The Gospel Music Hall of Fame, created in 1971 by the Gospel Music Association, is a Hall of Fame dedicated exclusively to recognizing meaningful contributions by individuals in all forms of gospel music. 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... The Gospel Music Association (GMA) was founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of Gospel music. ... College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana. ... Gospel music may refer to the religious music that first came out of African-American churches in the first quarter of the twentieth century or, more loosely, to both black gospel music and to the religious music composed and sung by predominately white Southern Gospel artists. ...

Partial list of inductees

Some of the more significant inductees to GMA's Hall of Fame are listed below. A number of these artists are now deceased; nevertheless, they are recognized for their contribution towards their influence on gospel music and for the longevity of their work.

• James Blackwood, Sr. (The Blackwood Brothers, National Quartet Convention; inducted 1974)
• Pat Boone (inducted 2003)
• Shirley Caesar ("First Lady of Gospel",inducted 2000)
• Ralph Carmichael (Lexicon Music, Light Records; inducted 1985)
• Fanny Crosby (inducted 1975)
• Andrae Crouch (inducted 1998)
• Tennessee Ernie Ford (inducted 1994)
• Amy Grant (inducted 2003)
• Al Green (inducted 2004)
• Keith Green (inducted 2001)
• Stuart Hamblen (inducted 1994)
• Billy Ray Hearn (launched Myrrh Records, inducted 1997)
• Mahalia Jackson (inducted 1978)
• Kurt Kaiser (Pass It On; inducted 2001)
• John Newton (Amazing Grace, inducted 1982)
• Larry Norman (inducted 2001)
• Sandi Patty (inducted 2004)
• John W. Peterson (inducted 1986)
• Vestal Goodman (inducted 2004)
• Elvis Presley (inducted 2001)
• Homer Rodeheaver (Billy Sunday's music director, inducted 1973)
• Ira D. Sankey (inducted 1979-80)
• George Beverly Shea ("America's Beloved Gospel Singer"; inducted 1978)
• Albertina Walker ("Queen of Gospel", Song of the Church; inducted 2001)
• Ethel Waters (His Eye Is On The Sparrow; inducted 1984)
• Charles Wesley (Hark The Herald Angels Sing, inducted 1995)

Groups: James Webre Blackwood (August 4, 1919 - February 3, 2002) was a noted American gospel music singer. ... The Blackwood Brothers were an American gospel music singing group. ... The National Quartet Convention is an annual gathering of Southern Gospel quartets and musicians. ... Pat Boone Charles Eugene Patrick Boone (known as Pat Boone) (born June 1, 1934) is a singer whose smooth style made him a popular performer of the 1950s. ... Shirley Caesar (b. ... Ralph Carmichael (born 27 May 1927, Quincy, Illinois) is a composer and arranger of both secular pop music and contemporary Christian music, being regarded as one of the pioneers of the latter genre. ... Light Records was a seminal gospel record label founded in 1966 by Ralph Carmichael as a joint venture with the Waco, Texas-based Word Records. ... Frances Jane Crosby (March 24, 1820 - February 12, 1915) usually known as Fanny Crosby, was one of the most prolific hymnists in history. ... Andraé Edward Crouch (born July 1, 1942), gospel musician, recording artist, songwriter, arranger, and producer, was a key figure in the Jesus Music movement of the 1960s and 1970s. ... Ernest Jennings Ford (February 13, 1919 -October 17, 1991), better known by the stage name Tennessee Ernie Ford, was a pioneering U.S. recording artist and television host who enjoyed success in the country & western, pop, and gospel musical genres. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Al Green may refer to: Al Green (musician) Al Green (politician) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Keith Green Keith Gordon Green (October 21, 1953 - July 28, 1982) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and pianist originally from Sheepshead Bay, New York. ... Carl Stuart Hamblen (1908-1989), often called Stuart Hamblen, became radios firt singing cowboy in 1926. ... Myrrh Records, founded in 1972 by Billy Ray Hearn as a division of Word Records, was one of the United States most successful Christian record labels. ... Mahalia Jackson Mahalia Jackson (October 26, 1911–January 27, 1972) was an American gospel singer, widely regarded as the best in the history of the genre. ... John Newton (July 24, 1725 – December 21, 1807) was an English clergyman, slaveship master and author who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace after converting to Christianity. ... Larry David Norman born April 8, [[1947 in Corpus Christi, Texas is an American singer-songwriter and record producer who is considered the originator and architect of modern gospel music. ... Sandi Patty (born July 12, 1956 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), known as The Voice, is an American Contemporary Christian music singer. ... John W. Peterson (November 1, 1921 – September 20, 2006) was a songwriter who had a major influence on evangelical Christian music in the 1950s through the 1970s. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Homer Alvan Rodeheaver (October 4, 1880 – December 18, 1955) was an American evangelistic music director, music publisher, composer of gospel songs, and pioneer in the recording of sacred music. ... Billy Sunday William Ashley Billy Sunday (November 19, 1863 – November 6, 1935) was noted first as a professional baseball player, and then more famously as an evangelist. ... Ira D. Sankey (1840-1908) was an American Gospel singer and composer associated with evangelist Dwight L. Moody. ... George Beverly Shea (February 1, 1909 – Winchester, Ontario, Canada) is a prominent singer/songwriter of gospel music. ... Albertina Walker (b. ... Ethel Waters, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1938 Ethel Waters (October 31, 1896 – September 1, 1977) was an African American blues vocalist who frequently performed jazz, big band, gospel, and popular music, on Broadway and off. ... Charles Wesley (12 December 1707 - 29 March 1788) was a leader of the Methodist movement, the younger brother of John Wesley. ...

• The Fairfield Four (Standing in the Safety Zone; inducted 1999)
• Bill Gaither (inducted 1983), Gloria Gaither (inducted 1997), and their group, The Gaither Trio (inducted 1999)
• Jake Hess (inducted 1982) and the rest of The Imperials (inducted 1998)
• The Jordanaires (inducted 1998)
• The Singing LeFevres (Mylon LeFevre's "BTS Quartet"; inducted 1998)
• Oak Ridge Boys (inducted 2000)
• Petra (inducted 2000)
• Second Chapter of Acts (inducted 1999)
• The Blind Boys of Alabama (inducted 2002)

Billy Graham was inducted to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999 for providing a platform to many Christian artists who have had the honor of performing at the Billy Graham events (Graham has preached the gospel to over 210 million people in more than 185 countries and territories). These artists include: Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, Larnelle Harris, Steven Curtis Chapman, dc Talk, Jars of Clay. Others associated with Graham's ministries are also inductees: George Beverly Shea soloist of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Team; Cliff Barrows (inducted 1988) music director and choir master for all Billy Graham Evangelistic Campaigns; Ralph Carmichael produced the music in Billy Graham films such as "Mr. Texas", "For Pete's Sake", "The Restless Ones", and "His Lane"; singers Ethel Waters and Stuart Hamblen. The Fairfield Four is a gospel quintet featured briefly in the motion picture O Brother, Where Art Thou?. They started as a duet in the Fairfield Baptist Church in Nashville, TN. Performances on the Prairie Home Companion Discography and history Category: ... William Bill Gaither (born March 28, 1936) is an American singer and songwriter of southern gospel and Contemporary Christian music. ... Gloria Gaither is a songwriter for gospel music, along with her husband, Bill Gaither. ... Jake Hess was a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer in the southern United States. ... The Imperials are a hugely successful American gospel music group. ... The Jordanaires are an American singing group formed in 1948 in Springfield, Missouri. ... Mylon LeFevre (1944-) was born into a Southern Gospel family, The Singing LeFevres, but stopped attending church when he left home. ... The Oak Ridge Boys are one of the best-known country and gospel bands in United States. ... Petra is a Christian Rock band formed in the 70s. ... 2nd Chapter of Acts was a Contemporary Christian music group comprising sisters Annie Herring and Nelly Greisen and brother Matthew Ward. ... The Blind Boys of Alabama are a gospel music group from Alabama that first formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939. ... Billy Graham, April 1966 The Rev. ... Michael W. Smith // Michael Whitaker Smith (born October 7, 1957, to Paul and Barbara Smith in Kenova, West Virginia), often nicknamed Smitty, is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist. ... Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962 in Paducah, Kentucky, USA) is a contemporary Christian musician who has won five Grammy awards and more Gospel Music Association awards than any other artist in history. ... dc Talk is a Christian rock band formed in the late 1980s in Lynchburg, Virginia by Toby McKeehan, Kevin Max, and Michael Tait. ... Jars of Clay is a four-member Christian band formed at Greenville College in Greenville, IL. The band has been praised for the unique mix of pop, folk, rock, and mild electronica, as well as for the graceful way they communicate their beliefs through their music. ... Cliff Barrows (born April 23, 1923 in Ceres, California) is the longtime music and program director for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. ...

External link

• Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame