By Elaine Hegwood Bowen, M.S.J., Chicago Crusader
Stellar Award-winning artist and music industry veteran Mark S. Hubbard has recently been elected as the Chicago Chapter President of the Recording Academy (The GRAMMYs). The Grammys board of governors selected Mark to this illustrious position during their formal electoral process that takes place every two years.
The GRAMMYs are the only peer-presented award to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position.
With his newly obtained position, Mark will oversee Recording Academy operations in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana.
When questioned about the service that he will administer to the Recording Academy as its newly elected President, Mark responded by saying: “I plan to represent all of the musicians, singers and music professionals within my assigned territory by giving them a voice at the national table.”
Stellar Award-winning and Grammy®-nominated Gospel artist Mark Hubbard has been sharing his love for music through ministry for the majority of his life, from having an interest in directing a choir at the age of eight to organizing and forming The United Voices for Christ, which is now affectionately known as “The Voices” at the age of 19. Staying true to his Christian Faith and knowing his gift as a young man, Mark set the local Gospel music scene ablaze throughout Chicago, and now globally.
In his humble beginnings as an artist, Mark Hubbard and The Voices released four projects with Tyscot Records: “Trust in Jesus,” “No, I Won’t Turn Back,” “He’s Up There” and “A Different Level.” Mark and The Voices released “Blessin’ Waitin’ On Me” (Utopia Music Group) in 2005, which garnered their first Stellar Award for Traditional Choir of the Year in 2006. With the February 2012 release of “Ain’t It A Wonda” and “For My Good” in October 2013, and “Faith Fail Not” in 2014, many are anticipating remarkable music as Mark has transitioned to being an independent artist, allowing him to truly tap into his abundantly artistic gifts through the love of music and ministry as an artist, producer, songwriter and vocal trainer.
Mark and The Voices have shared the performance stage with other renowned artists, such as Aretha Franklin, Richard Smallwood, Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker, Melba Moore, Tramaine Hawkins, Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Carr, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Beverly Crawford, Kim Burrell and Karen Clark-Sheard. Mark also has worked with many other Chicago music artists like R Kelly, even with an appearance in his music video. Additionally, Mark and The Voices have performed on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Bobby Jones Gospel, The Chicago Gospel Fest, The Regal Theatre, and at the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival in Shanghai, China.
To round out Mark Hubbard’s Gospel music credentials, for more than 11 years he has served on the Chicago Chapter Board of The Recording Academy and was elected as President of the Chicago Chapter in 2017. Most importantly, Mark believes in sharing his gifts and knowledge of the music ministry with others by conducting musical workshops for people of all ages and walks of life. He especially has a heart for the youth and ministering into their future.
For more information on the Chicago Recording Academy, visit www.Grammy365.com or call the main office at 312.786.1121.
