GN2013 ARTIST     Wintley Phipps

 

Wintley Augustus Phippswas born in Trinidad, West Indies and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He attended Kingsway College, a Christian Academy; Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama where he received a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Theology; and earned a Masters of Divinity Degree from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Mr. Phipps holds an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Waynesburg University; an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Oakwood University; and an honorary degree of Doctor of Education from Wheelock College.

Wintley Phipps is a world-renowned vocal artist, pastor, motivational speaker, and education activist. He is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Dream Academy, Inc., a non-profit, national after-school program that provides mentoring and tutoring around the country to children of incarcerated parents and children falling behind in school. www.usdreamacademy.org Founded in 1998, this organization has grown from one center in Washington, DC to 10 learning centers located across this nation. The Dream Academy program offers skill-building, character-building and dream-building activities in a safe after-school environment utilizing both one-to-one mentoring as well as state of the art technology to deliver on-line academic enrichment.

Mr. Phipps currently serves on the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Board of Directors. He has also brought his considerable skills to a number of organizations where he served formerly including the Scholarship America Board of Trustees; the Council for Religious Freedom; and Prison Fellowship Ministries. Mr. Phipps served as the Assistant to the President of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, and Assistant to the President of Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland. For his work at the U.S. Dream Academy Mr. Phipps has received numerous service awards, among them: The Excellence in Mentoring for Program Leadership Award from MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership; the Oprah Winfrey Angel Network Use Your Life Award; the Philanthropist of the Year Award from The National Center for Black Philanthropy, Inc.; and the Distinguished Service Award from Loma Linda University. In recognition of his positive global impact through speaking, The National Speakers Association awarded Wintley the prestigious Master of Influence Award.

Mr. Phipps has been the featured speaker and performer for many notable occasions around the world. On January 21, 2009 his celebrated rendition of "Amazing Grace" was performed for the 56th Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service and President Barack Obama at the Washington National Cathedral. On January 2, 2007, by special request of Ms. Oprah Winfrey, Mr. Phipps delivered an inspirational address and prayer for the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. Hosted by Congress, Wintley has sung for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, and George W. Bush at the annual National Presidential Prayer Breakfast events and other distinguished celebrations. Wintley was selected by Oprah Winfrey to offer musical interpretations for her week-long coverage of the "9/11" tragedy and was asked to pen a special prayer for her to deliver in tribute to the lives lost. He met President Nelson Mandela of South Africa; performed for the 2005 inaugural swearing-in ceremony of President George W. Bush; the 1984 and 1988 National Democratic Conventions; USA Funds California Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Annual Conference; the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremonies in the White House for Mother Teresa of Calcutta and The Little Rock Nine; the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., TV special; 13th and 14th annual European Prayer Breakfast in Brussels hosted by the European Parliament; the Salvation Army; the Billy Graham Crusades; the Urban League; the Vatican for Pope John Paul II; the Rosa Parks Birthday Celebration; and Loma Linda University Centennial Celebration. He has also conducted lectures in Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa and North and South America.

Mr. Phipps has performed on Saturday Night Live and has been the special guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show and CBS Nightwatch. Mr. Phipps was nominated for Grammy Awards in 1988 and 1989. He is the author of The Power of A Dream (1996); My Greatest Romance: Love Notes to God Vol I (2011); founder of Songs of Freedom Publishing Company and Coral Records Recording Company. Phipps has attracted an entire new generation of fans as his performance of Amazing Grace has received over nine million viewers making him the most watched Gospel Music artist on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMF_24cQqT0. Mr. Phipps is married to the lovely Linda Diane Galloway Phipps (an RN) and they have been blessed with three fine sons: Wintley Augustus, II, Winston Adriel, and Wade Alexander.

Historical Information On Gospel Night At The Pops

In 1993, the first Gospel Night at the Pops was presented with Maestro Isaiah Jackson and Rev. Alvin Parris at the helm.  For the ten years from 1994 – 2003, Maestro Charles Floyd designed, arranged, and conducted the program. In 2004 Maestro Chelsea Tipton, II conducted arrangements by Dennis Montgomery, III, Renese E. King, and Dennis L. Slaughter.  In 2005, Maestro Floyd returned to the podium, and has conducted each year since.