The First-Ever Dove Awards Ceremony Took Place on Oct. 10, 1969

October 10, 1969 was when the first-ever Dove Awards ceremony took place. The event was held at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. The Dove Awards were originally conceptualized by Gospel singer and songwriter Bill Gaither, at a Gospel Music Association board meeting in 1968. In 1971, the awards moved to Nashville.
Industry veteran Bob McConnell, Art Director and Designer for Benson Records from the 1960s to the 1980s, was one of the original planners of the very first Dove Awards show in 1969.
"We had lunch at a meat-and-three in downtown Nashville," McConnell says. "It was me and Bob Benson, Bill Gaither, Les Beesley from the Florida Boys and some other guys. Les came up with the name Dove Awards and we talked about the idea of a descending dove. The idea was to create an award with a descending dove to represent the dove from when Jesus was baptized."
After that lunch, McConnell got to work sketching some ideas incorporating the descending dove imagery. He showed his designs to Bob Benson and Bill Gaither, who loved what he'd designed. McConnell's sketches were turned into the award handed out at the very first Dove Awards, the same iconic dove statue still used today.
Performers who won awards at the inaugural ceremony included James Blackwood, the Imperials, the popular country band the Oak Ridge Boys, J.G. Whitfield and the Speers.
Here were the winners of the first Dove Awards:
- Song of the Year
- "Jesus Is Coming Soon"; R. E. Winsett; R. E. Winsett Music (SESAC)
- Songwriter of the Year
- Bill Gaither
- Male Vocalist of the Year
- James Blackwood
- Female Vocalist of the Year
- Vestal Goodman
- Male Group of the Year
- The Imperials
- Mixed Group of the Year
- The Speer Family
- Album of the Year
- "It's Happening"; Oak Ridge Boys; Bob MacKenzie; Heart Warming
- Instrumentalist
- Dwayne Friend
- Album Jacket
- "It's Happening"; Oak Ridge Boys; Heart Warming
- Television Program
- Gospel Jubilee, Florida Boys
- D.J. of the Year
- J. G. Whitfield
Tags : bill gaither Dove Awards GMA Dove Awards Nominees Bob McConnell the first-ever Dove Awards ceremony
Hot Trends
-
American Idol's Breanna Nix’s Debut Single “Higher” Soars to No. 1
-
Jesus Culture Releases Deluxe Edition of "Worthy of Hallelujah"
-
Hulvey Declares Bold Faith in New Single “Jesus Is Lord”
-
Jillian Warman's Debut EP "Free" is a Bold and Soulful Declaration of Faith
-
Here Are the Winners of the 2024 K-LOVE Fan Awards
-
New Documentary “J. D. Greear Unmasked” Exposes Power Struggles Within the Southern Baptist Convention
-
Tasha Cobbs Leonard Celebrates One Billion Streams on Pandora
-
Kutless Releases Bold New EP "Lies Of My Brothers"
-
12th Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards: The Winners & How You Can Watch It
-
7 Things You May Not Know About American Idol's Breanna Nix
-
Dante Bowe Rejoins Maverick City Music After "Accidentally" Posting Nude Selfie 3 Years Ago
-
Sanctus Real to Headline Revised Canadian Tour Following Newsboys Cancellation
-
Hillsong's Reuben Morgan Opens Up About What Darlene Zschech Taught Him About Worship
-
Nicole C. Mullen Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of "Freedom" with New Remix
-
Darlene Zschech and Here Be Lions Release New Worship Song "I Speak Jesus"
Most Popular
-
American Idol's Breanna Nix’s Debut Single “Higher” Soars to No. 1
-
Jesus Culture Releases Deluxe Edition of "Worthy of Hallelujah"
-
Hulvey Declares Bold Faith in New Single “Jesus Is Lord”
-
Jillian Warman's Debut EP "Free" is a Bold and Soulful Declaration of Faith
-
Here Are the Winners of the 2024 K-LOVE Fan Awards
-
New Documentary “J. D. Greear Unmasked” Exposes Power Struggles Within the Southern Baptist Convention
-
Tasha Cobbs Leonard Celebrates One Billion Streams on Pandora
-
Kutless Releases Bold New EP "Lies Of My Brothers"
-
12th Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards: The Winners & How You Can Watch It
-
7 Things You May Not Know About American Idol's Breanna Nix
-
Dante Bowe Rejoins Maverick City Music After "Accidentally" Posting Nude Selfie 3 Years Ago
-
Sanctus Real to Headline Revised Canadian Tour Following Newsboys Cancellation
-
Hillsong's Reuben Morgan Opens Up About What Darlene Zschech Taught Him About Worship
-
Nicole C. Mullen Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of "Freedom" with New Remix
-
Darlene Zschech and Here Be Lions Release New Worship Song "I Speak Jesus"