FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5/15/98

CONTACT:

Robyn Florian
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Greenville College
(618) 664-2800, ext. 4536

GREENVILLE, IL—As Steve Green recognized "People Need the Lord" with his well-loved vocal performance of this song, many in the Christian music industry recognized the talents of its songwriter and producer, Greg Nelson. This Sunday Greenville College will honor Nelson’s life-long commitment to gospel music by bestowing on him the Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Music.

Nelson’s enduring love of gospel music began with spiritual and musical training with his mother, strengthened its foundation through vocal, instrumental, and dramatic involvement during his high and college years, and soon after found a home in the production of Inspirational gospel music. He continues to demonstrate deep, mature growth through his recent composing successes of extended vocal works Savior and Emmanuel.

Greg Nelson graduated from Mary College in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science and a minor in Music. During this time he performed in many musical theater, choral, pop and classical ensembles, including appearances with The Association, Dionne Warwick and Sergio Mendez.

By 1978, Nelson’s production and writing talents attracted the attention of Sparrow Records. The move to Los Angeles as Sparrow Records’ Director of Publishing launched his career in the Contemporary Christian Music industry. In 1980 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee and began writing, publishing songs and producing records for nationally recognized artists, eventually working full-time as a producer.

For the next ten years of his life, he was involved in the creation of what is now referred to as Inspirational gospel music. Nelson was involved in the careers of almost every artist in the area of inspirational music including but not limited to: Sandi Patty, Steve Green, Larnelle Harris, Wayne Watson and Twila Paris. He signed Steven Curtis Chapman to his publishing company and was responsible for bringing both Chapman and Green to Sparrow Records for a recording agreement.

In 1990, while continuing to produce recordings, Nelson began composing concept pieces and extended choral works. He has recently begun to concentrate his creative energies in this area while also being involved in new film projects with Visual Entertainment International.

Nelson has been frequently honored, by top music associations and listening audiences, for his inspiring productions. His long list of awards includes 13 Grammy nominations, 6 Grammy’s, over 60 Dove nominations, 18 Dove Awards, 12 Gold recordings and two platinum recordings.

As Greenville College honors Greg Nelson, the attending audience will have the opportunity to bear witness to the character, motivations and future hopes of this talented and faithful musician. He will serve as guest speaker on Sunday for this year’s 106^th Commencement, scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. in the Health and Recreation Center.

--30--