SouthernGospelBlog.com

The Southern Gospel.com has an online awards poll currently posted here. Though this is just one of quite a few online polls, since I cast my vote, I thought I might as well post my picks.

1. Name: Daniel J. Mount
2. State or Country: United States
3. Song: “Last Night” (Karen Peck and New River). Since my picks for the three strongest songs of the year (”Once Upon a Cross,” “I Have Been Changed,” and “I Have Not Forgotten”) were not present, I went with this excellent song.
4. Album: The Ride (Hoppers). In my opinion, this was easily the strongest album on their list.
5. Mixed Group: Perrys. The thought of voting for the Collingsworth Family did cross my mind, but in the end the Perrys won out.
6. Male Quartet: Kingdom Heirs, for no particular reason. Several groups here have had amazing years.
7. Trio: Greater Vision. The Mark Trammell Trio was (unbelievably) not in the top 10.
8. Duet: Blank. [EDIT: They wouldn't let me submit the poll without voting here, so I picked Mark Bishop and Lauren Talley.]
9. Male Singer: Dean Hopper. Not a singer from a traditional traditional quartet made the list.
10. Female Singer: Connie Hopper. Libbi Perry Stuffle didn’t make the list, or she would have had my vote.
11. DJ: Rodney Baucom. I heard his station’s live stream a few months back; it was well done.
12. FM Station: Blank.
13. AM Station: Blank.
14. Internet Radio Station: All Quartets Radio.
15. Satellite Station: Blank.
16. Songwriter: Joel Lindsey. My two favorites, Dianne Wilkinson and Kyla Rowland, didn’t make the list.
17. Bluegrass Gospel Artist: Primitives. I picked them over several other similarly good groups because of their consistency.
18. Country Gospel Artist: Blank. I choose not to listen to secular artists, even if they do put out a hymns album before going back to their standard fare. [EDIT: Since I had to go for someone, I just picked Crossway, since I don't think they sing secular music.]
19. Lead Singer: McCray Dove. A couple of my favorites weren’t on the list. Where were Arthur Rice, Ryan Seaton, and Gerald Wolfe?
20. Tenor: Ernie Haase.
21. Alto: Libbi Perry Stuffle. Easy call.
22. Baritone: Mark Trammell. Easy call.
23. Bass: David Hester. I think he’s the best from that list.
24. Concert Event: NQC. Easy call.
25. Album Cover: Come Thirsty (Perrys).
26. Concert Promoter: Bill Gaither. Try naming anyone else in any genre of Christian better at turning out audiences and assembling a lineup that leaves audiences feeling that they’ve gotten their money’s worth and more, year after year after year.
27. Young Artist: Brooklyn Collingsworth
28. Regional Artist: N/A (I can’t believe they let this be an option!)
29. Comedian: Blank. My favorite, Gerald Wolfe, didn’t make the list.
30. Place to eat while traveling: My two favorite places–at the house of a friend and Wendy’s–didn’t make the list. I’m not sure I’ve eaten anywhere else while traveling. (Actually, I’ve probably been to a McDonalds.)
31. Hotel Chain: Blank. No preference.
32. Biggest category missing in this poll: Pianist. Kim Collingsworth is my pick. I like Stewart Varnado equally, but I seem to be the only one who does since he never seems to be nominated for anything. So among the popular pianists, Kim is my pick.