Among them, they've launched the careers of some of America's best-known recording artists, managed record labels big and small, been recognized by CCM magazine, honored with Dove award nominations, and laid the soundtracks for some well-loved movies.
Now, these music-industry legend-makers are collaborating to bring their "Midas touch" to reality TV and gospel music. The industry veterans are lending a golden ear to Gospel Dream - Gospel Music Channel's Idol®-style search for America's next great gospel music star - to help identify and groom the industry's newest emerging talent.
• COACH ELVIN ROSS - Score producer for Tyler Perry's Medea's Family Reunion and Diary of a Mad Black Woman (Tuesday only)
• COACH RON GRANT - Talent scout from Tommy Mottola's Casablanca Records label, responsible for developing the careers of Usher, Faith, Subway, 702, Divine, and Brownstone (Tuesday only)
• JUDGE JAMES "BIG JIM" WRIGHT - Grammy winner, produced Janet Jackson's The Velvet Rope and Mariah Carey’s record-breaking 2005 album, The Emancipation of Mimi (Wednesday only)
• JUDGE MAX SIEGEL - S.V.P. of the Zomba Label Group, home to Usher, Britney Spears, N'SYNC, and R. Kelly; president of Zomba Gospel, the No. 1 gospel label in the world (Wednesday only)
• JUDGE JOY WILLIAMS—Nominated for five Dove awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year for three consecutive years, voted "Best New Artist" by CCM magazine (February 2002), and singer of the No. 1 single, Every Moment (Wednesday only)
Tuesday, Aug. 8 and Wednesday, Aug. 9: The group will gather in Nashville to serve as judges and professional coaches at Gospel Dream's semi-final competition. But, there's a twist - contestants will be surprised to learn that they have arrived at gospel music Boot Camp - two days of rigorous music career calisthenics that include input from the powerhouse team!
At the end of their workout, the Gospel Dream semi-finalists will have a sing-off to see who moves on to the final competition Dec. 1 and who goes home to sing in the shower. Of the 12, only nine will survive the drills to continue their quest for the grand prize - a national recording contract with Zomba Label Group, a division of Sony/BMG.