ROCKINGHAM — Dante Bowe’s day was made Saturday — literally.
Mayor John Hutchinson honored the Grammy Award winner and Rockingham native with a proclamation declaring Jan. 14, 2023 as Dante Bowe Day.
The announcement was made on the steps of the old courthouse following the annual MLK parade sponsored by the Richmond County Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Foundation.
Hutchinson, reading the proclamation listed Bowe’s accomplishments including:
- Eight Gospel Music Association Dove Award nominations, including a 2021 win for Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year for the song “Joyful”
- Eight Grammy nominations, including a 2022 win for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for his contribution on “Old Church Basement,” a live collaborative recording with Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music
Hutchinson read that Bowe “continues to create music and art that is breaking barriers and displaying the glory of God and … believes that raising the level of authenticity in worship will cause cultures, generations and denominations to unite in a worship movement by merging gaps and removing all boundaries …”
Bowe is also co-founder and CEO of TRUE Music and heavily involved in charitable organizations focusing on children, homelessness and at-risk youth.
“I am shocked and, like, super overwhelmed,” Bowe said following a rousing applause from the crowd. He thanked his family and added, “I’m so happy I made you guys proud.”
Rockingham, Bowe said, is where he learned to ride a bike and his ABCs.
“Everything I know started here in this small town … I learned so much through you guys and my family,” he continued.
“You can’t hit a target that you can’t see … you have to see the goal, and I think, from a young age, from my grandmother putting me on a cinder block asking me to sing, I saw the goal and knew that, one day, this would come into use,” Bowe said. “My granny, who taught me everything I know about God, and stayed so consistent, she’s the reason I’m a gospel artist today.”
Bowe told the crowd that we all have “our own unique talents.”
“Our job is to just walk in obedience, always be grateful to God and be consistent … and letting him direct our paths,” Bowe said. “You don’t have to make everything happen, you just have to stay faithful.”
Later in the afternoon, Bowe gave a free performance at Rockingham Middle School.
