With 33 #1 singles from 22 albums, songwriter-artist Twila Paris has made a lasting mark on Christian music, paving the way for many Christian female vocalists and worship leaders. Paris released her first full-length album in 1981 and since then has written books, recorded children’s music, and created timeless worship songs.  In the span of a decade, Paris was the recipient of 10 Dove Awards, including the 1995 GMA Song of the Year for “God Is In Control” and the 1992 GMA Praise and Worship Album of the Year for Sanctuary. Churches across America have recognized several of Paris’s songs in hymnals, and congregations can be heard singing her works such as “He Is Exalted,” “We Bow Down,” “Lamb of God” and “How Beautiful.”  With classic songs that resonate throughout the church body and Christian music, Paris continues to be admired for her timeless and inspiring music.

 “Twila has a gift for creating beautiful music and words that can inspire people to dance and rejoice or bring comfort to them in trying times. She has composed a moving body of work that resonates deeply with her listeners,” said ASCAP President Paul Williams. “We are delighted to present Twila Paris with this richly deserved ASCAP Golden Note Award.”

 The ASCAP Golden Note Award is presented to songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. Past recipients include Mark Lowry, Michael W. Smith, Bob McDill, Don Williams, Mary Mary, Reba McEntire and many more.

 The Gospel Music Association takes home the ASCAP Partners in Music Award for playing a key role in bringing attention to the music of Christian songwriters. Founded in 1964, the organization aims to preserve the legacies of those that have blazed the trail for gospel music through the GMA Foundation and the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame. The GMA’s annual Dove Awards promotes and brings awareness to the best and brightest in the Christian and Gospel music industry. The ASCAP Partners in Music Award recognizes an ASCAP-licensed organization which has shown exceptional dedication in presenting ASCAP members’ music to the public.

 “ASCAP has always been able to count on the Gospel Music Association for its commitment to exposing the endless variety of Christian music to audiences everywhere,” said Williams.  “Through its awards shows and many other programs, the GMA is a touchstone for the Christian and gospel music industry.”

 The 2018 ASCAP Christian Music Awards will recognize the writers and publishers of the most-performed songs in Christian music, and features special performances by today’s most popular artists and songwriters in the genre. Top awards go to ASCAP Christian Music Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year and Publisher of the Year. Recent ASCAP Christian Music Awards honorees include Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Matthew West, Joel Smallbone (For King & Country), David Garcia, Ben Glover, Colby Wedgeworth, Brown Bannister and many others.

 About ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a professional membership organization of songwriters, composers and music publishers of every kind of music. ASCAP's mission is to license and promote the music of its members and foreign affiliates, obtain fair compensation for the public performance of their works and to distribute the royalties that it collects based upon those performances. ASCAP members write the world's best-loved music and ASCAP has pioneered the efficient licensing of that music to hundreds of thousands of enterprises who use it to add value to their business - from bars, restaurants and retail, to radio, TV and cable, to Internet, mobile services and more. The ASCAP license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. With more than 670,000 members representing more than 11.5 million copyrighted works, ASCAP is the worldwide leader in performance royalties, service and advocacy for songwriters and composers, and the only American performing rights organization (PRO) owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on Twitter and Instagram @ASCAP and on Facebook.

 

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