Wichita’s finest in gospel music will be honored at the eighth annual Wichita Gospel Music Hall of Fame Awards presentation on Sat., Aug. 31, at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church.
This year, six individuals and two choirs will be inducted. In addition, for the first time, Wichita Gospel Music Hall of Fame founder Cameo Profit will present a special Founder’s Award.
Selected to the hall of fame from Wichita’s abundant list of great gospel talent are:
Pastor Rhonda Kingwood has been singing in churches and on stages around Wichita for decades. She drew a lot of attention as the director of magnification at Saint Mark United Methodist Church and now she’s senior pastor of Heart of Christ Church.
Paul White Sr. has been active in Wichita’s gospel music community for more than four decades. He’s an active member of Saint Mark United Methodist, where he sings in choirs, but he can always be counted on to show up in support of gospel music across Wichita, regularly singing in community choirs such as the Riverfest And Martin Luther King Jr. celebration choirs.
Pastor Tommy Wade is being honored for his support of gospel music in Wichita. As senior pastor of New Jerusalem Baptist Church, he opened his sanctuary for gospel concerts at a time when Century II and other large venues weren’t an option. At 80, he’s the last of his generation in Wichita church leadership.
Evangelist Stephanie Vann is a well-known singer who was the first recording artist signed to Wichita’s Moshika Records. Her 2002 album “God Is” had great success on the gospel music record charts.
Roberta Jackson-Durant is a Wichita native who moved to Atlanta, where she forged a reputation under former Wichitan minister Dirk Cheney. Her voice became so notable that she became a member of Bobby Jones Gospel Ensemble and appeared on television every week on Jones’ popular BET show.
Dr. Brandon McCray (posthumous) was a world-renowned gospel saxophonist and reverend, and a dedicated music educator. His music moved. Sadly, McCray died early in the COVID-19 pandemic at age 52.
Group honorees:
ARISE, Inc., was founded in 1988 to educate about the history of Negro spirituals. The multi-cultural, multi-generational ensemble, with about 35 members, remains true to its roots and hasn’t stopped performing since.
Jermaine Milton and Exalt Chorale gave birth to contemporary gospel music in Wichita in the new millennium. The group was founded and directed by Milton, whose gifted voice was featured in most of the group’s songs.
Founder’s Award
Trevon Houston, a talented drummer who has played in Wichita area churches for decades, will be the recipient of the event’s first Founder’s Award. Profit says the award is personal, with him selecting people to honor who have had a great impact on his life. Profit says he decided to become a drummer after seeing Houston play in a church.
“I watched him as a child and it made me want to become that,” said Profit. “He was my mentor and he still is until this day.”
Awards Ceremony
The Aug. 31 award ceremony will be held at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, 2727 E. 25th St., Wichita. The event is free, but there will be a freewill offering. The event begins at 3:30 p.m. with a red carpet moment. The program begins at 4:30 p.m. That’s an earlier start time than in the past.
“I wanted the seasoned people to be able to come out and still be able to get home while it’s still daylight,” said Profit.
The Wichita Gospel Music Hall of Fame was started by Minister Cameo Profit, a talented gospel performer in his own right. Each year, he sponsors the program, free of charge, with the costs coming out of his pocket.
“Oftentimes, you can feel forgotten or feel looked down upon or replaced. This program lets them (honorees) know they will never be forgotten,” he said. “I love God, but it’s good to be appreciated too.”
He hopes to eventually have a permanent location for the hall of fame.
The freewill offering will help him with that project and other ministry and project goals.
8th Annual Gospel Music Hall of Fame
Sat., Aug. 31, 3:30 p.m. Red Carpet; 4:30 p.m. show begins
Progressive Missionary Baptist Church
2727 E. 25th Street, Wichita
Free & Open to the Public
Freewill offering
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