Entertainment Attorney James L. Walker, Jr Tapped to Head Stellar Awards

CHICAGO -- After two years of service on the Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy (SAGMA) Board, Gospel Entertainment Attorney James L. Walker, Jr. has been asked to serve as President of the Board of Directors of SAGMA, Inc., and usher in some new changes for the organization in 2003.

"I am especially pleased that Attorney Walker is available to serve as the President of the Board of SAGMA and I have the utmost confidence that he will take the leadership role of expanding our membership around the country,” said Don Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Central City Productions, Inc, the Founder and Executive Producer of the Stellar Awards.

Walker has worked hard with the organization over the past two shows in securing the non-profit 501 c (3) status, creating corporate structure for board meetings, establishing by-laws, reviewing the membership growth and other educational initiatives for SAGMA's long term strategic planning.

"I am honored to serve with Don and Rose Jackson and Erma Gray Davis (the leadership of SAGMA) as we expand the organization to become a long lasting legacy for gospel music for many years to come," said Walker, who heads the prestigious law firm of Walker and Associates (www.walkerandassoc.com), based in New England and represents a number of major gospel artists and writers throughout the country.

Gray Davis, President & COO of Central City Productions, Inc. added, "It is a pleasure and a great opportunity to work with professionals such as Attorney Walker.  SAGMA will benefit from his expertise and strategic planning and the board will be enriched by his leadership. "

Each year nearly 30,000 people travel to Atlanta for the Gospel Stellar Awards.  Formed nearly 20 years ago, the Awards Show has become the most prestigious program in Gospel music serving artists, producers and the Gospel Music industry. 

Walker added, "One of our main missions is to establish chapters nationwide and eventually worldwide.  I hope to reach out to the major artists, executives, corporations and others in our Gospel Community to reach that vision.”

SAGMA is a non-profit educational academy established in 2000 for the purpose of supporting, encouraging and promoting the development of all forms of gospel music.  An organization of thousands of musicians, producers and other recording professionals, SAGMA is internationally known for the Stellar Awards, and is responsible for numerous groundbreaking outreach, professional development, cultural enrichment, education and human services programs.  As an umbrella organization, SAGMA provides an atmosphere in which artists, retail stores, radio stations, concert promoters and local churches can all work together to take Gospel music to the next level.