By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com

The bi-annual conference is an informational and educational forum for gospel recording artists, teaching the fundamentals of artistry and offering a spiritual replenishment to help musicians maintain.

This retreat was extra special for the gospel industry because it included the historical groundbreaking ceremony for the Gospel Complex for Education & Preservation.

The project has been spearheaded by Albert Tucker, vice president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with Dr. Jones.

"Every genre of music has a home. It's about time that gospel music has one as well," Dr. Jones has consistently said about the endeavor.

Jones, an ambassador of the Commonwealth of Dominica , has been a proponent for education in gospel music and believes the complex will not only educate the Americans in general about the faith-based genre of music, but offer facilities for gospel artists to further their own education.

In addition to the groundbreaking, the International Gospel Industry Retreat included a bevy of classes and symposiums, television tapings, artist showcases, and award celebrations.

One of the highlights from this year's retreat included a grand salute of innovative gospel singer Vickie Winans.

Called the "Hardest Working Woman in Gospel", Winans manages herself, books her own dates, brokers her own endorsement deals and overseas her own marketing and promotional initiatives. All of that in addition to singing!

This year, Winans was celebrated in song by singers Mary Mary, Shirley Murdock, Dottie Peoples, Damita Haddon, Kathy Taylor, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Edwin Hawkins. (Haddon's rendition of Winans' hit 'I Hear The Music In The Air' brought the house down!)

James R. Miller was the narrator for the occasion and gospel comedienne Trina "Sister Cantaloupe" Jeffries offered a comedy presentation. Winans' son Marvin Winans, Jr. was also on-hand to share words and serenade his mom.

The evening, which was organized by Winans' friend and Black Gospel Promo CEO Veda Brown, songwriter V. Michael McKay, and singer Byron Cage, was capped off with a private cake and punch reception in a suite at the Westin-Diplomat Resort in Hollywood, Fla.

During another evening taping, Dr. Jones recognized thirteen industry professionals for their contribution to the industry.

James "Jazzy" Jordon (Zomba Music), Don Jackson, (The Stellar Awards), Susan Austin (The Sheridan Gospel Radio Network), Lewis Gibbs (The Word Television Network), gospel singers Edwin & Walter Hawkins, John Styll (Gospel Music Association), Charles Humbard (The Gospel Music Channel), Sheilah Belle (The Belle Report), Bryant Scott (Tyscot Music Group), Dr. Mack King Carter (Mt Olive Baptist Church, Ft Lauderdale), Bishop Victor Curry (New Birth Baptist Church, Miami) and Al "The Bishop" Hobbs (Gospel Music Workshop of America's Gospel Announcer Guild) were among them.

The night was hosted by actor Lamman Rucker ('Why Did I Get Married?') and Nigerian chief Sandrell Rivers and featured performances by Zomba recording artists Cage, 'Sunday's Best' winner Crystal Aikens, Deitrick Haddon, 21:03, Shari Addison, Marvin Sapp and even Dr. Jones.

There were additional performances that weekend by Regina Belle, Angelo & Veronica, Melvin Williams, Ty Tribbett, Jason Champion, Lexi, Jonathan Butler, CeCe Winans, VaShawn Mitchell, William Demps, Dorinda Clark Cole, Chrissy Collins, Lemmie Battles, Bishop Leonard Scott, Canton Jones, 'American Idol's' George Huff, God's Image, Christopher Lewis, Darlene McCoy, Lance Williams,

Carnell Murrell and Smokie Norful (with a Suge Knight-sized bodyguard in tow).

Others on hand to partake in the weekend included Judge Mablean Ephriam, Pastor Paula White, Albertina Walker, Johnny Sanders, producer Warryn Campbell, R&B singer Betty Wright, Delores Washington of The Caravans, K&K Mime, Florence LaRue of the 5^th Dimension, A7, Revelation S.E.E.D., Lonnie Hunter and every major gospel power player you can imagine.

The next International Gospel Industry Retreat will be held in late November. It is undetermined as to whether it will return to the Greater Ft. Lauderdale area.

For details on how you can participate in the conference, visit www.bobbyjonesgospel.com/.

To learn more about the Gospel Complex for Education & Preservation and how you can support this initiative, go to www.gospelcomplex.org.