Steven Curtis Chapman big winner at 21st annual Dove Awards

THE 21st ANNUAL Dove Awards were held recently in Nashville. Steven Curtis Chapman was the winner in a record-breaking five categories. The Awards included Artist Of The Year; Male Vocalist Of The Year; Songwriter Of The Year; Southern Gospel Recorded Song Of The Year (for "I Can See The Hand", performed by the Cathedrals); and Inspirational Recorded Song Of The Year (for "His Strength Is Perfect", from the album 'More To This Life'). On receiving the Artist Of The Year Award, Chapman said he realised that the position was seen as being a representative of Christian music. "My prayer is that I'll be able to carry that responsibility to honour my peers, the Church, and - most of all - Jesus", he told the audience.

BeBe and CeCe Winans became the first black gospel artists to win a Dove in the Contemporary Album Of The Year category. They received three other Doves; Group Of The Year; Contemporary Black Gospel Recorded Song Of The Year ("With My Whole Heart"); and Contemporary Recorded Song Of The Year (the title track from their album 'Heaven').

A complete list of the awards follows: Song Of The Year: "Thank You", Ray Bolz; Songwriter Of The Year: Steven Curtis Chapman; Male Vocalist Of The Year: Steven Curtis Chapman; Female Vocalist Of The Year: Sandi Patti; Group Of The Year: BeBe and CeCe Winans; Artist Of the Year: Steven Curtis Chapman; New Artist Of The Year: David Mullen; Album Of The Year Contemporary: 'Heaven', BeBe and CeCe Winans, Keith Thomas, producer (Sparrow); Album Of The Year Inspirational: 'The Mission', Steve Green, Greg Nelson, producer (Sparrow); Album Of The Year Metal: 'Triumphant Return', Whitecross, Rex Carroll/Joey Powers, producers (Pure Metal); Album Of The Year Rock: 'The Way Home', Russ Taff, Russ Taff/James Holihan, producers (Myrrh); Album Of The Year Southern Gospel: 'I Just Started Living', The Cathedrals, Lari Goss, producer (Homeland): Album Of The Year Country: 'Heirloom', Heirloom, Michael Sykes, Trent Hemphill, producers (Benson); Album Of The Year Contemporary Black Gospel: 'Will You Be Ready?', Commissioned, Fred Hammond, Michael Brooks, producers.(Light); Album Of The Year Traditional Black Gospel: "Saints In Praise', West Angeles Church of God in Christ, Patrick Henderson, producer (Sparrow); Album Of The Year Instrumental: 'One Of Several Possible Musiks', Kerry Livgren, Kerry Livgren, producer (Sparrow); Album Of The Year Worship and Praise: 'Our Hymns', Various Artists (Word); Album Of The Year Musical: 'Friends Forever/Part 2', Billy Sprague, Jim Webber/Nan Gurley, Billy Sprague, creators (Word/Meadowgreen); Album Of The Year Choral Collection: 'The Acappella Collection', Greg Nelson Singers, Greg Nelson, creator (Wordsong); Album Of The Year Children's Music: 'The Friendship Company', Sandi Patti, Sandi Patti, creator (Word); Recorded Song Of The Year Contemporary: 'Heaven', BeBe and CeCe Winans, Keith Thomas/ Benjamin Winans; Recorded Song Of The Year Inspirational: 'His Strength Is Perfect', Steven Curtis Chapman, Chapman/Salley; Recorded Song Of The Year Metal: 'In Your Face', Shout, Ken Tamplin; Recorded Song Of The Year Rock: 'The River Unbroken', Russ Taff, Darryl Brown/David Battean; Recorded Song Of The Year Southern Gospel: 'I Can See The Hand', Cathedrals, Steven Curtis Chapman/Jim Chapman III; Recorded Song Of The Year Country: 'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus', Amy Grant, Grant/McPherson/Cloninger/ Bannister/O'Conner; Recorded Song Of The Year Contemporary Black Gospel: 'With My Whole Heart', BeBe and CeCe Winans, Patrick Henderson/Louis Brown III; Recorded Song Of The Year Traditional BlackGospel: 'Wonderful', Beau Williams; Recorded Music Packaging Of The Year: 'Petra Praise', Jackson Design, Mark Tucker; Short Form Video Of The Year: 'I Miss The Way', Michael W. Smith, Steve York, director; Long Form Video Of The Year: 'On Fire', Petra, Steve Yoke, director.