Dottie Peoples

She recorded her debut album, Live At Salem Baptist Church, in 1993. On July 28, 2008, Peoples performed a free concert at the East Birmingham Church of God in Christ.

Already considered a leader among the future's female gospel greats, Peoples maintains, Gospel has to change a bit for the new generation because young people need gospel, need to hear a word from the Lord, now more than ever. By the time I leave the stage, I want to have an impact on somebody's life. In 1997, Peoples won the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award. That award emphasized that Peoples has made an impact on the world and will continue to do so as she sings in the twenty-first century.

Once described as ``single, saved, and successful, Peoples continues to win awards and inspire. She not only sings, but writes many of her songs, such as On Time God and Testify from her 1996 album of the same name. Testify won numerous nominations for awards. In 1999, God Can and God Will: Live In Atlanta became her ninth album. She sang songs from the new release to an audience of 4,500 at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. An inspiring 225-member choir backed her performance.

Though considered a traditional singer, Peoples appeals to all ages by incorporating contemporary songs and styles, such as rap, with her concerts. Her dynamic personality and faith keep her connected to others. Another way Peoples connects is through her business acumen. Though her heart remains with gospel music, she has allowed herself to branch out, first as a spokesperson for Lustrasilk, a hair product of the Gillette company, and then as a spokesperson for a southern women's clothing store, Colbert's. She can be seen and heard in television commercials. She has sung the National Anthem at the Atlanta Hawks basketball games and at the Centennial Summer Olympics. Also, in 1996, Peoples performed with Harry's Jazz Symphony and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the first time a gospel singer had been featured.

Gospel vocalist, songwriter, producer, tour director, businesswoman, and spokesperson Dottie Peoples has been a star in the gospel music industry for more than 30 years, since she was nine years old. Called the Songbird of the South by Atlanta WAOK radio announcer Brother Esmond Patterson, Peoples won the top four honors at the 1995 Stellar Awards with her album, On Time God. Since then she has perpetually won or been nominated for many awards.

Peoples's 1995 album, On Time God produced by Rev. Gerald Thompson, would change her role in gospel music. At the Stellar Awards, she won Female Vocalist of the Year for traditional music, Choir of the Year for traditional music, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year for On Time God. That same year, Peoples would receive a Vision Award by Bobby Jones Gospel of Black Entertainment Television and Gospel Today Magazine. ``On Time God would also win the Atlanta Gospel Choice Award for Song of the Year.

Atlanta Gospel Choice Award Winner, 1994, for Song of the Year, Pure Love, and Female Soloist Traditional; Atlanta Gospel Choice Award Winner, 1995, for Song of the Year, On Time God; Gospel Music Workshop of America/Gospel Excellence Awards, 1995, Album of the Year-Traditional, Female Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year, On Time God; Vision Awards Recipient, 1995, Bobby Jones Gospel; Stellar Awards Winner, 1995, Female Vocalist-Traditional, Choir of the Year-Traditional, Album of the Year, On Time God, Song of the Year, On Time God; Atlanta Gospel Choice Award Winner, 1995, Best Choir of the Year, Song of the Year, Everybody Ought to Know Who Jesus Is; Stellar Awards Winner, 1996, Top Female Vocalist; First Annual NAACP Phoenix Awards Winner, 1996, Female Vocalist of the Year; Gospel Music Workshop of America/Gospel Excellence Awards, 1997, Traditional Album of the Year, Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year, Count On God; National Association of Independent Record Distributors (Indie Award), 1997, Gospel Album of the Year.

Gospel music exploded in the nineties. In 1990, The Dottie Peoples' Showcase on radio station WAOK of Atlanta helped this explosion. In 1991, a year after Peoples started hosting, directing, and producing the show, she signed with Atlanta International Records. In 1993 her album, Live at Salem Baptist Church, garnered her a Stellar Award nomination for Best Female Solo Performance of traditional music. More nominations—for the Gospel Excellence Awards, Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, and Dove awards—would follow with other albums. Peoples's success with her Live album allowed her to leave her position with Church Door Records and sing full-time.

In the seventies, while working at Salem Baptist Church in Atlanta, Peoples persuaded Reverend Doctor Jasper Williams, Jr. to start Church Door Records. Peoples became the general manager. The record label produced albums for the pastor and the church choir, and later, in 1984, Peoples's first solo effort, Surely God Is Able. In 1987, People's Is It Worth It All nourished the spiritual world on the same label. Two other albums followed.

Vocalist with jazz ensemble and Groove Holmes, five years; Church Door Records, 1979–91, general manager; The Dottie Peoples' Showcase, WAOK Atlanta, 1990–96, host, director, producer; Atlanta International Records, 1991-; Harry's Jazz Symphony, 1996, vocalist; producer for Rev. Dreyfus Smith and The Wings of Faith Mass Choir; producer for Rev. Andrew Cheairs and The Songbirds of Byhalia, MS; WOW Gospel, 1999, vocalist.

Born Dorothy Peoples on August 12, 1950 in Dayton, Ohio, Peoples began singing at an early age. After completing high school, she toured with gospel pioneer Dorothy Norwood, a member of The Caravans. After that, she briefly joined a jazz ensemble, performing in various venues across the country.