Contact: Mark Braff, 201-612-0707

 

ATLANTA, Aug. 30 /Christian Newswire/ -- GMC, America's favorite channel for uplifting music and family entertainment, today announced key elements of its programming lineup and on-air/online features to help celebrate the third annual Gospel Music Heritage Month in September.

 

Gospel Music Heritage Month, a celebration of gospel music's valuable, long-standing contributions to American culture, was first designated by Congress in 2008 as a result of a push spearheaded by GMC, the Gospel Music Association and The Recording Academy®.

 

"We are incredibly proud and pleased that Gospel Music Heritage Month has established itself as an annual event to recognize the tremendous impact gospel music has had – and is still having – on the music scene in this country," said Charley Humbard, president, GMC. "As the home for all things gospel, GMC will once again be in the forefront of the month-long celebration."

 

GMC will celebrate this year's Gospel Music Heritage Month with an array of special programming and on-air and online features, including:

 

·         A dedicated website, www.gospelmusicheritage.com, featuring special web-exclusive performances; programming and videos; interviews with legendary artists who have been instrumental in keeping gospel heritage alive; current and up-and-coming artists discussing their musical influences; gospel facts, figures and historical nuggets; and more. Throughout September, visitors will also find calendars of local gospel concerts and events happening in their area as well as web banners and other materials that can be used to spread information on Gospel Music Heritage Month.

 

·         Superfest: All new episodes will air on Sundays at 9 pm ET. DeLeon Sheffield, gospel star, Grammy Award nominee and wife of baseball star Gary Sheffield, will host the series. Founded in 2000, SUPERFEST has become one of the leading TV properties in faith-based inspirational entertainment and the live recording event is a must-stop on the annual gospel events calendar for superstars including Richard Smallwood, J. Moss, Karen Clark Sheard, Hezekiah Walker, Kiki Sheard, Regina Belle, Trin-i-tee 5:7, The Whispers, Mary Mary, Shirley Murdock, Byron Cage, Dorinda Clarke Cole and many more.

 

·         World premiere music videos from Casting Crowns to premiere before the feature film, Facing the Giants, on Friday, Sept. 3 at 8 pm ET. The superstar group has won 23 Dove Awards and a Grammy, and has had eight chart-topping singles.

 

·         The GMC premiere of The Gospel Live. Anthony Anderson hosts this concert special, a celebration of song in faith. Appearing are Deitrick Haddon, CeCe Winans, Keith Wilson's Choir, Mary Mary, Martha Munizzi, Hezekah Walker, Kelly Rice, Kierra "Kiki" Sheard and Michah Stampley.

 

·         Specially-created Gospel Music Heritage Month interstitials in all dayparts throughout September. More than three dozen artists will be featured, including Amy Grant, Billy Ray Cyrus, Melinda Watts, Byron Cage, Mary Mary, Tye Tribbett, Hezekiah Walker, Toby Mac, J Moss and George Huff. The artists will share stories describing the role gospel music has played in their lives, as well as the music's broader influence on American culture and the importance of its recognition by Congress.

 

·         The introduction of a new on-air campaign titled "Gospel Musicology," a fun and interactive series of spots testing the musical knowledge of some of today's biggest artists, including Warner Brothers recording artist Robert Randolph, as well as GMC viewers.

 

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