CHRISTIAN
PERFORMERS IN AUSTRALIA
URGED TO ' STAND UP AND BE COUNTED'
The Inaugural 'Fish Music Awards' In Memory of Alan
Petterson Presented At Gospel Music Awards In Nashville
By Michael Ireland
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (ANS) -- Two
Australian Christian musicians, Darlene Zschech and Rebecca St James,
received two Fish Music Awards at the Gospel Music Awards in Nashville,
Tennessee this week.
However, more Australians need to be encouraged to strive for
excellence in their performance, according to a press release from El
Pez Productions & Management Pty Ltd, in New South Wales,
Australia, as distributed by Ramon Williams of Worldwide Photos Ltd.,
The Religious Media Agency.
 The annual 'Fish Music
Awards' are in memory of the late Alan Petterson, who pioneered
Christian Music in Australia during the 1960's, 70's and 80's. (Pictured:
Alan Petterson, founder of The Travellers. The annual Fish Music Awards
will be presented annually in his honor. Credit: Worldwide Photos Ltd
-- The
Religious Media Agency).
The release says this planned yearly project will assist in providing
opportunities for Christian Solo Artists and Bands to be showcased. The
'Fish Music Awards' will also provide opportunities for Christian
Performers to be offered recording contracts, management, mentoring,
and tour deals.
Alan Petterson was "well known for putting his money where his mouth
was" and his young group called 'The Travellers' toured Australia in
the 1980's. He ploughed virgin soil in Australia by creating ideas for
'ministry' and using Christian Music to reach young people.
His earlier group known as 'Young World' had been touring Tasmania when
Petterson had the idea of setting up a full time ministry group who
could do this work on a full time basis, the release says.
However, he put it out of his mind until after the success of
'Celebration '84 in the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
Petterson was invited to the World Convocation of Youth for Christ in
Hong Kong later that year and was so moved by all the young men from
all over the world, gathered together to discuss how they could help
the youth in their various countries, that he made up his mind that he
should offer them his help.
When Sam Heyburn (Australian Director of YFC) asked him to take on the
task of putting such a group on the road, Alan readily agreed and so
began 'The Travellers.
Nominations for Best Recording and Best Unrecorded Artists and Bands in
four categories begin now and finish November 18, 2005:
Gospel Solo Artist - Gospel Band
Rock Solo Artist - Rock Band
Country Solo Artist - Country Band
Jazz Solo Artist - Jazz Band
Nomination forms are available by emailing: elpez@bigpond.com.
They can also be picked up at Koorong Bookstores. The
winners will be announced on Friday, December 16, 2005 and the 'Fish
Music Awards' will be presented at the 2006 Christian Rock Eisteddfod.
Further enquiries : El Pez Productions & Management Pty Ltd
Phone: (02) 9653 9261; Fax: (02) 9653 9263; E-mail: elpez@bigpond.com
Christine Leaves, P O Box 25, Baulkham Hills, NSW 1755, Australia
| ** Michael Ireland is an
international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a
London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News
Service of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in
1982 and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two
children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a
British Christian radio station. |
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