About GMWA…

• Founded by the late Rev. James Cleveland
  
• Bishop Albert Jamison currently serves as Chairman of the Board
  
• The largest artistic organization of its kind with more than 200 active chapters in the United States, United Kingdom, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe and Asia
  
• Active membership of approximately 75,000 includes professional and amateur gospel vocalists, instrumentalists, composers, arrangers, directors and producers
  
• About 75 percent of the recordings on Billboard Magazine's gospel charts are written, arranged, produced and/or performed by GMWA members
  

• First convened in Detroit in 1968
  
• Begins the second Sunday in August each year
  
• Includes an Academic Division that offers more than 300 classes, workshops and seminars that are accepted in several states for undergraduate, graduate or continuing education credits
  
• National Mass Choir is made up of 2,000 to 3,000 vocalists from chapters around the world and produces a new recording at each convention after only 16 hours of rehearsal
  
• New recordings also are produced by the GMWA Women of Worship (women's chorus), Men of Promise (men's chorus) and Youth Division Choir
  
• Convention registrants average 12,000-15,000 each year with an additional 3,000-5,000 guests from the host community who attend daily worship services and evening concerts during the week-long convention.
  

• Born December 5, 1932 in Chicago, IL
  
• First sang under the direction of the "Father of Gospel Music," Thomas A. Dorsey
  
• Performed with renowned artists including the Caravans, Thorn Gospel Singers, Mahalia Jackson, the Gospel All Stars, the Meditation Singers, the Cleveland Singers, Jessy Dixon, Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight
  
• First smash hit was "The Love of God" with the Voices of Tabernacle of Detroit
  
• Classic "Peace Be Still" was recorded in 1962 with the Angelic Choir of Nutley, NJ
  
• Served as musical consultant for the television series "Roots" and many other film, TV and stage productions
  
• Credited with writing, arranging, producing and/or recording more than 450 songs
  
• Founder and pastor of the Cornerstone Institutional Baptist Church in Los Angeles
  
• Received four Grammy awards and the NAACP Image award
  
• Became the first ordained minister and first gospel recording artist to receive a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 1981
  
• Died February 9, 1991 in Los Angeles, CA