Two local artists honored by music associations

Brooklyn Hall and Blaze Bishop were honored this weekend with “Most Promising Vocalist” awards from the Georgia Country and Gospel Music Association and Tennessee Country and Gospel Music Association respectively.

Local performer Blaze Bishop has been recognized throughout her budding musical career for her natural talent and ability to perform, but her recognition reached new heights when she received the “Most Promising Vocalist” award from the Tennessee Country and Gospel Music Association at their awards show this past Saturday.
“This was a really great experience to get to be at the awards show with all these other talented performers and to actually win an award,” she said. “I had a great time.”
Bishop’s father, Frank Bishop, said his daughter first got involved in the TCGMA through fellow Franklin County performer Brooklyn Hall, who is a member of both the TCGMA and the Georgia Country and Gospel Music Associations.
“Brooklyn told us about the association and how being a part of it can be beneficial to your career,” Frank Bishop said. “Blaze first joined the GCGMA and then got involved with the TCGMA as well.”
Frank Bishop said being involved with a music association like TCGMA can help artists in a number of ways such as helping them gain experience through scheduled performances, helping them gain access to certain venues where their performances are more noticed, and giving them a chance to network with other performers in the business.
“I’ve enjoyed being part of [the association] because it’s allowed me to branch out,” Bishop said. “I love performing in Franklin County and in North Alabama, but it’s also good to perform other places so I can have more exposure.”
Each year the TCGMA and the GCGMA host an awards show to spotlight many of the talented artists involved in both associations.
Frank Bishop said the nominations for the awards come from artists’ recorded performances throughout the year at different venues. A panel of judges reviews the performances and chooses a list of nominees for the different categories who are then invited to attend the awards show.
As an added bonus, artists were given the opportunity to enter a drawing to be selected to sing during the show and Bishop’s name was the first one called, which she said was both exciting and a little overwhelming.
“There were so many people there and many of the people who performed, especially at the beginning of the show, were very experienced,” she said. “When I knew I was going to be singing, it made me a little nervous at first because I wanted to do a good job.”
While she was backstage waiting to perform, Bishop heard the category for Most Promising Vocalist announced and then heard her name called as the winner for the TCGMA.
“I was kind of surprised and I was very excited,” she said. “This was a big accomplishment for me.”
And as if one award for a Russellville native wasn’t enough, Frank Bishop said that Brooklyn Hall, who was also in attendance at the awards show, won the “Most Promising Vocalist” for the GCGMA.
“We’re very proud of both Blaze and Brooklyn for their accomplishments,” he said. “It just goes to show the kind of talent we have right here in the area. It’s just amazing.”
After the exciting weekend, Bishop said she is now focusing on her upcoming performance at the Hard Rock Café in Nashville on Dec. 17 and on the Christmas CD she and several others from the local group called Entourage recorded recently at FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals. Those CDs will be available for purchase in the next couple of weeks at Goodsprings Fish and More.