GMA GOSPEL MUSIC HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT PHIL KEAGGY,
STATLER BROTHERS, LARNELLE HARRIS, THE WINANS
AND JOE MOSCHEO
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – September 13, 2007 -- The GMA
Foundation (GMAF) will induct artists Phil Keaggy, the Statler
Brothers, Larnelle Harris and The Winans along with former music
executive Joe Moscheo, announced John W. Styll, president and
CEO of the GMAF.
"This year’s class of GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees are
each unique in their significant contributions to the heritage and
diversity of gospel music, but together share a legacy of creating
redemptive music that has inspired music audiences for decades,”
said Styll.
The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony and
dinner will be held at the Richland Country Club in Nashville on
Monday, Oct. 29 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available to the
general public. More information is available at www.
gmahalloffame.org.
The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame was established in
1971 and has inducted more than 140 members since its
inception, including Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Keith Green,
Amy Grant, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Andrae Crouch, Sandi Patty,
Vestal Goodman, Tennessee Ernie Ford, 2nd Chapter of Acts, The
Oak Ridge Boys, Petra, Bill and Gloria Gaither, the Rambos, Evie,
Richard Smallwood, Jake Hess, The Lewis Family, Thomas A.
Dorsey, the Fairfield Four, Billy Graham and the Jordanaires.
Phil Keaggy has been a beloved artist and musician in Christian
music for over two decades. Born and raised in Ohio in a Catholic
family of 10, Keaggy always loved music and spent hours listening
to singers like Elvis Presley and Johnny Ray. His first guitar was a
late-'50s Gretsch Anniversary model; at age ten his father bought
him a Sears Silvertone, and by the end of fifth grade, he was playing
in front of his entire school. He and his longtime friend, drummer
John Sferra, founded Glass Harp in the late '60s when Keaggy was
still in high school. They became known as one of the most
innovative power trios around, even though they only made four
albums for Decca Records, Glass Harp earned a devoted fan base,
thanks in great part to Keaggy's lightning-fast guitar riffs and
experimental sounds. At their pinnacle, Glass Harp was opening for
such major acts as Iron Butterfly, Yes, Traffic and Chicago. He left
Glass Harp in 1972 and the following year recorded his first solo
album, What a Day. His first instrumental project, The Master and
the Musician was released in 1978. Keaggy has released well over
45 albums earning critical acclaim for both his virtuosity on guitar
and his songwriting, which ranges from Beatles’ pop to more subtle
instrumentals. Over the years, Keaggy has shared in the music
ministries of artists such as Love Song, Paul Clark, Randy
Stonehill, Barry McGuire, Honeytree and others who were pioneers
in the Christian music movement.
Few names are as synonymous with inspirational Christian music
as Larnelle Harris. Admired by fans and peers alike for his
majestic tenor voice, Harris has enjoyed a career that spans over
three decades. Before becoming a soloist, Harris toured with the
gospel group The Spurlows and was a member of the Gaither
Vocal Band. Honored with five GRAMMY Awards, 11 Dove Awards
including three Male Vocalist of the Year honors, a Stellar Award
and numerous other accolades, Harris has garnered 19 No. 1 radio
singles and many of his songs such as "How Excellent Is Thy
Name," "I Miss My Time With You," "I've Just Seen Jesus” and his
signature song, "Amen," are considered modern classics. From
the White House to the danger zone of the 38th Parallel, Harris has
impacted audiences across the globe with his music and ministry.
He was the first Christian artist to perform inside the Kremlin after
the fall of the Soviet Union. He is one of a handful of celebrities to
receive the Ad Council's Silver Bell Award for Distinguished Public
Service in recognition of his song "Mighty Spirit" as the theme song
for the longest-running Public Service Announcement in television
history. Still a sought-after vocalist for special events and
ceremonies, Larnelle also continues to perform 75-100 solo
concerts for churches and Christian organizations worldwide each
year. Wowing crowds with a voice that still soars with both
soulfulness and tenderness, Harris continues to receive rave
reviews for his performances.
The Statler Brothers - Harold Reid, Phil Balsley, Jimmy Fortune and
Don Reid – was the premier group in country music for nearly 40
years. Starting out in 1964 as backup for Johnny Cash on stage,
record and TV, they served their apprenticeship with him for nearly
nine years. During that time they recorded their first hit record,
"Flowers on the Wall", and were regulars on the weekly “Johnny
Cash Show” on ABC. Leaving the Cash troupe in 1972, they
continued with such hit songs as "Bed of Rose's", "Class of '57"
and "I'll Go to My Grave Loving You". Their original harmonies,
sense of humor and lyrical style of writing highlighted a career that
led them to the top of the music charts countless times and to a
concert touring success that packed arenas and theaters with every
performance. They have also appeared at the White House a total of
five times. Their award winning (GRAMMYS, CMAs, Gold and
Platinum records and etc) is legendary and they are considered to
be the most honored of any act in the country music field. The 90s
saw them starring in their own television series, "The Statler
Brothers Show," on TNN (The Nashville Network) for seven years
and remaining the number one show on the network its entire run.
Deciding to retire from a lifetime of traveling and enjoy the good life
in their homes in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, they gave their
farewell concert in the fall of 2002. Although no longer touring, the
group remained active, releasing a new gospel album, Amen, on
Crossroads Records and following it in 2003 with a CD/DVD of their
final show. In 2006, Mercury Records released Favorites, a 12-song
compilation handpicked by the band's remaining members.
The Winans, a contemporary gospel music group was
formed by four brothers, from Detroit. The family has additionally
produced two well-known solo/duo gospel performers, BeBe and
CeCe Winans. After having sung in gospel choirs all their lives
brothers Marvin, Carvin, Ronald and Michael Winans, began their
professional career in the early ‘80s, following in the footsteps of
their siblings BeBe & CeCe but forging their own successful
career. The brothers were first discovered by Andraé Crouch, who
signed them to Light Records with their first record, Introducing The
Winans, released in 1981. The group always stayed close to their
gospel roots but created a more urban contemporary sound that
drew mainstream attention from leading R&B artists such as
Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Anita Baker and Michael McDonald and
resulting in their signing a record deal with Quincy Jones’ label
Qwest Albums in the early ‘90s. After two successful R&B charting
albums All Out and Return, which featured the hit single “It’s Time”
which was produced by Teddy Riley (who also rapped on the
song). In 1995 the Winans returned to their trademark gospel with
Heart & Soul. The group took a break after this album to pursue
personal endeavors and reunited in 2000 to release a holiday
album, Christmas: Our Gifts to You. In 2002, Rhino Records
released The Very Best of The Winans and the whole Winans
family, not just the group itself, went on tour together making it the
first time in a decade all the family members had performed
together.
Few people associated with gospel music have had such a diverse
and long-standing impact on the industry as Joe Moscheo. His
career, which stretches over four decades, has run the gamut from
musician to manager to songwriter to producer to author, putting
Moscheo in a category all of his own. In 1964 Moscheo joined The
Imperials as a singer, keyboard player and arranger. Throughout a
very successful career, they worked with the likes of Elvis Presley,
Jimmy Dean, Roy Clark, Carol Channing and Pat Boone and
Moscheo wrote gospel songs recorded by many different gospel
groups. His musical accomplishments earned him multiple
GRAMMY and Dove Awards. In 1978, Moscheo joined the business
of music at BMI where he served as Vice President of Special
Projects. After a 16-year stint at BMI, he formed his own
management company, working with such notable recording artists
as BeBe & CeCe Winans, Michael English, Wynonna and Naomi
Judd. In 1996 Moscheo launched the Entertainment/Music Division
for Nashville’s First Union Bank, and served there for nearly a
decade before joining MCS America, Inc., where he oversaw the U.
S. operations of this London-based company, and was later made
President in 2004. Moscheo was a member of the founding council
of Leadership Music. He has served as a past president and
trustee of the Board of Governors for the National Academy of
Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). He was also a board
member (and past president) of the W.O. Smith / Nashville
Community Music School. Moscheo is also a past president and
permanent board member of the Gospel Music Association. In
2007, Moscheo published his first best-selling book remembering
his years with Elvis Presley, The Gospel Side of Elvis.
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