Meet the GAMA Team

Get to know the dedicated leaders guiding gospel music with purpose.

At the heart of the Gospel Artist Music Association is a leadership team driven by faith, excellence, and a passion for empowering others through music. With decades of collective experience in the gospel music industry, our leaders bring vision, integrity, and expertise to every initiative.

Our Leadership Team

Minister James A. Willis Jr. President

Combining his years in the industry and as a Minister, he has been serving for over forty (40) years. His passion for music and ministry speaks for itself. Music runs through his veins; without it, he cannot effectively do what he is called to do. His musical abilities span from writing, composing, vocal arranging, and teaching. Minister Willis is a force to be reckoned with. His unquestionable character and drive to support all Ministers and Artists worldwide are driven by God. Mr. Willis holds a bachelor’s degree in physiology. Whatever his hands find to do, he does, and he does it well. He’s always supportive of everyone and believes all are equal.

Terri McConnell Vice President

The Music Ministry of Terri McConnell will certainly “Encourage your heart” and “Lift your Spirit” with a joy-filled message of God’s love for all. She is an Inspiring and gifted Songstress whose “warm smile” expresses her dedication and determination to spreading the Gospel to the world. With billboard charting songs in the top fifty, two European world tours including Italy and Switzerland, the UK-London, England, two-time Rhythm of Gospel Music Award Winner for Traditional Female Vocalist of The Year, VOGMA Award Winner, and the list goes on. Terri is no stranger to the Gospel Music Industry. She is blessed with a dynamic Music Ministry and is a National / International Recording Artist who is unstoppable when it comes to using her gift for the kingdom. Terri is a native of Oklahoma. Her professional background was in nursing, but she transitioned into the business field. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree (MBA) with a focus on Administration Leadership. She started singing solos when she was a little girl alongside her father and his local Gospel Quartet Group and has been singing ever since. She developed a love for singing praises to God and never stopped. As she grew up, she began leading songs for the children’s church choir. At age twelve, she asked her parents for a piano, and her desire to play was so strong that her parents bought her the piano. She would sit for hours after school picking out songs, one note at a time, until she could successfully play “Jesus Keep Me near The Cross”. Little did people know, God was already preparing her for ministry. Terri formed her first group singing with her sisters (The Lewis Singers) and was well known for their sincerity and for ushering in the Holy Spirit. When they sang, the anointing would fall, lives were changed, and they were never the same. As she continued her walk-in singing, she became the Minister of Music in her local church, then on to Praise and Worship leader for over twenty years. Terri is now a developed singer and has devoted her life to sharing good Gospel Music, with excellence wherever she goes. Terri has appeared on many Concerts, Conferences, Workshops, Musicals, Revivals, Bobby Jones Gospel TV Show, Singsation, The Word Network, and Church Services locally, nationally, and internationally. In 2024, Terri made her first appearance on the big screen in a film entitled “Sarah’s Oil”, released in all AMC theaters nationwide and on Amazon Prime. Ebony Magazine names Terri McConnell and her project “He Worked It Out” one of the new and hottest in black music. Spirit Led Women, I Am Magazine, and Ebony are just a few of the print media magazines that have featured Terri in their magazine. Terri’s utmost focus is that God will get all the “Honor” from what He has called and blessed her to do through Music. She will continue to uphold a “standard” of living that will be pleasing and acceptable unto God while singing praises and lifting her voice to the “Glory of God”!!!

Leslie Berry Smith Marketing and Promotion

Leslie’s experience with people and her ability to organize the perfect marketing plan in getting the word out to the masses is well-documented. She joined the executive staff for the Gospel Artist Music Association (GAMA) in 2022 and serves as the Director of Marketing. Leslie’s utmost belief is that God instilled in her a passion and love for others, and she is a willing disciple while inviting others to Christ.

Carolyn Traylor Artist Development

Carolyn Traylor, better known as, “The Texas Powerhouse” is no stranger to the gospel music community, A successful career spanning over twenty years, Carolyn has lent her soul stirring vocals to many recorded projects and shared platforms with many leading gospel recording artist such as Dr. Bobby Jones, Albertina Walker, Paul Porter, Willie Neal Johnson and the Gospel Keynotes, Canton Spirituals, Dorthy Norwood, Pastor Marvin Sapp, Vicki Winans, and Kirk Franklin to name a few. Carolyn Traylor continues to move her audience with heartwarming performances of her most notable songs, “Can’t Nobody Beat God Being God” and “There’s A Story Behind My Praise”. These songs have become anthems of inspiration to many, and to this day, they continue to bring hope to the masses that God never fails.

Lakesha Mackie Director of Operations

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Music was and is instrumental in her life. The love for music started to build in her at the age of four, and to date, music still reigns in the heart of this voluminous soprano. Lakesha has had the opportunity to sing background for many of the well-known gospel artists in the Bay Area, as well as touring and recording. After moving to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 2002, she became very active in the community and her church which is the Wildwood Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. E.W. Bryant where she serves faithfully as directress of various choirs, Praise and Worship Team, and is heavily involved in her youth and Sunday School Department.

Mary Downs Secretary Treasurer

Ms. Mary E. Downs has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering/technology and a Master of Science degree in environmental engineering science. She has experience in program managing environmental engineering contracts valued over $8M, which provide hazardous waste handling and disposal support services for Tinker Air Force Base. One of her primary tasks is to track contractor job performances, invoice billings, and ensure that the financial budget is available to properly pay contractors as they provide invoices for payment of services. Mary really loves the Lord and has a heart for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the ministry of music. She loves supporting others in this Christian journey.

Dr. Caroline Whittaker Business Administration

Dr. Whittaker, known as “Dr. C” by her colleagues and “Dr. Whitt” by her family, has been a higher education college professor for over ten years and involved in governance work at the college level. Dr. Whittaker maintains a passion for teaching and training and values the opportunity of learning and advocating the success of others. Her experience in educating students includes business management, business math, organizational behavior and leadership, human resource management, human relations, and marketing.

Our Ministry Advisors

Pastor Lee Cooper Prospect Church Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Pastor Larry Foster Progressive Baptist Church Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Pastor E.J. Tyson New Hope Baptist Church Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Pastor Walter Wilson Friendship Baptist Church Lawton, OK

Pastor M. L. Jemison Relentless Truth Ministries Haslet, Texas

Rev Roy McConnell Okmulgee, Oklahoma

Pastor Ronald Scott

Minister Nick Tillman

Pastor Derrick Scobey SPiritual Advisor/GAMA Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Chruch/Okc City Oklahoma

Pastor Kenneth Sherill Always Remembering

Our Industry Advisors

Angela “Missy” Billups Gospel Recording Artist

Angela “Missy’ Billups is the mother of three beautiful children, Ernest, Marcus and Angela and the ecstatic grandmother of the newly added, “Amaris Victoria Billups.” and “Little August Scott Billups.” Angela a is a Gospel Recording Artist under the label of E’mazin Entertainment founded by her son, Ernest L. Billups.

After being awarded three times as a winner of the New York Tri-state McDonald’s Gospel Fest, Angela, began to build her music career. She has released four projects; DETERMINED, STANDING ON THE PROMISES, CHURCHIN’, CHAIN BREAKER, with an additional newly released single entitled, “FOR MY GOOD.” She has reached the National Billboard Charts breaking through to the top 100 with several of these tracks. Angela has been the recipient of numerous awards which included: “2024 The Dove Awards,” “Black Women Rocks Award and “Song of the Year” at the Atlanta Music Awards. Rhythm of Gospel, Prayze factor and newly nominated for the 2024 Music Choice Awards. She has traveled abroad singing throughout, Italy, Switzerland, Rome, Jamaica, and just recently returning off tour from the beautiful city of London (UK). Her performances on television BET, HBO, Atlanta Live and within the Gospel Arena, are far too many to mention. Just recently, she was honored by Pastor John P. Kee and presented with The Bishop Rance Allen Excellence Award.

Currently celebrating her 10th year of performing musically at the New York City Bike Tour, sponsored by TD Bank, this event brings over 30,000 bikers to ride through the five boroughs of NYC. Angela, her singers, and the band, cheer them on with melodic sounds of both Gospel and Inspirational music. Hundreds of onlookers come by to watch as they openly give God praise. Angela is active in the National Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) and was recently appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for the Local New York State Chapter under the leadership of Biship Albert Jamison, Chairman. In December of 2019, Angela performed in the “All I Want for Christmas” Tour with the legendary Mariah Carey, at Madison Square Garden.

Still going strong with her commitment to Music and spreading the good news, Angela “Missy” Billups and her son Ernest Billups combine their talents with the Tribe of Levi on their newly released single and video “For Your Blood.” https://youtu.be/8UmKaZpgJ6g. During the Christmas season if you tuned in to Sirius/XM Radio you may have heard “Let Us Adore Him” playing in the line up on “Kirk Franklin Radio” with Missy’s voice ringing out in the lead. You can’t help but lift/clap your hands and stomp your feet on this one.

“Television Host” can now be added to her growing list of accomplishments! You can tune in to the Walking in Victory Show with Angela “Missy” Billups, now premieres on ROKU TV, DWGN TV Network, Bronx Network, and the list continues to grow. Viewers can watch online at https://dwgntv.info/793-2/ (Every Thurs & Friday 7:30pm)