Gospel Search of America Prepares to Find Next Star
Early registration for the 4th annual Gospel Search for America (GSA) will start in March – more than four months after the talent search crowned its last winner, Minon Bolton of Missouri.
"We feel great about the outcome [last year] and have high expectations for the tour and Gospel Search of America 2009," says GSA creator Karessa Lang.
Last year, forty-two semi-finalists were selected to perform before a review board in Dallas, where the event's producers, TRAKO Entertainment, is based.
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The winner, Bolton, went on to record an album scheduled for release this year and is expected to travel on a 12-city tour starting this spring.
"[D]ue to the level of talent it was really hard to choose one winner," Lang recalls. "Look forward to seeing everyone back next year."
For the past three years, TRAKO has presented the Gospel Search of America, an event created to discover new talent with the help of sponsors including Gospelcity.com, Urbanroundup, Dallasgospelconnection.com, Thebellereport.com, Youcanliveagain.com, Tyscot Records, Comin Atcha Distribution, JDI Records, Bro. Steve Enterprises, and Marvelous Joy Ministries, among others.
Aside from live performances by the selected finalists, Gospel Search of America's annual gathering presents Gospel music industry seminars, showcases, concerts, ministry, and education.
Though the official dates of this year's two-day event has not yet been announced, for the past couple of years, it has been held in October in Dallas.
Judges for last year's Gospel Search of America included Bryant Scott of Tyscot Records, Joe Langham of Comin Atcha Distribution, Tracey Artis of Zomba/Sony BMG, Karessa Lang of TRAKO Entertainment, Sanchez Harley of Chez Musique Productions, Larry Blackwell of EMI Gospel, Richard Picart of Gospelcity.com, and Gordon Ely of Billboard Music Critic.
