2006 Diamond Awards Handed Out

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Winners were recently named in the 2006 Diamond Awards. Fans and industry professionals gathered last Friday, September 15, 2006 for the Diamond Awards Ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky during the week of the National Quartet Convention.

Performers during the awards program included Karen Peck & New River, Booth Brothers, Brian Free & Assurance, Ann Downing, The Browns, Big Mo, The Goldens, The Old Paths, The Wills, John Lanier, Kirk Talley, Barry Wayne, the Alabama Spirituals, Ricky Atkinson & Compassion, The Georgians, and the Faith Harmony Boys.

The 2006 Diamond Awards were hosted again by popular Southern Gospel soloist Mark Bishop and Kyla Rowland, one of the industry’s most sought-after songwriters.

Presenters for the awards included The Isaacs, Karen Peck & New River, Booth Brothers, Robbie Maxwell, Big Mo, Paul Heil, Sandi Duncan-Clark, Brian Free & Assurance, Chris & Amy Unthank, The Sons Family, Amy Roth, Garry Shephard, Johnathan Bond, and many more.

Lamp Music Group was the major sponsor for this year’s Diamond Awards. Co-Sponsors for the event included 770 AM Southern Gospel, Southern Spin Entertainment, Coastal Media Group, 2007 SGM FanFair, and Southern Gospel soloist Quintin McGinnis.

Below is a complete list of winners for this year’s Diamond Awards:

Impact Award – SoGospelNews.com (Deon & Susan Unthank)
Paul Heil Award – SouthernSpinRadio.com (Amy Unthank and Chris Unthank)
Lou Hildreth Award – Paul Boden, U.S. Gospel News
Favorite Industry Website – SingingNews.com
Favorite Artist Website – MarkLowry.com
Favorite Christian Comedian – Mark Lowry
Songwriter of the Year – Kirk Talley
J.D. Sumner Living Legend Award – Gloria Gaither
Favorite Bluegrass Gospel Artist – The Isaacs
Anthony Burger Music of the Year – Anthony Burger
Sunrise Award – Sounds of Victory
Soloist of the Year – Ivan Parker
Duet of the Year – The McRaes
Trio of the Year – Karen Peck & New River
Group of the Year – Gaither Vocal Band
Male Vocalist of the Year – Guy Penrod (Gaither Vocal Band)
Female Vocalist of the Year – Sonya Isaacs (The Isaacs)
Video of the Year – Canadian Homecoming (Gaither Gospel Series)
Album of the Year – Give It Away (Gaither Vocal Band)
Song of the Year – “I’m Amazed” (Jason Crabb & Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir)

For more information, please visit http://www.diamondawardsonline.com.