Al Green, Vestal Goodman among gospel hall of fame honorees

<br>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ The Rev. Al Green, Sandi Patty, the late Vestal Goodman and BMI President Frances Preston will be inducted next month into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall

Wednesday, January 7th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ The Rev. Al Green, Sandi Patty, the late Vestal Goodman and BMI President Frances Preston will be inducted next month into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

The four will be honored at a Hall of Fame Awards show on Feb. 11. The event will be held at Trinity Music City in Hendersonville and will be taped as a one-hour special for TBN.

``The newest inductees for the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame exemplify the great diversity and history of Christian and gospel music,'' GMA President John W. Styll said in a statement Tuesday. ``Their contributions to our culture have had a profound and lasting impact.''

Goodman, known as the ``queen of gospel music,'' died Dec. 27 at age 74 of complications from the flu. She had learned a few weeks before her death that the Hall of Fame had selected her for induction.

The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame has inducted 125 members since its inception in 1971, including Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Amy Grant, the Oak Ridge Boys and the Jordanaires.

Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association represents all styles of gospel music including contemporary pop, rock, urban gospel, praise and worship, Southern gospel, country and children's gospel.

The GMA produces the Dove Awards, which recognizes achievement in all genres of gospel music.