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2007 Unity Awards Coverage
‘Amazed’ wows crowd at Catholic Unity Awards
Local artists Maher, Cortez receive honors
By J.D. Long-García, The Catholic Sun
October 18, 2007
New York Catholic musician Sean Clive let his fans know he’d be traveling to the eighth annual Unity Awards this month in Phoenix.
He wrote on his Web site that he’d be “attending, presenting, and maybe even receiving (little chance, but God only knows).”
He did a bit better than he expected. His album “Amazed” won five Unity Awards, including Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year and Song of the Year for the title track.
“It’s nice to have other people supporting you,” said Clive, a music minister at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Utica, N.Y. “You don’t do it for that, but when you get support, it’s nice.”
“Amazed” also walked away with best producer honors for David C. Smith and best album packaging. Smith, who played almost all the instruments on the album, also shared the Songwriter of the Year award with Clive.
Local artist Jaime Cortez won Best Spanish Album of the Year for “Adviento,” an Advent-inspired album. He performed at the awards ceremony with his three sons, Daniel, Nicolas and Benjamin, wife Kari, and other members of his band.
“I did not expect to win. I didn’t think the association knew me,” Cortez said. “But people I came here to talk to — other musicians — they tell me they love my music. It’s such an honor.”
Andy Andino, with the group Who Do You Say I Am?, produced “Adviento” and helped write some of the songs with Cortez.
“He really made the record what it is,” Cortez said. This is the first Unity Award for the longtime Phoenix music minister. He is now working on a project for children with Oregon Catholic Press.
Matt Maher, associate music minister at St. Timothy Parish in Mesa, took home the Male Vocalist of the Year Unity Award. Last year, Maher tied with local musician Tom Booth for Best Rock Album of the Year. He also won New Artist of the Year in 2003.
Musicians Katrina Rae and Angelina also walked away with three Unity Awards apiece.
Rae, a recording artist based in Hendersonville, Tenn., won in the Female Vocalist of the Year and in the Artist of the Year categories. She also won Best Religious Radio Presentation for Catholic Evangelization of the Year for “Changes by His Glory.”
Rae left her country music career in 1985 to “sing for God’s people” and has garnered more than 15 Unity Awards.
Angelina, who began her music career at age 10, won for her music video, “Touched by Your Love” and her song “Wait in the Water” won Gospel Song of the Year. Her album “Assembled” won Liturgical/Sacramental Album of the Year.
On the video side of things, Catholic Exchange received two awards for “Champions of Faith,” a documentary about the faith lives of Major League Baseball players.
“It’s entertainment, it’s not preachy,” said Tom Allen from Catholic Exchange. He said the producers tried to make a unique documentary that “people couldn’t take their eyes off of.”
“People are giving this to others who have been away from the faith,” Allen said. “When they hear these cultural icons professing their faith, it’s changing hearts.”
But the Unity Awards didn’t just recognize those in the media. Local Catholic Peggy Knoell received an award in recognition of her support of organizations like Arizona Right to Life, Friends of the Orphans and Ville de Marie Academy.
The Oct. 6 awards ceremony marked the first time the United Catholic Music and Video Association held the event locally. The Unity Awards came to Phoenix largely at the behest of local musicians Julie and Kurt Carrick.
“We’d like to see everybody who was here today become members,” Julie said. By joining the Catholic music association, fans can change the outcome of the Unity Awards by voting for their favorite artists.
“We’ve got more people getting involved, people with more talent than in years before and it’s really showing what Catholic music really is,” Kurt said.
Janice Gist, a Catholic from Midland, Texas, who sits on the Carrick Ministries board, said musicians should band together.
“Catholic artists aren’t about marketing. They’re about sharing their faith journey,” she said. “So many things that are dear to our hearts are not accepted in the public arena.”
David Palmer, manager of two Catholic radio stations in Dallas, said the music needs a broader audience.
“Radio has to be the one that promotes Catholic music,” he said. “The Protestants have done it so well. Now it’s our time.”
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