The Plan For Gospel Music Heritage Celebration Are Underway

Plans are currently underway for the Annual Gospel Music Heritage Celebration. Through the efforts of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and her committee are planning yet another celebration in and around the United States.

Currently there are various scheduled dates around the country to nationally celebrate "The Evolution of Gospel Music". Stay tuned for postings and updates. We would love for you to come and be apart of this great event. We will be needing voices and the involvement of the pastors and their church congregation as well. Website: http://gospelmusicheritage.org/site/

Other Attachments:

http://www.facebook.com/gospelmusicheritagemonth

http://www.watchgmctv.com/heritage

http://gospelmusicheritage.com/

September is Gospel Music Heritage Month!

A bit of background… the country has been celebrating Gospel Music Heritage Month since 2008, after Congress passed legislation acknowledging September as the month to honor gospel music. The initiative was spearheaded by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) and the National Recording Academy for Arts & Sciences, Gospel Music Channel (now known as gmc) and the Gospel Music Association.

But did you even know it was Heritage Month? Do you support or celebrate it?

I bet you’re not among the 864 people who “like” its official Facebook fan page, nor are you among the 37 people who follow its official Twitter profile (don’t feel bad, I just learned of it as I wrote this). And I know you don’t visit the GospelMusicHeritage.com website, which now simply redirects to the homepage of gmc, the organization that hosted the web address as the movement grew.

Ok, it’s not completely as desolate as I’m making it seem.

At the top of this month, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosted its 3rd annual “Evolution of Gospel” celebration in honor of Heritage Month. With a “Kennedy Center Honors…” type of vibe, the night honored the contributions of Dr. Bobby Jones, Cathy Hughes and First Lady Michelle Obama, who was unable to attend. The evening featured performances by Kirk Franklin, Richard Smallwood, Marvin Sapp and more.

And Heritage Month’s social media properties are hinting at some OFFICIAL event taking place in Houston, TX this month, though they haven’t announced a date or location.

My thought is that, because the gospel music community does not have an official, unified trade organization representing it, there is no group charged with really celebrating anything in it, including Heritage Month. Plenty of organizations– from SAGMA to GMWA, GMA to BMI, NARASto various acronyms in between– have done their part to honor the music and culture, but these groups are often overworked and understaffed, with other primary corporate objectives. Their celebrations are splintered across the country and across the calendar year. Who can plan a month’s worth of unified gospel music activities?!

But my observations do raise the question– we don’t really celebrate Gospel Music Heritage Month, do we?

If you agree, fine. If you disagree, tell me where the party is and let’s have at it.

Either way, I think we all need to do a bit more.

Come Help Us To Celebrate In Your City and State Gospel Music Heritage Month

H.Con.Res. 370 (110th): Expressing support for designation of September 2008 as “Gospel Music Heritage Month” and honoring gospel music for ...

...its valuable and longstanding contributions to the culture of the United States.

110^th Congress, 2007–2009. Text as of Jun 27, 2008 (Referred to Senate Committee).