Petra first rock band to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame

PIONEERING Christian rock band Petra will become the first ever rock band to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall Of Fame in Franklin, Tennessee on 30th October. Other artists newly honoured are country/Southern gospel harmonisers the Oak Ridge Boys; black gospel veteran Shirley Caesar; soft pop touring aggregation Truth (with their founder Roger Breland); original gospel pioneers Fisk Jubilee Singers; Southern gospel's the Kingsmen Quartet; hitmaking gospel unit the Edwin Hawkins Singers; and Benson Records' executive Bob MacKenzie. The Gospel Music Hall Of Fame was established in 1971 and has, so far, honoured 114 seminal Christian music acts.