Commentary: The Impact of the 50th Annual Grammy Awards - Articles

Commentary: The Impact of the 50th Annual Grammy Awards
Gospel's Coming of Age?

Feb. 10, 2008 is slated to go down as one of Gospel's biggest nights in recent memory. This night was the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, emanating from Los Angeles.

Admittedly, the impact of Gospel music on the actual awards show is usually miniscule at best, but this year was different. For the first time in the last decade or so, the show featured a stellar (pardon the pun) gospel presentation that showcased Gospel on not just Gospel's biggest stage but on the music world's biggest stage!!

On a night that saw historic music collaborations with Tina Turner and Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Frank Sinatra, and Morris Day & The Time and Rihanna, the Gospel world was well represented with a lineup that will keep music pundits chatting for quite some time.

Grammy Winners in Gospel

List of Grammy Nominees and Winners in Gospel

The extended segment, introduced by Ludacris, began with the 2008 Music Cares Person of the Year, Aretha Franklin, joined by BeBe Winans performing "Never Gonna Break My Faith", the co-winning song for Best Gospel Performance. From there, the focus shifted to The Clark Sisters who were joined by Trin-I-tee 5:7 on the Clark Sisters' classic "You Brought The Sunshine". There will be lots of talk about the standout performances from sisters Karen and Twinkie in this set. Israel & New Breed immediately took to the stage with their smash hit "With Long Life", and from there, all of the artists rejoined the stage for a rousing performance of "Old Landmark" and marched the Grammys right down the Sunday morning church aisle.

If that's not enough for the night, Gospel Grammy history was made as The Clark Sisters walked away with three, yes three Grammys, including Best Gospel Performance, Best Gospel Song, and Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. This certainly is a monumental feat and caps of a whirlwind year for the Clark Sisters, whose reunion album and tour have literally re-launched the career of the historic group.

In addition, the legendary Fred Hammond won that ever elusive first Grammy, as Free to Worship merited Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, capping off a career for the Detroit-reared artist that has spanned over a quarter of a century. It proved to be a great night for the Soweto Gospel Choir and Israel & New Breed also, as both aggregations garnered their second Grammy in as many years for Best Traditional World Music and Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album respectively. Once could argue that NARAS took this night to crown, or dare we say anoint musical brilliance in the realm of Gospel music.

So, what does all this mean for the Gospel industry at large? It's certainly safe to say that a major Gospel performance on music's main stage on prime time television is monumental, and the performance speaks to Gospel's rising stock within the industry.

While many argue the staying power of the music industry in general, pointing to flattening or decreasing music sales, Gospel has shown its ability to not just inspire, but to be profitable. To think that that an all-Gospel performance is heralded and caused a standing ovation at this year's Grammys is a statement that should bring great pride to every artist, fan, and critic of this genre.

The fact is simple. Gospel has been given a stage and a platform in this secular industry. There was no watering down of a message or compromise of values in the performance. Simply put, the Gospel was presented as just that —the Gospel!!

It's way too early to tell if this means that Gospel our genre is guaranteed that long-awaited cross-over appeal or full mainstream acceptance. However, it IS safe to say that the happenings at this year's Grammys represents a coming of age for the Gospel music community.

We proved that we CAN hang with any other art form on the grandest musical stage on Earth and shine brighter than anyone else. It is now the responsibility for every artist and lover of this industry to present their gifts with Grammy excellence, understanding that this gift is guaranteed to make room and bring you before mighty men and grand audiences, and that ultimately the message trumps the music.

That audience may lead into millions of homes and center stage at the Grammys. Onward and upward.

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— commentary by Gerard Bonner —