Sparrow recording artist Michelle Tumes was named Songwriter of the Year monday, April 23, at the Twenty-third annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards Dinner held at Nashville’s Richland Country Club. The ASCAP award, which was presented by Connie Bradley, ASCAP Senior Vice President
and Dan Keen, Assistant Vice President, recognizes the significant success
Tumes has enjoyed both as a songwriter and an artist during her brief, but
highly acclaimed music career. Tumes was also honored for three of her
songs, “Deep Love,” “Breathe,” co-written with John Mallory, and “Heaven’s
Heart” which she penned with Merrill Farnsworth. All three were among the
25 Most Performed Songs of 2000.
“I’m very excited to receive this award,” said Tumes. “I’m elated and I
thank all of the other songwriters, ASCAP and BMG for being so supportive
throughout my entire career.”
Her songs have been featured on projects by Jaci Velasquez, Sixpence None
The Richer and Point of Grace among others. In addition, Tumes wrote all
the songs for her own albums including her 1999 debut Listen, and her most
recent project Center Of My Universe. She was honored with a 1999 Dove
Award Nomination for New Artist of the Year and took the #3 Artist of the
Year spot in American Songwriter Magazine’s Professional Awards. Both
projects have enjoyed critical and commercial success, with five number one
adult contemporary radio hits including “Heaven’s Heart,” “Healing Waters,”
“Heaven Will Be Near Me,” “Please Come Back,” and “Hold On.”
Tumes also contributed to the first of its kind CD Music of Light in which
actual art images by world-renowned artist Thomas Kinkade are coupled with
music, inspired by Kinkade’s work which was produced and composed by Rob
Mathes. In addition to her vocal work throughout the release, Tumes also
contributed both a re-make of her No. 1 single “Healing Waters,” and a new
song she wrote, arranged and performed specially for the project, “Colors of
Light.”
Veteran gosepl songwriter Dottie Rambo was also recognized by the organization with an ASCAP Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. As a tribute,
the group Plus One, winner of Dove’s new artist of the year,
performed a medley of Rambo’s songs.
For more information on the 23rd Annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards, check
out www.ascap.com.
Sparrow Label Group (SLG) is comprised of Sparrow, re:think, Star Song,
Sparrow Kids, Worship Together and Straightway labels. SLG is part of the
EMI Christian Music Group (EMI CMG).
action=”http://go.MailBits.com/Tell.asp?500834.1″>
type=”submit” value=”Press here to tell a friend about this site!”
name=”Submit”>
