BMI Celebrates Black Music Month With 1st Annual Gospel Brunch

In celebration of Black Music Month, Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) has added another event to their roster of signature events that celebrates the music that we know and love. For the past few years BMI has been instrumental in honoring Gospel Greats through their iconic Trailblazers of Gospel Luncheon and Award Show. Now visionary, Catherine Brewton, who serves as Vice President Writer/ Public Relations and team have now gone a step further by creating the 1st Annual Gospel Brunch On The Park.

When asked about how the event came about Brewton says that it was an idea that came to her and that her awesome team pulled it together so quickly. Passionate about the art of Gospel Music, Catherine says that even though her role at BMI allows her to cross genres with some of the biggest names in music. Gospel is near and dear to her heart.

In an intimate venue in the heart of Atlanta, Gospel music fans gathered on a beautiful Sunday afternoon for an elegant brunch and time of worship. Set the hit the stage were Grammy Award Winning Artist Tasha Cobbs, Grammy Nominated artist VaShawn Mitchell, and two fresh and unique voices in gospel music Jonathan McReynolds and Todd Dulaney. The atmosphere in the room was serene and peaceful and people from all over gathered to celebrate Gospel during a historic month.

To show support for new and upcoming artist BMI chose to hold a contest through Instagram where singers and musicians were able to submit their version of a song by one of the artist set to perform. After hundreds of submissions two artist were selected.  A group of young people by the name of “Grace” sang their rendition of the James Cleveland  classic, “God Is”, and mixed it with the traditional hymn, ” I Surrender All”.  A true moment of worship took over the place when Curtis Eubanks from Milwaukee took the stage singing CeCe Winans’, “Jesus You’re Beautiful”. Curtis into  set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.

 

Hosts Isaac Caree and Catherine Brewton didn’t have much to do as their was a strong wind of power in the room.  One by one Todd Dulaney, Jonathan McReynolds, VaShawn Mitchell, and Tasha Cobbs turned a simple restaurant at a local park into a cathedral of worship. Songs such as “Nobody Greater”, “Turning Around For Me”, “Free”, and “Fill Me Up” were declared as hundreds of worshippers stood weeping, dancing, and receiving.

Throughout the course of the afternoon attendees were reminded of the fact that Gospel music needs the support of its fans around the world. With the music industry constantly changing and CD Sales declining if we want to keep the music we love around we have to show up in big numbers.

 

 

 

Each of the artist who performed represented the new generation of Gospel destined to continue to the long rich tradition of the genre. With all of them having new singles and albums on the way, Gospel music fans have some great material on the way. BMI plans to hold this event in other cities annually to keep the tradition going.