The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, April 26, 1995              TAG: 9504260040
SECTION: DAILY BREAK              PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: LARRY BONKO
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   78 lines

DOVE AWARDS CALL ATTENTION TO CHRISTIAN MUSIC'S IMPACT

HERE, IN FOUR words, is all I know about gospel and contemporary Christian music:

Amy Grant. Sandi Patty.

How's that for being dumb and dumber about the music sweeping America?

I expect to be less dumb come Thursday night at 8 after I've watched the 26th annual Dove Awards ceremony on The Family Channel. That telecast, live from the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, will acquaint viewers with dozens of performers who are carrying gospel and contemporary Christian music to new heights.

Ever heard of Bryan Duncan? Steven Curtis Chapman?

They sing. They're hot.

Ever heard of Twila Paris? Kathy Troccoli?

They sing, too. They're also hot.

``Gospel and contemporary Christian music is definitely hip,'' said Bruce Koblish from Nashville, where he is president of the Gospel Music Association and executive producer of the TV awards show.

Hip? Really? Yes, he said.

``And a little edgy.''

What he means, I suppose, is that young musicians of the type who were driving hard rock in the late 1960s and 1970s are working in contemporary Christian music today. He told me about the musicians in the group 4HIM who perform with the decibels way up.

Were it not for the uplifting message in their lyrics - ``the only way to freedom is through the blood of Jesus'' - this group would not be out of place on MTV's ``Headbangers Ball.''

Groups who rap for Christ and others who spread The Word by way of heavy-metal will compete for Dove Awards.

A rock album with the message that He Cares? You bet.

There will also be competition in the categories of Southern Gospel and Contemporary Black Gospel and Traditional Black Gospel. Don't ask me which is which.

The nominations embrace 32 categories. Steven Curtis Chapman is up for eight awards.

``Gospel and contemporary Christian music is growing with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm,'' said Koblish. He estimates that the gospel and contemporary Christian artists command 3.3 percent to 5.7 percent of album and CD sales, up from near nothing a decade ago.

The 4,400 seats at the awards ceremony in Nashville sold out weeks ago. Gary Chapman, Steven Curtis Chapman, Paris and CeCe Winans will be the co-hosts.

When I chatted with Winans on the phone, she said it took major record producers a while to realize there is gold in gospel and contemporary Christian music. ``The day is past when the record companies believed that there was no money in our music,'' Winans said. ``They thought it was music just for those who go to church on Sunday.''

Today, the music of CeCe and BeBe Winans, Chapman, Paris and the other Dove nominees is produced and promoted almost on a par with the work of a Sheryl Crow or Boyz II Men in the pop field.

``We've attracted an incredible number of young, talented people,'' said Winans, who crossed over with BeBe Winans from rhythm and blues to Christian contemporary.

Also crossing over is Charlie Daniels, who has won Grammys in country music. He'll be competing for two Dove Awards.

After I watch the Dove Awards on The Family Channel - they will be shown again Saturday at 10:30 p.m. and on the WGN Superstation May 5 - I expect to be gospel cool. I anticipate breaking out in a chorus or two of ``Til the Storm Passes By,'' which has been nominated for Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year.

If there is Southern gospel, why isn't there Northern gospel? Should our paths ever cross again, I'll ask Koblish about that. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

THE FAMILY CHANNEL

Steven Curtis Chapman is one of the stars of Christian music.

by CNB