Gospel music’s leading man, Earnest Pugh, sent shockwaves through the music industry this weekend during the 27th annual Stellar Awards (Gospel Music’s answer to the Grammy Awards) festivities that took place in Nashville, TN. Pugh announced that his EPM Music Group label had secured a distribution deal with Entertainment One (E1). “Under this new agreement, EPM Music will release new gospel projects by an array of established and up-and-coming artists,” says Pugh.
“Having Earnest deliver us a #1 Debut Album on the Billboard Gospel Chart in 2011 gave us a front row seat to his potential and the capabilities of EPM,” says Entertainment One General Manager and Executive Vice President, Jim Cuomo. Pugh has tapped music executive, Scott Cameron, of Brimstone Entertainment Consulting, as General Manager of EPM Music. “I’m honored to be offered the opportunity to work with Earnest and the EPM staff to assist in the realization of his dream,” says Cameron. “I see the potential of EPM to become a leader in the Gospel entertainment field and look forward to challenges and opportunity ahead of us.” Singer/songwriter, Keith Williams, will serve as EPM’s A&R director and one of its first recording artists.
The charismatic Pugh also thrilled the sold-out Stellar Award audience at the Grand Ole Opry to a riveting medley of his #1 hits “I Need Your Glory” and “Rain On Us.” Legendary choir leader, Ricky Dillard, was in the audience and says, “Earnest was just awesome. His performance was a highlight of the night.” The Stellar Awards will air on the GMC Cable Channel February 11, 2012 @ 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 p.m. EST.
A Memphis native who was mentored by Grammy Award winning choir leader O’Landa Draper back in the 1990s, Pugh released his first solo CD in 2006 and showed off his five-octave vocals on the radio hit “Wrapped Up, Tied Up, Tangled Up.” After years of making respectable forays into gospel, Pugh finally hit it big in 2009 with his #1 smash “Rain On Us.”
Visit www.earnestpugh.com for more information on this exciting artist.
