Contact: Jim Weiss, Gospel Music Channel (GMC), 770-692-4579, jim@gospelmusicchannel.com

ATLANTA, October 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- Gospel greats Yolanda Adams and Fred Hammond and their enormous contributions to gospel music are celebrated in a new original special, BMI Trailblazers Awards Tribute to Yolanda Adams & Fred Hammond, world premiering on Gospel Music Channel Sunday, Oct. 19 at 9 p.m. ET.

The special is highlighted by impassioned tribute performances in honor of the two trailblazers by Coko, Karen Clark-Sheard, Melonie Daniels, Sheri Jones-Moffett, Marvin Sapp, John P. Kee, Israel Houghton and Donald Lawrence. Also appearing: Gospel matriarch Albertina Walker and her group The Caravans; Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin; Mary Mary; The Clark Sisters; Lil iROCC and Trin-i-tee 5:7.

BMI Trailblazers Awards Tribute to Yolanda Adams & Fred Hammond will have an immediate encore at 10 p.m. ET on Oct. 19. The special, recorded in Nashville as part of the 2007 Stellar Award activities, will have additional broadcasts in October. For complete Gospel Music Channel schedule visit http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com/schedule.  

Grammy, Dove, Stellar and American Music Award winner Yolanda Adams, first earned a living as a school teacher in Houston, Texas, during the 1980s, while her striking beauty also supplied her with work in the modeling industry. Adams' debut album, Just As I Am, hit shelves in 1988, ushering in a bright new star on the forefront of gospel music. 1996's Yolanda Live in Washington earned the soulful singer her first Grammy nomination, while her next album, Mountain High Valley Low, snagged the performer her first Grammy Award. Since 2000, Adams has delivered the Lord's message to the masses on additional beautiful albums, Believe, Day by Day and What a Wonderful Time, showcasing both her unparalleled talent and devotion.

Detroit native Fred Hammond is one of the most beloved praise and worship leaders in the gospel music genre. His studio albums take on the alive, emotive feel of a concert. Like so many before him, Hammond developed his passion for song in the church choir at age 12. After playing bass and supplying vocals for the Winans during the early 1980s, Fred joined the group Commissioned, where he showcased his unique arrangements and grew as a producer, vocalist and songwriter. While Fred remained a member of Commissioned, intricately crafted solo albums like I Am Persuaded, his solo records Purpose By Design, In Case You Missed It...And Then Some and the collection The Essential Fred Hammond hit shelves, cementing Hammond's position as one of recent history's premier gospel music artists.

Gospel Music Channel (http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com) is the fastest-growing network in television today and can be seen in more than 40 million homes nationwide and on DIRECTV channel 338.