Gospel Music Workshop of America

Gospel Music Workshop of America
Also known as	GMWA National Mass Choir GMWA Women of Worship GMWA Men of Promise GMWA Youth Mass Choir
Genres	Gospel
Years active	1967 (1967) - Present
Labels	Savoy Records Intersound Records Benson Records A&M Records King James Records Sweet Rain Records
Associated acts	Rev. James Cleveland Albertina Walker (Queen of Gospel Music) Kirk Franklin Kurt Carr Dorothy Norwood John P. Kee

Gospel Music Workshop of America is an international music convention founded by Rev. James Cleveland along with Albertina Walker (Queen of Gospel Music) in 1967.

GMWA membership

Current board members

Rt. Rev. Dr. Albert L. Jamison Sr., Chair, Board of Directors
Dr. Al "The Bishop" Hobbs, Executive Vice Chair
Dr. Charles E. Davis, Secretary
Ms. Shirley M.K. Birkley, Treasurer
Bro. Steven Roberts
Rev. Isadore Jackson
Dr. William Simms, Vice Chair, Administration
Dr. Charles Fold, Vice Chair, Chapter Representatives (deceased)
Rev. Isaac Whittman, Vice Chair, Men's Department
Dr. Charles Reese, Dean, Academic Department
Mr. James Ford, Mass Choir Fashion Show
Attorney Ron Magnus, General Counsel
Ms. Rodena Preston-Williams, Vice Chair, Mass Choir
Mrs. Helen J. Stephens, Mass Choir
Rev. Lawrence London, Vice Chair, Evangelism
Ms. Merdean Fielding Gates, Vice Chair, Debutantes
Bishop Richard "Mr. Clean" White, Co-Chair, Men's Department
Bishop Sam Williams, Religious Announcers
Rev. Eddie Templeton, Member
Rev. Floyd Miles, Co-Chair Finance / Transportation
Mr. Bill White, Member
Mr. E. Larry McDuffie, Religious Announcer
Ms. Annette May-Thomas, Member
Ms. Cora Martin-Moore, Member
Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, Member
Dr. Melvin Von Wade, Sr., Member
Mr. Mark Smith, Convention Manager

Active GMWA Membership ranges from professional and amateur Gospel vocalists to instrumentalists, composers, arrangers, directors and producers, and the like. According to its official website, approximately 75% of the music on Billboard's Gospel Charts is written, arranged, produced, or performed by GMWA members. The GMWA also has chapters in the United States, United Kingdom, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

GMWA conventions and recordings

The GMWA presently meets twice a year. A board meeting is held in the spring and the annual convention session is held at a major venue beginning on the second Sunday of August. The conventions include workshops and musical performances during the week and attract 12,000 to 15,000 registrants annually. A mass choir of 2,000 to 3,000 vocalists is formed at each GMWA convention, and each year a new recording is produced. GMWA offshoots who also record include GMWA Women of Worship, GMWA Men of Promise, and the GMWA Youth Mass Choir.

Past GMWA Convention locations

Annual Session Locations included:

2011 - Tampa, Florida
2010 - Cincinnati, Ohio
2009 - Cincinnati, Ohio (July)
2008 - Nashville, Tennessee
2007 - Orlando, Florida
2006 - Dallas, Texas
2005 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2004 - Kansas City, Missouri
2003 - Tampa, Florida
2002 - Detroit, Michigan
2001 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
2000 - New Orleans, Louisiana
1999 - New Orleans, Louisiana
1998 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1997 - Cincinnati, Ohio
1996 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1995 - Los Angeles, California
1994 - Atlanta, Georgia
1993 - Indianapolis, Indiana
1992 - Chicago, Illinois
1991 - Salt Lake City, Utah
1990 - Washington, D.C.
1989 - New Orleans, Louisiana
1988 - St. Louis, Missouri
1987 - Detroit, Michigan
1986 - Miami, Florida
1985 - New York City, New York
1984 - Atlanta, Georgia
1983 - Cincinnati, Ohio
1982 - Houston, Texas
1981 - Los Angeles, California
1980 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1979 - New Orleans, Louisiana
1978 - Washington, D.C.
1977 - Detroit, Michigan
1976 - Kansas City, Missouri
1975 - New York City, New York
1974 - Cleveland, Ohio
1973 - Chicago, Illinois
1972 - Los Angeles, California
1971 - Dallas, Texas
1970 - St. Louis, Missouri
1969 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1968 - Detroit, Michigan

The first GMWA convention was held in Detroit, Michigan in 1968 at King Solomon Baptist Church. Approximately 3,000 delegates attended. The most recent GMWA convention was held in Nashville, Tennessee in 2008 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Approximately 12,000 delegates attended. In 2009 the Board Meeting will be held in Birmingham, Alabama and the Annual Session will be held in the month of July in Cincinnati, Ohio.

References

Gospel music
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Roots and beginnings Christian Hymns Negro Spirituals Sacred Harp Shape note
Genres and subgenres Southern Gospel Gospel blues Bluegrass gospel Christian country music Country Gospel Progressive Southern Gospel Urban contemporary gospel Christian hip hop
Related music genres CCM
Associations and groups Gospel Music Hall of Fame Gospel Music Workshop of America National Gospel Singing Convention National Quartet Convention Australian Gospel Music Association GMA Canada
Awards GMA Dove Awards Stellar Awards Covenant Awards Singing News Fan Awards Australian Gospel Music Awards McDonald's Gospelfest
Category Musicians See also: Christianity: Portal Category Christian music: Portal Category

External links

GMWA Official Site
Gospel Music Workshop of America at AllMusic
"Gospel music convention underway in Cincinnati". WLWT. July 21, 2013.

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