Gospel Music Workshop of America

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Gospel Music Workshop of America
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Background information
Also known as GMWA convention mass choir
GMWA Women of Worship
GMWA Men of Promise
GMWA Youth Choir
Genre(s) Gospel
Years active 1967 (1967) - Present
Associated
acts
Rev. James Cleveland
Albertina Walker
Kirk Franklin
Kurt Carr

Gospel Music Workshop of America is an international music convention founded by Rev. James Cleveland along with Albertina Walker in 1967.

Contents

[edit] Origins

Cleveland held the first GMWA convention in Detroit, Michigan in 1968 at King Solomon Baptist Church. Approximately 3,000 delegates attended.

[edit] GMWA conventions and recordings

The GMWA typically holds its conventions beginning on the second Sunday of August. The conventions include workshops and musical performances during the week and attract 12,000 to 15,000 registrants annually.

A mass choir of 2,000 to 3,000 vocalists is formed at each GMWA convention, and year a new recording is produced. GMWA offshoots who also record include GMWA Women of Worship, GMWA Men of Promise, and the GMWA Youth Choir.

[edit] Membership

Active GMWA Membership ranges from professional and amateur gospel vocalists to instrumentalists, composers, arrangers, directors and producers, and the like. According to its official website, approximately 75% of the music on Billboard's Gospel Charts is written, arranged, produced, or performed by GMWA members. The GMWA also has chapters in the United States, United Kingdom, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

[edit] Current board members

  • Rt. Rev. Dr. Albert L. Jamison Sr., Chair, Board of Directors
  • Mrs. Sheila Smith, Director of Operations
  • Mr. Mark Smith, Convention Manager

[edit] References

This article is a part in a series on
Gospel music
Category  • Musicians
See also:
Christianity: Category  • Christianity Portal
Christian music: Category  • Portal
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[edit] External links


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