Gospel Music Hall of Fame Inductees and Honorees

Don Light

Written by GMA | Apr 17, 2024 3:49:11 PM

Don Light, who began his career as a Grand Ole Opry drummer and general manager of Billboard Magazine’s Nashville office, secured his place in gospel music history by launching the first booking agency for gospel music artists. Don Light Talent launched with the Happy Goodman Family and the Oak Ridge Boys in 1965, soon adding to the roster the Chuck Wagon Gang, Governor Jimmie Davis, The Florida Boys, the Lewis Family, the Rex Nelon Singers, the Cathedral Quartet, the Singing Rambos, Wendy Bagwell & the Sunliters, the Thrasher Brothers and others. Over the years, Light added independent record producer and artist manager to his bio, producing more than 50 albums and discovering and managing a diverse roster of artists such as Jimmy Buffet, Delbert McClinton, Keith Whitley, Steve Wariner, Marty Stuart, Mark Collie, the Oak Ridge Boys and others. Light was one of the original organizers of the GMA and served on both the GMA and Country Music Association (CMA) Board of Directors for a number of years.