The 3rd Annual

GMA Dove Awards A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Awards ...

moved to

Nashville, TN Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

was held October 9, 1971, at the

Nashville Municipal Auditorium The Nashville Municipal Auditorium is an indoor sports and concert venue in Nashville, Tennessee. It opened October 7, 1962 with both an arena and exhibition hall. The former exhibition hall has been permanent home to the Musicians Hall of Fame ...

after two years in

Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Memp ...

. As a result of the voting irregularities controversy, most awards were nullified.

Controversy

As the

Gospel Music Association The Gospel Music Association (GMA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of gospel music. As of 2011, there are about 4,000 members worldwide. The GMA's membership co ...

was still in its infancy, during the 1970

National Quartet Convention The National Quartet Convention (NQC) is an annual gathering of Southern Gospel quartets and musicians. It is held at the Leconte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States. History The first National Quartet Convention was held in 1957. J. ...

, managers for artists were contacted by the GMA in order to have artists join the organization. Shortly after the 1971 Dove Awards,

J. D. Sumner John Daniel Sumner (November 19, 1924 – November 16, 1998) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and music promoter noted for his bass voice, and his innovation in the Christian and Gospel music fields. Sumner sang in five quartets and wa ...

(Stamps Quartet) and Paul Downing (of the family group) led a charge that voting irregularities had occurred, as Cecil and

James Blackwood James Webre Blackwood (August 4, 1919 – February 3, 2002) was an American gospel singer and one of the founding members of legendary Southern gospel quartet The Blackwood Brothers. He is the only person in any field of music to have been nomin ...

the Blackwood Brothers The Blackwood Brothers are an American southern gospel quartet. Pioneers of the Christian music industry, they are 8-time Grammy Award winners in addition to winning 7 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. They are also members of the Memphis M ...

signed friends as members and influenced GMA voting by suggesting these new members who then had voting rights to vote for the Blackwoods in categories they were eligible, or other suggested candidates in categories the Blackwoods were ineligible. The Blackwoods admitted to signing friends, but the group charging irregularities claimed the voting could have been rigged. The Gospel Music Association declared the 1971 ceremony null and void later in the week. Although technically within the rules, questions of fair play were raised. James Blackwood, leader of the Blackwoods, apologized. The rules were then changed so that such a thing would not happen again. Some winners on the original evening have refused to surrender their awards, even though the GMA nullified the entire year.

Nullified

''NOTE: This was from the 1971 Dove Awards program before it was nullified. All recipients are valid'' * Instrumentalist: Billy Blackwood and Marty Glisson * Album Photo Artwork: ''My God and I'' (Blackwood Brothers, RCA Records) * Graphic Layout: ''Amazing Grace'' (Blackwood Brothers, RCA Camden Records) * Back Liner Notes: ''My God and I'' (Blackwood Brothers, RCA Records) * Special Award: “Here Come The Rattlesnakes” (Wendy Bagwell, Canaan Records) * Television Program: ''Johnny Cash Hour'' * Gospel Disc Jockey: Sid Hughes * Songwriter of the Year: Bill Gaither * Song of the Year: "The King Is Coming," Bill Gaither, Gloria Gaither * Female Vocalist of the Year: Sue Chenault ** Chenault has refused to return the award to the GMA; she would legitimately win the next three consecutive awards in this category. One of the questionable artists in question, Donna Blackwood of the Blackwood Singers, was also nominated. * Male Vocalist of the Year: James Blackwood ** Had this incident not taken place, Blackwood would have eight Male Vocalist of the Year awards, which would be one more than

Steven Curtis Chapman Steven Curtis Chapman (born November 21, 1962) is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist. Chapman began his career in the late 1980s as a songwriter and performer of conte ...

, who has tied Blackwood at seven. * Album of the Year: ''My God and I'' (Blackwood Brothers, RCA Records) * Most Promising New Talent (currently New Artist of the Year): Kay Blackwood and Marty Glisson * Mixed Group: The Blackwood Singers ** The GMA's decision nullified what would have been the only win by the family in this award.

Hall of Fame

The GMA Music Hall of Fame debuted in 1971, and G.T. "Dad" Speer and "Pappy" Jim Waites were named to the inaugural Hall of Fame class. These inductees did not have their awards revoked.

References

Southern Gospel News e-mail.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dove Awards Of 1971 GMA Dove Awards 1971 in American music 1971 music awards 1971 in Tennessee GMA