The Gospel Music Hall of Fame, created in 1972 by the

Gospel Music Association The Gospel Music Association (GMA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of gospel music. As of 2011, there are about 4,000 members worldwide. The GMA's membership co ...

, is a

Hall of Fame A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actual halls or muse ...

dedicated exclusively to recognizing meaningful contributions by individuals and groups in all forms of

gospel music Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music, and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is co ...

Inductees

This is an incomplete list of those inducted into the GMA's Gospel Music Hall of Fame, listed alphabetically with the year of induction. Many of these were honored posthumously for their contribution in gospel music.

Individuals

* Lee Roy Abernathy (1973) * Bentley D. Ackley (1991) *

Yolanda Adams Yolanda Yvette Adams (born August 27, 1961) is an American gospel singer, actress, and host of her own nationally syndicated morning gospel show. She is one of the best-selling gospel artists of all time, having sold over 10 million albums ...

(2017) * Doris Akers (2001) * Charles M. Alexander (1991) * Bill "Hoss" Allen (2010) *

Brown Bannister Elliott Brown Bannister III (born August 15, 1951) is an contemporary Christian music (CCM) producer and songwriter. Bannister released one album of his own, ''Talk to One Another'', in 1981 on NewPax Records. It was reissued on the Reunion Records ...

(2014) * Cliff Barrows (1988) * E.M. Bartlett, Sr. (1973) * Clarice Baxter (1981) * J. R. Baxter (1973) *

Les Beasley Les Beasley (August 16, 1928 – November 17, 2018) Liverett, David (2005). ''This Is My Story: 146 of the World's Greatest Gospel Singers''. Thomas Nelson, Inc. . P. 9. was an American Southern Gospel musician. From 1953 to 2007 he was the lead ...

(1989) * Samuel W. Beazley (1992) *

George Bennard George Bennard (February 4, 1873 – October 10, 1958) was an American hymn composer and preacher. He is best known for composing the famous hymn, " The Old Rugged Cross". Early years Bennard was born in the coal-mining and iron-production ...

(1976) * John T. Benson, Jr. (1981) * John T. Benson, Sr. (1982) * John T. Benson III (2006) * Robert "Bob" Benson, Sr. (1991) *

James Blackwood James Webre Blackwood (August 4, 1919 – February 3, 2002) was an American gospel singer and one of the founding members of legendary Southern gospel quartet The Blackwood Brothers. He is the only person in any field of music to have been nomi ...

, Sr. (1974) * P. P. Bliss (1989) *

Pat Boone Patrick Charles Eugene Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer and actor. He was a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He sold more than 45 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and appeared in mo ...

(2003) * Albert E. Brumley, Sr. (1972) * Donald W. Butler, Sr. (1995) *

Shirley Caesar Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams (born October 13, 1938), known professionally as Shirley Caesar, is an American gospel singer whose career has spanned seven decades. She has won 11 Grammys in addition to Dove Awards and Stellar Awards; Caesar is k ...

(2000) *

Carman In Celtic mythology, Carman or Carmun was a warrior and sorceress from Athens who tried to invade Ireland in the days of the Tuatha Dé Danann, along with her three sons, Dub ("black"), Dother ("evil") and Dian ("violence"). She used her magica ...

(2018) * Ralph Carmichael (1985) * D. P. "Dad" Carter (1984) *

Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his c ...

(2010) *

James Cleveland James Edward Cleveland (December 5, 1931 – February 9, 1991) was an American gospel singer, musician, and composer. Known as the King of Gospel, Cleveland was a driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound by incorporating tra ...

(1984) * James B. Coats (1992) * Oliver W. Cooper (1992) *

Fanny Crosby Frances Jane van Alstyne (née Crosby; March 24, 1820 – February 12, 1915), more commonly known as Fanny J. Crosby, was an American mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer. She was a prolific hymnist, writing more than 8,000 hymns ...

(1975) *

Andraé Crouch Andraé Edward Crouch (July 1, 1942 – January 8, 2015) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and pastor. Referred to as "the father of modern gospel music" by contemporary Christian and gospel music profes ...

(1998) * Denver Crumpler (1973) * John Daniel (1973) *

Jimmie Davis James Houston Davis (September 11, 1899 – November 5, 2000) was an American politician, singer and songwriter of both sacred and popular songs. Davis was elected for two nonconsecutive terms from 1944 to 1948 and from 1960 to 1964 as the ...

(1994) * Cleavant Derricks (1984) * Thomas A. Dorsey (1982) * Asa Brooks Everett (1993) *

Tennessee Ernie Ford Ernest Jennings Ford (February 13, 1919 – October 17, 1991), known professionally as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American singer and television host who enjoyed success in the country and western, pop, and gospel musical genres. Noted for h ...

(1994) * John Wallace Fowler (1984) *

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in '' Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Wit ...

(2012) * Charles H. Gabriel (1982) * Bill Gaither (1983) * Gloria Gaither (1997) *

Charles "Rusty" Goodman Charles F. "Rusty" Goodman (September 2, 1933 – November 11, 1990) was an American singer/songwriter in the Southern Gospel Music industry. He was a prolific composer whose many songs included "Standing in the Presence of the King", "Leavin' ...

(1993) * Vestal Goodman (2004) * Lari Goss (2008) *

Billy Graham William Franklin Graham Jr. (November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018) was an American evangelist and an ordained Southern Baptist minister who became well known internationally in the late 1940s. He was a prominent evangelical Christi ...

(1999) *

Amy Grant Amy Lee Grant (born November 25, 1960) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She began in contemporary Christian music (CCM) before crossing over to pop music in the 1980s and 1990s. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christia ...

(2003) *

Al Green Albert Leornes Greene (born April 13, 1946), better known as Al Green, is an American singer, songwriter, pastor and record producer best known for recording a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s, including " Take Me to the River", ...

(2004) * Keith Green (2001) * Steve Green (2017) * Connor Hall (1980) *

Stuart Hamblen Carl Stuart Hamblen (October 20, 1908 – March 8, 1989) was an American entertainer who became one of radio's first singing cowboys in 1926, going on to become a singer, actor, radio show host, and songwriter. He underwent a Christian conversion ...

(1994) * Herman Harper (1996) * Larnelle Harris (2007) * Edwin Hawkins (2000) * Tramaine Hawkins (2019) *

Walter Hawkins Walter Lee Hawkins (May 18, 1949 – July 11, 2010) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, composer, and pastor. An influential figure in urban contemporary gospel music, his career spanned more than four decades. He was consecrated to the ...

(2005) * Paul Heinecke (1984) * W.J. "Jake" Hess (1987) *

Billy Ray Hearn Billy Ray Hearn (April 26, 1929April 15, 2015) was the founder and chairman of the Capitol Christian Music Group (formerly EMI Christian Music Group) the world's largest Christian music label.McNeil, W. K. Encyclopedia of American gospel music. ...

(1997) * Lou Wills Hildreth (2005) * Stuart K. Hine (1994) * Dallas Holm (2012) * Ron Huff (2005) * Rex Humbard (2012) *

Mahalia Jackson Mahalia Jackson ( ; born Mahala Jackson; October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972) was an American gospel singer, widely considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. With a career spanning 40 years, Jackson was integral to t ...

(1978) * Dr. Bobby Jones (2008) *

Kurt Kaiser Kurt Frederic Kaiser (December 17, 1934November 12, 2018) was an American contemporary church music composer and arranger. Biography Kurt Kaiser was born on December 17, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the third child born to Elizabeth (né ...

(2001) *

Phil Keaggy Philip Tyler Keaggy (born March 23, 1951) is an American acoustic and electric guitarist and vocalist who has released more than 55 albums and contributed to many more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets. H ...

(2007) * Alphus LeFevre (1996) * Eva Mae LeFevre (1977) * Mylon LeFevre (2005) * Urias LeFevre (1986) * Don Light (2005) * Haldor Lillenas (1982) * Hovie Lister (1984) *

Mosie Lister Thomas Mosie Lister (September 8, 1921 – February 12, 2015) was an American singer and Baptist minister. He was best known for writing the Gospel songs "Where No One Stands Alone", "Till the Storm Passes By", "Then I Met the Master" and "How ...

(1976) *

Mark Lowry Mark Alan Lowry (born June 24, 1958) is an American singer, comedian, minister and songwriter. He is best known for co-writing the song "Mary, Did You Know?" and being a member of the Gaither Vocal Band from 1988 to 2001, and 2009 to 2013, alon ...

(2015) * Roland Lundy (2015) * Bob MacKenzie (2000) * James Edward Marsh (1993) * Sallie Martin (1991) * Dr. Lowell Mason (1982) * John Alexander "J.A." McClung (1992) * Jarrell McCracken (1993) * B. B. McKinney (1982) *

Dottie Leonard Miller Dottie Golt Leonard Miller is an American business executive who heads companies that specialize in Christian music and other Christian products. She is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Early y ...

(2019) * Don Moen (2019) * Joe Moscheo (2007) * Jacob Bazzel Mull (1998) *

Rich Mullins Richard Wayne Mullins (October 21, 1955 – September 19, 1997) was an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter best known for his worship songs " Awesome God" and "Sometimes by Step". Some of his albums were listed by ''CC ...

(2014) * W.F. "Jim" Myers (1993) * Greg Nelson (2018) *

John Newton John Newton (; – 21 December 1807) was an English evangelical Anglican cleric and slavery abolitionist. He had previously been a captain of slave ships and an investor in the slave trade. He served as a sailor in the Royal Navy (after forc ...

(1982) * Marvin Norcross (1983) *

Larry Norman Larry David Norman (April 8, 1947 – February 24, 2008) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, record label owner, and record producer. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of Christian rock music and released more than 100 album ...

(2001) * W. B. Nowlin (1984) * Doug Oldham (2006) * Lloyd Orrell (1984) * Adger M. Pace (1973) * Twila Paris (2015) * Oren A. Parris (1992) *

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album ...

(2008) *

Sandi Patty Sandra Faye "Sandi" Patty (born July 12, 1956) is an American Christian music singer, known for her wide soprano vocal range and expressive flexibility. Biography Early life Patty was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, into a family of musician ...

(2004) *

Janet Paschal Janet Paschal (born October 18, 1956) is an inspirational gospel vocalist. She has released numerous albums in that genre and has received multiple fan awards and Grammy and Dove Award nominations. She is also a songwriter and published author. ...

(2019) * Glen Payne (1995) *

Karen Peck Karen Peck and New River is a southern gospel mixed group based in Gainesville, Georgia. Music career The youngest of three daughters, Karen was exposed to the traditional sounds of gospel music at a very early age. Her parents often took Kare ...

(2018) * John W. Peterson (1986) *

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the " King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. His ener ...

(2001) * Frances Preston (2004) * Howard Rachinski (2016) *

Dottie Rambo Dottie Rambo (March 2, 1934 – May 11, 2008) was an American gospel singer and songwriter. She was a Grammy winning solo artist and multiple Dove award-winning artist. Along with ex-husband Buck and daughter Reba, she formed the award-winnin ...

(1992) * William Morgan Ramsey (1991) * Homer Rodeheaver (1973) * James Rowe (1993) *

Ira D. Sankey Ira David Sankey (August 28, 1840 – August 13, 1908) was an American gospel singer and composer, known for his long association with Dwight L. Moody in a series of religious revival campaigns in America and Britain during the closing decades o ...

(1980) * George Beverly Shea (1978) *

Ricky Skaggs Rickie Lee Skaggs (born July 18, 1954), known professionally as Ricky Skaggs, is an American neotraditional country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, ...

(2012) * Richard Smallwood (2006) * Michael W. Smith (2008) * G. T. "Dad" Speer (1971) * Ben Lacy Speer (1995) * Lena "Mom" Brock Speer (1972) * Brock Speer (1975) * Tim Spencer (1985) * Frank Stamps (1973) * V. O. "Virgil Oliver" Stamps (1973) * Ira F. Stanphill (1981) * J.D. "John Daniel" Sumner (1984) *

Russ Taff Russell Taff (born November 11, 1953) is an American gospel singer and songwriter who grew up in Farmersville, California. He has sung a variety of musical styles throughout his career including: pop rock, traditional Southern gospel, contemp ...

(2016) * Charlie D. Tillman (1993) * Charles A. Tindley (1993) * Evie Tornquist (2005) * Glenn Kieffer Vaughan (1974) * James D. Vaughan (1972) * Jim "Pappy" Waites (1971) * W. B. Walbert (1973) * Albertina Walker (2001) * Hezekiah Walker (2016) * Clara Ward (1984) *

Ethel Waters Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977) was an American singer and actress. Waters frequently performed jazz, swing, and pop music on the Broadway stage and in concerts. She began her career in the 1920s singing blues. Her no ...

(1984) * Charles Weigle (1991) *

Charles Wesley Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788) was an English leader of the Methodist movement. Wesley was a prolific hymnwriter who wrote over 6,500 hymns during his lifetime. His works include "And Can It Be", "Christ the Lord Is Risen T ...

(1995) * James S. "Big Chief" Wetherington (1977) *

J. G. Whitfield Jesse Gillis Whitfield (1915–2006), also known as J.G. or Whit, was a gospel musician, music promoter, and member of the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame. Biography After serving in the Air Force, Whitfield worked in the grocery ...

(1990) * R. E. Winsett (1973) *

George Younce George Wilson Younce (February 22, 1930 – April 11, 2005) was an American bass singer, known for performing with Southern gospel quartets, especially The Cathedrals. Biography Born in Patterson, North Carolina, Younce ( ) was the youngest ...

(1999) * P.J. "Pat" Zondervan (1984)

Groups

The Blackwood Brothers The Blackwood Brothers are an American southern gospel quartet. Pioneers of the Christian music industry, they are 8-time Grammy Award winners in addition to winning 7 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. They are also members of the Memphi ...

(1998) * Blanton & Harrell (2017) *

The Blind Boys of Alabama The Blind Boys of Alabama, also billed as The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, and Clarence Fountain and the Blind Boys of Alabama, is an American Gospel music, gospel group. The group was founded in 1939 in Talladega, Alabama, and has featured a ch ...

(2003) * Roger Breland & Truth (2000) *

Cathedral Quartet The Cathedral Quartet, also known as the Cathedrals, was an American southern gospel quartet who performed from 1964 to December 1999. The group's final lineup consisted of Glen Payne (lead), George Younce (bass), Ernie Haase (tenor), Scott F ...

(1999) * The Chuck Wagon Gang (1998) *

DeGarmo & Key DeGarmo & Key was a Christian rock band/duo formed in 1977 by Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key. The group is notable for having the first Christian rock album nominated for a Grammy award and the first American Christian group to have a video entered ...

(2010) * Disciples (1998) * The Dixie Hummingbirds (2008) * Dorothy Love Coates & The Gospel Harmonettes (2017) *

The Fairfield Four The Fairfield Four is an American gospel group that has existed for over 100 years, starting as a trio in the Fairfield Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee, in 1921. They were designated as National Heritage Fellows in 1989 by the National En ...

(1999) * Fisk Jubilee Singers (2000) * Florida Boys (1999) * Gaither Trio (1999) *

Gaither Vocal Band The Gaither Vocal Band is an American southern gospel vocal group, named after its founder and leader Bill Gaither. On March 1, 2017, it was announced that the Gaither Vocal Band lineup consisted of Reggie Smith, Wes Hampton, Adam Crabb, Todd ...

(2014) * Gold City Quartet (2017) * Golden Gate Quartet (2010) * Happy Goodman Family (1998) * The Harmonizing Four (2017) *

The Hinsons Hinson is a name that now refers to several different southern gospel singing groups, all members of the same extended family. The groups have different personnel and have shared the common name, "The Hinsons" but each has a different lead singer ...

(2006) *

The Hoppers The Hoppers (until 1981: Hopper Brothers and Connie) are a multi award-winning Southern Gospel group from North Carolina. They have performed together for several decades and have achieved significant popularity due to widening the playing field i ...

(2012) *

The Imperials The Imperials are an American Christian music group that has been active for over 55 years. Originating as a southern gospel quartet, the innovative group would become pioneers of contemporary Christian music in the 1960s. There have been many ...

(1998) *

The Jordanaires The Jordanaires were an American vocal quartet that formed as a gospel group in 1948. Over the years, they recorded both sacred and secular music for recording companies such as Capitol Records, RCA Victor, Columbia Records, Decca Records, Vocal ...

(1998) * The LeFevres (1998) *

The Kingsmen The Kingsmen are a 1960s rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States. They are best known for their 1963 recording of R&B singer Richard Berry's " Louie Louie", which held the No. 2 spot on the '' Billboard'' charts for six weeks an ...

(2000) *

The Lewis Family The Lewis Family is a family of gospel and bluegrass musicians from Lincolnton, Georgia. They are known as the "First Family of Bluegrass Gospel". Background The family was founded by Pop and Mom Lewis (Roy Lewis Sr. and Pauline Lewis, née Ho ...

(2005) *

Love Song A love song is a song about romantic love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. A comprehensive list of even the best known performers and composers of love songs would be a large order ...

(2012) *

Mighty Clouds of Joy The Mighty Clouds of Joy are an American traditional gospel music quartet. Joe Ligon Bio: Willie Joe Ligon was born on October 11, 1936, and died on December 11, 2016 (80 years, 2 months). He dedicated his life to Jesus making many hit songs ...

(1999) * The Nelons (2016) *

The Oak Ridge Boys The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet originating in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in Southern gospel during the 1950s. Their name was chang ...

(2000) *

Petra Petra ( ar, ٱلْبَتْرَاء, Al-Batrāʾ; grc, Πέτρα, "Rock", Nabataean: ), originally known to its inhabitants as Raqmu or Raqēmō, is an historic and archaeological city in southern Jordan. It is adjacent to the mountain of Ja ...

(2000) * The Rambos (2001) *

The Roberta Martin Singers The Roberta Martin Singers were an American gospel group based in the United States. History Founding The group was founded in 1933 by Roberta Martin, who in that same year had just become acquainted with gospels music, which was different from ...

(2017) *

Second Chapter of Acts The 2nd Chapter of Acts was a Jesus music and early contemporary Christian music group composed of sisters Annie Herring and Nelly Greisen and brother Matthew Ward. They began performing in 1972 and enjoyed their period of greatest success dur ...

(1999) * Speer Family (1998) * Stamps Quartet (1998) * The Staple Singers (2018) *

The Statesmen Quartet The Statesmen Quartet (also known as Hovie Lister and The Statesmen Quartet) were an American southern gospel quartet founded in 1948 by Baptist Minister Hovie Lister. Along with the Blackwood Brothers, the Statesmen Quartet were considered the ...

(1998) *

The Statler Brothers The Statler Brothers (sometimes simply referred to as The Statlers) were an American country music, gospel, and vocal group. The quartet was formed in 1955 performing locally, and from 1964 to 1972, they sang as opening act and backup singers ...

(2007) * Sunliters & Wendy Bagwell (2001) * Take 6 (2014) *

The Winans The Winans are an American gospel quartet from Detroit, Michigan consisting of brothers Marvin, Carvin, Michael and Ronald Winans. Members ''Please refer to the Winans family page for more detail on the individual members.'' About: Origins & Mu ...

(2007) * BeBe & CeCe Winans (2015)

Special inductees

was inducted to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999 for providing a platform to many Christian artists through the Billy Graham events. These artists include: Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, Larnelle Harris,

Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist. Chapman began his career in the late 1980s as a songwriter and performer of conte ...

dc Talk DC Talk (stylized as dc Talk) is a Christian rap and rock trio. The group was formed at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith. They released five major studio albums together: ...

, Jars of Clay. Others associated with Graham's ministries are also inductees: George Beverly Shea (soloist of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Team); Cliff Barrows (music director and choirmaster for all Billy Graham Evangelistic Campaigns); Ralph Carmichael (producer for the music in Billy Graham films such as "Mr. Texas", "For Pete's Sake", "The Restless Ones", and "His Lane"); and singers

and

References

External links

Gospel Music Association Hall of Famelist of all inductees
{{coord, 35.7962, -83.5338, type:landmark, display=title Gospel music awards American music awards Music halls of fame

Music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...

Awards established in 1971 Dollywood Southern gospel performers 1971 establishments in Tennessee

Inductees

Individuals

Groups

Special inductees

See also

References

External links