The 50th Celebration of the Greater Bradley District Choir will feature one of the biggest names in gospel music with a performance that is set for 3 p.m. July 10 at Greater New Calvary Church of God in Christ, 3150 Highway 7 South, in Camden.
Earnest Pugh, an award-winning nationally known gospel artist, will join the choir for its golden celebration with a gospel musical.
Presented by the Greater Bradley District Association, the event is free and the public is invited to attend.
Pugh is a top-charting Billboard artist who has released 12 gospel music CDs and is known for hit singles that include "Rain on Us," "I Need Your Glory," and "God Wants to Heal You," the lead single on his 12th album, "The Outpour Experience Live," which was released in 2021.
The Memphis native splashed onto the gospel music scene in 2006 with his debut album, "Earnest Pugh Live: A Worshipper's Perspective."
The album won Best Gospel Album award at the sixth annual Independent Music Awards in 2007.
Pugh has gone on to win a BMI Award for radio airplay and he has been nominated for Dove and Stellar awards, the two major gospel music awards that are presented annually.
In 2017, Pugh added Emmy Award winner to his list of accolades, having been featured in the 34th annual Black Music and The Civil Rights Movement Concert in Dallas.
Local CBS TV affiliate, KTXA, picked up a Lone Star EMMY Award -- a regional award that is part of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences -- for Special Event Coverage.
Pugh has said that a highlight of his career is a performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with former President Barack Obama and the First Family.
He describes himself as a "PK" (preacher's kid), saying that he began leading songs in the church choir at 8 years old.
While serving in the U.S. Army, he was asked to sing at weddings, funerals and special events.
Following his 20-year military career, which ended in the mid-2000s, Pugh established a nonprofit organization, Veterans Emergency Relief (VER), which is based in Houston and assists veterans with basic life necessities -- food, clothing and shelter.
VER also organizes annual food and toy drives for veterans.
For more information about the gospel musical, call Diann Epps at 870-807-1925 or visit www.explorecamden.com.
Greater Bradley District Choir (Contributed)