Dottie Leonard Miller
Dottie Golt Leonard Miller is an American business executive who heads companies that specialize in Christian music and other Christian products. She is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Early years
A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Miller is the daughter of William M. Golt and Dorothy Golt. She graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1963.[1]
Career
Miller's interest in Christian and Gospel music increased, and her communication skills improved, when she worked as a radio promoter for Calvary Records.[2]
In 1981,[2] helped by a $10,000 investment by family members and a friend, Miller launched New Day Christian Distributors in her garage. Over time, the company added books, clothing, games, gifts, and toys and became "a major source of distribution for the Christian retail market."[3] Recording labels distributed by New Day include BMG, Fuel, Malaco, Reach Records, Tooth and Nail, Tone Tree, and Word/Curb.[2]
In 1986, Miller and Ronnie Drake created Daywind Music Group, which comprises Daywind Music Publishing, Daywind Performance Tracks, Daywind Records, and Daywind Studios. Described in the trade publication Billboard as "one of the most successful companies in the Christian market",[4] the company has released more than 4,500 songs. Artists whose music has been handled by Daywind include The Blackwood Brothers, Brian Free and Assurance, Gold City, Mark Lowry, and The Nelons.[2] Daywind began producing the Live at Oak Tree series of DVDs of Christian performers, with the format derived from Miller's appreciation of music videos. The video recordings were featured on FamilyNet, Gospel Music Channel, and Inspo Network.[4]
In August 2008, Miller opened In His Service Gift and Music Shop in Hendersonville, Tennessee. In addition to Christian music and gifts, the store carries Jewish items and jewelry and clothing made by hand by Native Americans in New Mexico.[5]
Recognition
Honors given to Miller include the following:
- 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern Gospel Music Guild.[1]
- 2013 Gospel Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.[3]
- 2019 Induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame[2]
- 2020 Induction into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame.[6]
References
- ^ a b "Wilmington native receives gospel award". The News Journal. Delaware, Wilmington. November 12, 2006. p. 30. Retrieved June 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Dottie Leonard Miller". Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Gospel Music Association. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ a b "Hendersonville woman honored for lifetime achievement". The Hendersonville Star News. Tennessee, Hendersonville. November 15, 2013. p. A 7. Retrieved June 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Price, Deborah Evans (July 4, 2009). "Brand-New Daywind". Billboard. p. 23. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Store offers meaningful gifts for all budgets". The News-Examiner. Tennessee, Gallatin. November 30, 2008. p. M 4. Retrieved June 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Southern Gospel Music Association". Retrieved 6 August 2020.