Gospel icons honoured at Grammy event

Gospel legends Edwin and Walter Hawkins, Sandi Patty, and The Winans were honoured for their contributions to Gospel music Wednesday night during an event paying tribute to the soulful genre.

During the Grammy Salute to Gospel Music event at the historic Lincoln Theatre in Washington DC, the music artists were recipients of the President's Merit Award from The Recording Academy, the organisation that hands out the music industry's annual Grammy awards.

"This event is a true celebration of gospel music, bringing luminaries together for an inspiring concert while recognising the cultural impact of this genre. We are delighted to pay tribute to such dynamic artists and their influential music," Neil Portnow, president and CEO of The Recording Academy, said in a statement.

The award recognises the impact of key individuals on the music industry and business of music. Past winners included Michael W Smith, the Clark Sisters and Bobby Jones.

This year's honorees - who have won about a dozen Grammys combined - have left their mark on Gospel music in unique ways.

The Hawkins brothers are best known for their Gospel rendition of the classic hymn "Oh Happy Day". The song became an international hit in the late 60s and remained popular since.

Patty, also known as "The Voice", has won five Grammy awards and is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

The Winans are a group of Contemporary Christian music artists formed by four brothers from the notable Winans family. Their siblings include renowned Gospel artists BeBe and CeCe Winans.

The Gospel icons performed Wednesday alongside performances by Rance Allen, Avalon, Kim Burrell, Maurette Brown Clark, Natalie Grant, Patti LaBelle, and Richard Smallwood.

In addition to the awards, good news jointly announced by the Recording Academy and the Gospel Music Channel earlier in the day gave another cause for celebration. The groups praised legislation that was recently approved by Congress that designated September 2008 as "Gospel Music Heritage Month".

"Gospel music has provided the cultural and musical backdrop across all of mainstream media, including art, books, television and motion pictures," Texas senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, one of the Bill's sponsor, commented. "It is infused in the DNA of our entire society and a month to recognise its importance and vast contributions to our country is long overdue."

On Tuesday, President George Bush had recognised the contributions of Gospel music to American culture during a White House celebration for Black Music Month. He characterised Gospel music as "more than an anchor for black culture and history" but "a source of inspiration for the whole nation".

"Gospel music continues to provide strength for our communities, and it is making the Good News sound sweeter than ever," he said.

The Grammy Salute to Gospel Music event began in 2004 during Grammy Week to honour those who have made significant contributions to Gospel music, whilst supporting the history and cultural impact of the genre.