The Southern Gospel Music Association (SGMA) is a non-profit corporation formed as an association of southern gospel music singers, songwriters, fans, and industry workers. Membership is acquired and maintained through payment of annual dues. The SGMA was formed in 1994, and states that its primary goal is “to preserve, protect and promote Southern Gospel Music, its history and heritage”. The Southern Gospel Music Association operates the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame in Pigeon Forge, a popular Tennessee tourist town, and also hosts the Southern Gospel Music Awards. The Hall of Fame and Museum was opened at the Dollywood theme park in 1999. (More from Wikipedia)
Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters won a slew of other awards over the years. From the Southern Gospel Music Association, they won the Pioneer Award and also the Album of the Year award; in 1997, they were inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame. Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters was also inducted into the Gospel Music Association’s Gospel Hall of Fame. Record World magazine named Wendy Bagwell the Comedian of the Year.
Little Jan Buckner-Goff was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame herself in 2010. After Wendy Bagwell’s death in 1996, Jerri Morrison no longer wanted to travel, but Little Jan still yearned to perform. Several of her songs have been nominated for Grammys, and she was named the Female Vocalist of the Year by the Southern Gospel Music Association on two occasions. Her song “Walk Around Me, Jesus” was the #1 song on the Cash Box Music Charts.
(November 2014)
