Switchfoot and The Crabb Family Shine Bright at Gospel Music's Biggest Night

Switchfoot and The Crabb Family Shine Bright at Gospel Music's Biggest Night

Dove Awards' Diversity Showcased by Other Multiple Winners Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, Nicole C. Mullen and Israel & New Breed

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- San Diego alt rockers and mainstream breakthrough band Switchfoot and southern gospel's Kentucky-bred The Crabb Family painted a striking picture of gospel music's diversity and youth as the two groups emerged among the most honored artists at the 36th Annual GMA Music Awards, presented tonight at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Joining them in receiving multiple Dove Awards were pop band Casting Crowns, gospel worship artist Israel & New Breed and singer/songwriters Jeremy Camp and Nicole C. Mullen.

"I love the fact that Switchfoot and The Crabb Family share top Dove Award honors this year because it powerfully reveals the variety of cultural expressions of the Gospel through music," said John W. Styll, president of the Gospel Music Association (GMA) and executive producer of the 36th Annual GMA Music Awards. "These two groups could not be more different culturally and musically and yet, the message of the Gospel is evident in both of them. Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, Nicole C. Mullen and Israel & New Breed share with Switchfoot and The Crabb Family the unique ability to create music that reaches across cultural, religious and generational divides to encourage the gospel music faithful and inspire a newer generation of music fans."

These six artists were among the nearly 40 different artists receiving Dove statuettes on gospel music's biggest night of the year. Thanks to Mel Gibson's blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ" film, some unexpected names are among this year's Dove Award recipients. Lauryn Hill, Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, Scott Stapp and MxPx represent the eclectic mix of rock, pop, gospel and country artists receiving Dove Awards for Special Event Album of the Year for 'The Passion of the Christ: Songs.' 'The Passion of the Christ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack' was named Instrumental Album of the Year, giving Gibson a Dove Award for his production on the John Debney-composed project.

In the "overall" categories, Dove Awards were presented to:

Artist of the Year - Switchfoot Male Vocalist of the Year - Jeremy Camp Female Vocalist of the Year - Nicole C. Mullen Group of the Year - Casting Crowns Songwriter of the Year - Mark Hall Song of the Year - "Who Am I" written by Mark Hall New Artist of the Year - Building 429

Switchfoot earned a total of four Dove Awards along with one additional Dove for lead songwriter Jonathan Foreman. The band's breakthrough hit song "Dare You to Move," was honored for Rock/Contemporary Song of the Year (with Foreman also taking home a Dove Award as the songwriter). The video for "Dare You to Move" was named Short Form Music Video of the Year, while the concert DVD Switchfoot Live In San Diego> earned the band a statuette for Long Form Music Video.

The Crabb Family's awards in three different song categories confirms their growing reputation as a genre-busting group that is making southern gospel hip for a younger generation of music fans. The Crabb Family's CD 'Driven' produced Dove Awards for Southern Gospel Recorded Song for "He Came Looking for Me," Country Recorded Song for "Forever," and Traditional Gospel Recorded Song for "Through the Fire," a song which also features black gospel artist Donnie McClurkin. Gerald Crabb, patriarch of the family, received Dove Awards as the songwriter for all three of his children's honored songs with oldest son Jason also earning one as co-writer of "Forever." The 'Driven' album itself earned Dove honors in the Southern Gospel Album of the Year category with Jason and his brothers Adam and Aaron Crabb and sister Kelly Bowling also receiving individual Doves as the album's co-producers.

After debuting just over a year ago, Casting Crowns was honored as Group of the Year among its three Dove Awards. Other nods for the Georgia-based group are for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song for "Who Am I" and Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "Voice of Truth." Lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall, a youth pastor, received individual recognition for his songwriting. Hall was named the Songwriter of the Year and he earned the Song of the Year Dove Award for "Who Am I." He also received Dove Awards as the songwriter of the band's two Recorded Song winners.

Jeremy Camp, fast becoming the heir apparent to gospel music's preeminent male artist/songwriters Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith, won his second consecutive Dove Award for Male Vocalist of the Year and captured two additional Doves for Rock Recorded Song for both performing and writing his powerful hit song "Stay." Refusing to be defined by a style of music has earned Nicole C. Mullen a place as one of the most respected singer/songwriters in gospel music and this year results in her second Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year (the first one coming in 2002). She also received Dove Awards in the Urban Album of the Year category for 'Everyday People' as artist and producer.

Israel Houghton and his group New Breed have raised the level of cross- cultural worship as the worship band for the 25,000-member, Joel Osteen- pastored Lakewood Church in Houston and with the group's latest album 'Live From Another Level.' The critically acclaimed CD received Dove Awards for Contemporary Gospel Album and Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song for "Again I Say Rejoice" while Houghton took home Doves as one of the album's producers and for co-writing the song.

The 36th Annual GMA Music Awards were hosted by top artists Houghton, Steven Curtis Chapman, Rebecca St. James, CeCe Winans, Smokie Norful and Darlene Zschech. Chapman added two more Doves to his resume, one for co- writing "Voice of Truth" and one for his participation on Special Event Album of the Year recipient 'The Passion of the Christ: Songs.'

The show featured performances by Casting Crowns, The Crabb Family, Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, Selah, J Moss, BarlowGirl, Bethany Dillon, Natalie Grant, Watermark, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Matt Redman, Tonex, Skillet and Denver & The Mile High Orchestra. Presenters included Camp, Mullen, Building 429, Day of Fire, Dr. Bobby Jones, Joy Williams, Lynda Randle, Matthew West, MercyMe, Michael W. Smith, Out of Eden, Sandi Patty, Steve Taylor, tobyMac and Phillips, Craig & Dean. Radio personalities Delilah and Rick & Bubba, "The Strongest Man in America" Shane Hamman; NASCAR Driver Bobby Labonte; and former bachelor from "The Bachelorette" Jason Illian also presented.

The 36th Annual GMA Music Awards will be televised in national syndication during the month of June. Central City Productions of Chicago, Ill., will handle first run syndication through network affiliates and independent stations nationwide, with an expected audience reach of at least 75 percent of U.S. households.

Founded in 1964, the 4,500-member Gospel Music Association is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music. The GMA represents all styles of gospel music including contemporary pop, rock, urban gospel, praise & worship, Southern gospel, country and children's gospel music. The GMA produces the GMA Music Awards, which recognizes achievement in all genres of gospel music and are voted on by members of the GMA.

2005 GMA Music Award Recipients

ARTIST OF THE YEAR Switchfoot

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Jeremy Camp

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR Nicole C. Mullen

GROUP OF THE YEAR Casting Crowns

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR Building 429

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR Ed Cash

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR Mark Hall

SONG OF THE YEAR "Who Am I"; Mark Hall; Club Zoo Music (BMI), SWECS Music (BMI)

RAP/HIP HIP RECORDED SONG "Hittin' Curves"; Dichotomy A; Grits; Teron Carter, Stacy Jones, Otto Price, S. Moss; Gotee Records

MODERN ROCK RECORDED SONG "Control"; Reset EP; MuteMath; Paul Meany, Darren King, Adam LeClave; Teleprompt Records/Word Records

ROCK RECORDED SONG "Stay"; Stay; Jeremy Camp; Jeremy Camp; BEC Recordings

ROCK/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG "Dare You to Move"; The Beautiful Letdown; Switchfoot; Jonathan Foreman, Sparrow Records

POP/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG "Who Am I"; Casting Crowns; Casting Crowns; Mark Hall; Beach Street Records/Reunion Records

INSPIRATIONAL RECORDED SONG "Voice of Truth"; Casting Crowns; Casting Crowns; Mark Hall, Steven Curtis Chapman; Beach Street Records/Reunion Records

SOUTHERN GOSPEL RECORDED SONG "He Came Looking for Me"; Driven; The Crabb Family; Gerald Crabb; Daywind Records

BLUEGRASS RECORDED SONG "Heroes"; Heroes; The Isaacs; Rebecca Isaacs Bowman, Sonya Isaacs; Gaither Music

COUNTRY RECORDED SONG "Forever"; Driven; The Crabb Family; Jason Crabb, Gerald Crabb; Daywind Records

URBAN RECORDED SONG "You Don't Know"; I Owe You; Kierra Kiki Sheard; Rodney Jerkins, Danny Nixon, Fred Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, Delisha Thomas; EMI Gospel

TRADITIONAL GOSPEL RECORDED SONG "Through the Fire"; Driven; The Crabb Family featuring Donnie McClurkin; Gerald Crabb; Daywind Records

CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL RECORDED SONG "Again I Say Rejoice"; Live From Another Level; Israel & New Breed; Israel Houghton, Aaron W. Lindsey; Integrity Gospel

RAP/HIP HOP ALBUM Welcome to Diverse City; tobyMac; Toby McKeehan, Christopher Stevens, Paul Meany, Solomon Olds, Joe Baldridge, Jeff Savage, Robert Marvin, Josiah Bell, Max Hsu, Michael Linney; ForeFront Records

MODERN ROCK ALBUM Fight the Tide; Sanctus Real; Tedd T.; Sparrow Records

ROCK ALBUM Day of Fire; Day of Fire; Scott Humphrey; Essential Records

ROCK/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM Wire; Third Day; Paul Ebersold; Essential Records

POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM Undone; MercyMe; Pete Kipley; INO Records

INSPIRATIONAL ALBUM Hiding Place; Selah; Jason Kyle, Nicol Sponberg, Allan Hall, Todd Smith; Curb Records

SOUTHERN GOSPEL ALBUM Driven; The Crabb Family; Jason Crabb, Adam Crabb, Aaron Crabb, Kelly Bowling, Jerry Yoder; Daywind Records

BLUEGRASS ALBUM Angels Gathering Flowers; The Lewis Family; Wayne Haun; Thoroughbred Records

COUNTRY ALBUM Passing Through; Randy Travis; Kyle Lehning; Word Records

URBAN ALBUM Everyday People; Nicole C. Mullen; Nicole C. Mullen, David Mullen, Tommy Sims, James "Big Jim" Wright, Andrew Ramsey, Shannon Sanders; Word Records

TRADITIONAL GOSPEL ALBUM A Tribute to Mahalia Jackson; Lynda Randle; Barry Beckett; Gaither Music

CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL ALBUM Live From Another Level; Israel & New Breed; Israel Houghton, Aaron W. Lindsey; Integrity Gospel

PRAISE & WORSHIP ALBUM Arriving; Chris Tomlin; Ed Cash; Sixsteps Records

INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM The Passion of the Christ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack; Various; John Debney; Mel Gibson; Integrity Music/Sony

CHILDREN'S MUSIC ALBUM Angel Alert!; Various; Celeste Clydesdale, David T. Clydesdale; Word Music

SPANISH LANGUAGE ALBUM Te Amo Dios; Praise Street Worship Band; Dave Moody, James Cobble Jr., Wesley Pritchard, Eulises Canada, Nelson McSwain; Lamon Records

SPECIAL EVENT ALBUM The Passion of the Christ: Songs; Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, MercyMe, Scott Stapp, POD, Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, Big Dismal, Lauryn Hill, Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, MxPx, Mark Hoppus, Charlotte Church, BeBe Winans, Angie Stone, Dan Lavery; Tim Cook, Mark Joseph, Gregg Wattenberg, Steven Lerner; Lost Keyword Records/Wind-Up Records

MUSICAL Emmanuel - Celebrating Heaven's Child; Joel Lindsey, Russell Mauldin; Brentwood-Benson Music

YOUTH/CHILDREN'S MUSICAL Fear Not Factor; Dennis Allen, Nan Allen; Brentwood-Benson Music

CHORAL COLLECTION Live...This is Your House; Carol Cymbala; Brooklyn Tabernacle Music

WORSHIP SONG "Blessed Be Your Name"; Matt Redman, Beth Redman; Thankyou Music, Worshiptogether.com Songs

RECORDED MUSIC PACKAGING Happy; Jan Cook, Tim Frank, Emily West, Clark Hook, Susan Levy; Clark Hook, Michael Lavine; Universal South

SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO "Dare You To Move"; Switchfoot; Nina Grossman Warner; Robert Hales; HIS Entertainment; Sparrow Records

LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO Switchfoot Live In San Diego; Switchfoot; Dwight Thompson; Dwight Thompson; New Revolution Entertainment; Sparrow Records

Source: Gospel Music Association

CONTACT: Tricia Whitehead of Spinhouse Public Relations, +1-615-599-7746, spinhouse@bellsouth.net

Web site: http://www.gmamusicawards.com/

------- Profile: Ent