A Packed Weekend and Three Stellars For Tyscot Artists

The world’s oldest surviving black gospel music label, Tyscot Records, made a stellar showing at the 33rd annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards this past weekend at the Orleans Hotel and Arena complex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The weekend kicked off with two big events on Thursday evening. The first show was a “Tyscot Takeover” at the Urban Soul Café. It was hosted by Rejoice! Musical Soul Food radio announcer, Ace Alexander, and it featured riveting performances by Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Kelontae Gavin, Earl Bynum, Cheryl Fortune, Ruth La’Ontra, Javen and others. Tyscot founder, Bishop Leonard Scott; radio promotions executive, Tracey Artis; and veteran radio promotions executive, B. Jeffrey Grant-Clark, were honored during the event.

Then, Tyscot launched a VIP Reception & Showcase at Jnn’s Club. Cheryl Fortune, Kelontae Gavin, Javen, and Ruth La’Ontra all wowed the audience with great new music. Casey J premiered new music from her highly anticipated sophomore album, “The Gathering.” Bishop Leonard Scott also played his new radio single, “Working In My Favor,” which features Fred Hammond and Shirley Murdock.

Then, on Friday evening, Ruth La’Ontra energized the crowd with her rousing Top Ten hit, “Kingdom,” during the pre-Stellar Awards ceremony. Saturday morning, 18-year old Kelontae Gavin started the morning by picking up an ASCAP plaque celebrating his first Stellar Award nomination for his song, “Higher.” He then headed over to the Orleans Hotel where he literally pulverized the Radio Awards ceremony audience with praise and worship on his Top 25 song, “No Ordinary Worship.”

During the actual Stellar Awards show, Cheryl Fortune sang her Top Ten hit “Fighters “ during a Living Room segment that featured Gene Moore, Christon Gray and Jonathan McReynolds. Then, Anthony Brown & group therAPy appeared with an elaborate, high-energy performance of their new radio single, “I Got That,” which literally rocked the arena. Brown and the group also took home two Stellar Awards in the categories of Duo/Chorus Group of the Year and Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year for its latest album, A Long Way From Sunday. Although, not present, the Rance Allen group. Earned a Stellar Award in the category of Traditional Duo/Chorus of the Year for the album, Live From San Francisco.

The 33rd annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards airs Friday, March 30 @ 9 PM ET/8 PM CT on the TV One cable network with a repeat broadcast at 11