to Sparrow Records and released The Joy That Floods My Soul in 1988, including the single “All Things Are Possible.” Tramaine made a cameo on M C Hammer’s 1990 pop-gospel hit “Do Not Pass Me By,” and was a guest lead vocalist on Santana’s June 1990 album Spirits Dancing in the Flesh. She became the first gospel artist to sign with Columbia Records, releasing To A Higher Place (1994). Following the album release, Hawkins took a hiatus, only making a cameo appearance on gospel trio Trin-i-tee 5:7’s cover of her song “Highway.” In 2001, she returned to music with a new deal with GospoCentric Records and the release Still Tramaine. Hawkins was inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame. She received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award, and won two Stellar Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year and Traditional Female of the Year for her 2007 CD release I Never Lost My Praise (2007).

Miller founded New Day Christian Distributors over three decades ago in her garage with a $10,000 investment from her parents, brother, and family friend. Over the years, New Day has grown into a major source of distribution for the Christian retail market. The offerings have expanded over the years to include toys, gifts, games, books, dvds, apparel, and related products.  Companies represented by New Day include major independent record labels Tooth and Nail, Tone Tree, and Daywind, along with high profile corporations like Simon and Schuster, Capitol, Warner, Fisher Price, Melissa and Doug, Duck Commander and many more.  Miller also founded Daywind Records, Daywind Soundtracks, Daywind Music Publishing, and Daywind Studios.

Paschal has more than 20 recordings to her credit. After starting her career performing as part of gospel group  The LeFevres (later the Rex Nelon Singers), she launched a solo career in 1986. She signed with Word Records and moved to Nashville. She composed songs such as Another Soldier’s Coming Home, God Will Make A Way, The Body and Blood, and If I’d Had My Way, which found broad audiences in multiple music genres. Shortly afterwards she was invited to tour with Bill and Gloria Gaither. She became a featured artist on the Homecoming Tour. In 2008, she released the autobiographical Treasures of the Snow, followed by the literary work The Good Road.

For 40 years, the GMA Foundation has honored individuals and groups through an annual induction ceremony into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Artists are eligible for inclusion in the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame after 25 years of participation in music and ministry. Nominees are chosen by GMA’s Hall Of Fame Committee which is comprised of historians & industry leaders from the various gospel music genres. Inductees are selected by electors from across the industry in four categories: CCM, Gospel, Southern Gospel and Non-Performing. Nominees can be submitted year-round for consideration.

The event also celebrates current individuals and organizations within the Gospel music community that are making significant contributions to the world through their humanitarian efforts as well as their talents.