The singing duo Braeded Chord was awarded a WAMMIE (Washington Area Musicians Association Award) Feb. 18 for Best Gospel/Inspirational Group of 2006.
This marks the second year in a row that the performing songwriting duo, consisting of Sharon Dennis, a Culpeper guitarist, and Doris Au MacDonald of Fairfax, who plays keyboard, has been nominated for a WAMMIE honor by its music peers. Dennis is a member of Alum Spring Baptist Church in Culpeper.
Doris Au MacDonald and Sharon Dennis
The WAMMIES are the Washington, D.C., area's local version of the Grammys. Bob Schieffer, CBS newsman, who calls himself a “fledgling songwriter,” hosted this year's ceremonies in Falls Church
“This is indeed a great honor to be recognized by our fellow musicians,” says Doris Au MacDonald, keyboardist of The Braeded Chord. “We were surrounded by all of these great musicians, and we couldn't believe it when they called our names!”
They won, not only for what they do, but how they do it,” remarked Ron Goad, long-time Songwriters Association of Washington board member, who is himself a fixture on the local music scene. “I am so happy to know that judges do make good decisions!”
The songwriting duo's music is a mixture of folk-rock-gospel-blues. Their latest CD release, Radio Lane, followed two other recordings, Dream and Dare and Beyond What I Can See. They serve as the worship leaders for Church of the Word in Gainesville and perform in local coffeehouses, churches, festivals and benefits, as well as touring out of state.
They have been the featured musicians at the last two Baptist Women's Getaway Weekends at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center. They also hold worship workshops and consult with churches interested in incorporating a multi-genre, multi-generational style of worship in their services.
The WAMMIES began 21 years ago, with the first awards going to such notables as Emmylou Harris, Chuck Brown, Marvin Gaye, Patsy Cline and Duke Ellington.
Traditionally held to a standing room only crowd in the State Theater in Falls Church, the ceremony represents the coming together of many different musical styles and is an indicatin of the greater Washington community's support of its local musicians.
Information about the Braeded Chord is available at their website, www.thebraededchord.com.