30th Anniversary Stellar Gospel Awards
Entertainment — By Lamar Webster on April 12, 2015 at 7:41 pm
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Cover photo: Donnie McClurkin, Photo by Lamar Webster. Inside photo: Yolanda Adams. Photo by Lamar Webster.
By Lamar Webster
The 30th Anniversary of The Stellar Gospel Awards aired on the TV One network on Easter Sunday. The show featured comedian Rickey Smiley and entertainers David & Tamela Mann as co-hosts. The beginning of the show featured a surprise reunion of the supergroup Destiny’s Child, with former members Beyoncé, Kelley and Michelle reuniting on The Orleans Arena stage. The crowd reacted warmly to this group, as they went through two inspirational performances.
The packed house at The Orleans hotel in Las Vegas, was the host venue for the weekend of activities, that included a midnight bowling event on Thursday night, and several other events, with KCEP-FM Power 88.1 as the host radio station, for the events in the city during the days preceding the taping on the show. One of the events was a special screening of the sneak preview of the new television show featured David and Tamela Mann, titled Mann and Wife. The premiere showing is set for Tuesday April 7th on the Bounce network, and is geared for family viewing.
Special awards honoring lifetime achievement were given to Gospel pioneers who were announced for Stellar Honors, which included Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones, Byron Cage, Clifton Davis, Donnie McClurkin, Dottie Peoples, Kirk Franklin, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Ricky Dilliard, Vicki Mack Lataillade and Vickie Winans.
Some of the performers on the show included Yolanda Adams, Beverly Crawford, Canton Jones, Dorinda Clark Cole, Kierra Kiki Sheard, J. Moss, Jonathan McReynolds, The Walls Group, Shelby 5, Uncle Reese, Ricky Dilliard & New G, and multiple award winner Erica Campbell.
All in all, the show was such a hit, they are talking of a return engagement in Las Vegas for next year.
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Lamar Webster is a handsome and talented photographer that has covered festivals, including the San Diego Jazz Festival and has photographed several celebrities, including ex-boxer Mike Tyson. He is also an accomplished bass player, shining in his ensemble, "Crosstown Traffic." For more on Lamar Webster visit www.facebook.com/pages/Lamar-Webster-Photography.