ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, April 27, 1996               TAG: 9604300013
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 10   EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: NASHVILLE, TENN.
SOURCE: JIM PATTERSON ASSOCIATED PRESS

DC TALK WALKS AWAY WITH TOP DOVE AWARD

dc Talk is proof there's room in gospel music for something new, as the twentysomething trio won artist of the year at the Gospel Music Association's 27th Annual Dove Awards.

The band, which started in rap music and still incorporates it into its mix of rock and R&B, also won best rock recorded song Thursday night for ``Jesus Freak.'' The band got its start when the members were students at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

``We thank God for just helping us to get to the place where the kids are, and pointing kids to God,'' band member Toby McKeehan said at the ceremony from the Grand Ole Opry House.

McKeehan, Kevin Smith and Michael Tait became the first group to win the top prize since the Imperials in 1981.

Since then, a series of baby boomers claimed the best artist prize, including five-time winner Sandi Patty, Amy Grant and Steven Curtis Chapman, last year's winner.

dc Talk beat out four other nominees for the top award, including Chapman and ceremony host Michael W. Smith.

From its beginnings as a rap band, dc Talk turned into a versatile and wildly popular group that jumps from ballads to hip-hop to hard rock, sometimes mixing all three.

In other major awards, Gary Chapman won best male vocalist, and CeCe Winans best female vocalist. Best new artist was Jars of Clay.

Point of Grace won best group, and picked up three other awards honoring its song ``The Great Divide,'' album ``The Whole Truth'' and its participation in the best special event album, ``My Utmost for His Highest.''

``Jesus Freak'' won best song, with the award going to writers McKeehan and Mark Heimermann.

Anointed won three Doves, including best contemporary album for ``The Call.''

Balloting for the awards is done by the GMA's 5,500 voting members.

LENGTH: Short :   49 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  AP. The members of the contemporary Christian group dc 
          Talk display their awards after being named artist of the year 
          Thursday night in Nashville. From left are Kevin Smith, Michael Tait
          and Toby McKeehan. color.