4th GMA Dove Awards

4th GMA Dove Awards

Date

1972

Venue

< 1971

Dove Awards

1973 >

The fourth Gospel Music Association (GMA) Music Awards were held in 1972 for accomplishments of musicians for the year 1972.

Background

An indication that gospel music was fast approaching professionalism was a bona fide scandal over GMA's 1971 Dove Awards. The incident involved one of gospel music's premier groups, the Blackwood Brothers, who had captured nine out of fourteen awards. They were accused of having conducted an extensive campaign to enlist new members to the GMA and to encourage members to vote for particular award nominees in the Dove Award balloting. Though no specific bylaw of the organization had been broken, the tactic created an industrywide concern over "voting irregularities and ethical ballot influence and solicitation."

The GMA Board voted to nullify the entire process, thereby invalidating all the awards that had been presented at the October 8, 1971 banquet held in Nashville. Also, a committee was formed to adjust the voting process with "safeguards to prevent any future irregularities in Dove Awards balloting." James Blackwood issued a statement in support of the organization's decision and strongly urged all other participants in the Dove Awards to subscribe and adhere to the code of ethics to be set forth by the Gospel Music Association.

Compilation album

Canaan Records of Waco, Texas, issued a long play album of nominated recordings titled The Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards Nominations for the Gospel Song of 1972 (CAS-9732-LP Stereo). Tracks on the recording are given in this table:

Side A
No.	Title	Performer	Length
1.	"After Calvary"	Blue Ridge Quartet
2.	"Because He Lives"	The Speer Family
3.	"Build My Mansion (Next Door to Jesus)"	The Rambos
4.	"I Can Feel the Touch of His Hand"	The Blackwood Brothers
5.	"Redemption Draweth Nigh"	The Oak Ridge Boys

Side B
No.	Title	Performer	Length
1.	"The King is Coming"	Bill Gaither Trio
2.	"The Lighthouse"	The Florida Boys
3.	"There's Something About that Name"	The Downings
4.	"Through It All"	Andre Crouch and the Disciples
5.	"Turn Your Radio On"	The Lewis Family

Award recipients

Song of the Year
- "The Lighthouse"; Ron Hinson; Journey Music (BMI)
Songwriter of the Year
- Bill Gaither
Male Vocalist of the Year
- James Blackwood
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Sue Chenault
Male Group of the Year
- Oak Ridge Boys
Mixed Group of the Year
- Speer Family
Most Promising New Gospel Talent
- London Paris & the Apostles
Album of the Year
- Light; Oak Ridge Boys; Bob MacKenzie, HeartWarming
Instrumentalist
- Tony Brown
Backliner Notes
- Johnny Cash; Light; Oak Ridge Boys
Cover Photo or Cover Art
- Bill Grine; Street Gospel; Oak Ridge Boys
Graphic Layout and Design
- Ace Lehman; L-O-V-E Love; Blackwood Brothers
Television Program
- Gospel Jubilee, Florida Boys
D.J. of the Year
- J.G. Whitfield

GMA Dove Awards

Major awards	Song of the Year Songwriter of the Year New Artist of the Year

Years	1969 1970 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

NOTE: The 1971 winners (except GMA Hall of Fame members) were nullified because of voting irregularities; no awards show was held in 1979, as the Gospel Music Association moved the awards show from September to April.