Andrae Crouch, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Shirley Ceasar, Donnie McClurkin, Clark Sisters, Marvin Sapp, Dottie Peoples, Cece Winans, Byron Cage and many other music legends & today's hitmakers part of GMC's Black History Month line-up in February

Contact: Jim Weiss, Gospel Music Channel, 770-692-4579

ATLANTA, Jan. 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Gospel Music Channel (GMC) will celebrate Black History Month this February with music and artists that have inspired the world.

In addition to major premiere programming and specials, GMC will also present special vignettes throughout the month featuring artists including Marvin Sapp, Byron Cage, Canton Jones, Ricky Dillard, Beverly Crawford, The Murrills and Angella Christie reflecting on the events and historical figures in the Black Community that have shaped their lives personally and professionally.

Other highlights of GMC's Black History Month Celebration include:
-- The basic cable television premiere of the 25th Anniversary of The Stellar Awards, the premier Gospel event that recognizes and honors Gospel artists, on Sunday, Feb 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Vickie Winans, Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin co-host this memorable evening. Legendary vocalists Tremaine Hawkins, Shirley Caesar and Dottie Peoples appear on stage together as do Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp and Byron Cage. The show also features piano collaborations from Smokie Norful and Richard Smallwood, Hezekiah Walker with his Love Fellowship Choir and Ricky Dillard and New G with a Choir Collaboration. Other performers include BeBe & CeCe Winans, Kirk Franklin singing a medley of hits, Crystal Aikin, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Israel Houghton performing with Mary Mary, and Donald Lawrence with the Verizon Wireless "How Sweet the Sound" winners, the Atlanta West Pentecostal Church Choir.

-- The world premiere of the 2010 BMI Trailblazers Awards Tribute to Donnie McClurkin & Andraé Crouch (Sunday, Feb. 21 at 8:00 p.m ET.) The all-star special -- recorded Jan. 15 in Nashville as part of The 2010 Stellar Awards festivities -- includes appearances and inspired live performances from a selection of contemporary stars and gospel powerhouses. Byron Cage hosts the tribute to McClurkin, which features inspired live performances by Latice Crawford, Micah Stampley, Pastor Marvin Winans, and Yolanda Adams, who is joined by McClurkin for a rousing rendition of "We Fall Down." Adams then hosts the musical homage to Crouch. Spine-tingling performances are delivered by stars including Adams, BeBe Winans, CeCe Winans, TaTa Vega, Mary Mary, Pastor Marvin Winans, and Dorinda Clark Cole.

-- GMC world premieres A Love Song for Haiti: The Making of 'Are You Listening' (Feb. 21 at 9:30pm) an exclusive special that goes behind-the-scenes of the gospel community's answer to "We Are the World." Kirk Franklin wrote and produced the song to benefit Haiti and assembled a who's who of gospel greats for the recording.

For a complete schedule of GMC's BHM programming, go to www.gospelmusicchannel.com/schedule.  GMC can be seen in 46 million homes on various cable systems around the country, on DIRECTV on channel 338 and on Verizon FiOS on channel 224.