Donald Lawrence Nabs 3 GRAMMY Nominations and 9 Stellar Award Nominations

The youthful but legendary gospel composer, conductor and vocalist, Donald Lawrence, has won three Grammy nominations for his last collaboration with his critically acclaimed choir, the Tri-City Singers. After fifteen years together, the group’s ambitious double CD/DVD Finale Act I & II (EMI Gospel), has produced the biggest hit of their career. The rousing lead single, "The Blessing of Abraham" spent an unprecedented 18 weeks in the #1 slot on the Radio & Records magazine gospel singles chart this summer. USA Today once referred to them as "one of the most phenomenal choirs out now."

Lawrence has won Grammy nominations for Best Gospel Song for penning "The Blessing of Abraham" which also won a nod for Best Gospel Performance. The Finale collection also won a nomination as Best Traditional Gospel album. The 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on "GRAMMY Sunday," Feb. 11, 2007, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and once again will be broadcast live in high definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Gospel music’s equivalent of the Grammy Awards - the Stellar Awards – also recently announced their nominations. Lawrence earned nine nominations (including artist of the year and special event cd of the year). The awards will be announced January 13th at the Grand ole Opry in Nashville.

Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers recently finished the first leg of a 50-city tour that will pick back up in March. Lawrence, who’s in demand as a soloist and a producer for artists ranging from Mary J. Blige to jazz great Ramsey Lewis, is separating from the choir to allow himself time to explore other artistic endeavors. One of those endeavors is teaching. Lawrence is a professor at Columbia College in Chicago.