Marvin Sapp dominates Stellar Awards

Written by Eric Tiansay

Monday, 17 January 2011 03:26 PM America/New_York

Marvin Sapp took home four Stellar Awards at the weekend, garnering trophies in the Artist of the Year and Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year categories, as well as CD of the Year and Traditional CD of the Year for Here I Am (Verity Gospel Music Group/Provident-Integrity Distribution).

Besides Sapp, James Fortune and BeBe and CeCe Winans picked up three trophies each during the 26th Annual Stellar Awards—which celebrated the achievements of African-American artists in gospel music at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Jan. 15.

Fortune & FIYA were recognized in the Group Duo of the Year category and for Contemporary CD of the Year for Encore (Black Smoke Music Worldwide/Entertainment One Distribution). Fortune was also named Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year.

BeBe Winans won the Song of the Year for "Close to You," while his sister, CeCe, was named Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year. Together they were also recognized in the Urban/Inspirational Single/Performance of the Year category for "Still," as well as in Music Video of the Year for "Close to You."

Hosted by Donnie McClurkin, the Stellar Awards also recognized Byron Cage as Male Vocalist of the Year, Karen Clark Sheard as Female Vocalist of the Year and Kristina Halloway as New Artist of the Year.

The Stellar Awards were taped for broadcast March 5 on the Gospel Music Channel. Click here for a complete list of Stellar winners.