It took a few years, but last Friday, as he was named the 2006 Gospel Music Association National Solo Vocalist, Charles Hyman was finally able to say that he'd reached the pinnacle of his profession.

"They know I'm here now," he said.

Of course in many ways he feels like he's been there for quite some time.

See, Hyman, 38, is not just a gospel music artist, he's also a minister, and for him, his music is just another tool to advance his already thriving C-LUV Ministries.

In fact, he said, the chance to advance and grow his ministry was the only reason he went to compete in GMA's Music in the Rockies Event in Estes Park, Colo.

"The main reason I went was just to contact some folks and get some help with my ministry, which has gotten too large for just me," Hyman said. "I really didn't want to go. I fought it all the way to the airport."

It wasn't that he didn't care, he continued, it's just that he was tired.

"I had done a concert the Saturday before that took a lot out of me ... I wasn't able to take my kids on a vacation this year ... I was feeling kind of guilty," he said. "Plus, at this point in my life I'm tired of the competition thing. I've been doing that for maybe 15 years off and on. It'd just gotten kind of old for me.

"But I just put it all in God's hands."

And that faith paid off.

Not only did Hyman win national solo artist of the year, he also was recognized as the 2006 Southern Gospel Artist winner and the 2006 Urban Gospel Artist runner-up.

"I was so grateful," he said. "I just began to weep and thank God for this. I've been diligent in what I do and He has rewarded me."

Hyman, born in Tarboro, began his music career at age four in a most unexpected way.

As the story goes, he was playing outside one day when an older sister – he was the youngest of 11 – dropped a Coca-Cola bottle on his head. When he ran inside crying to his grandmother, his sobs just happened to harmonize with the theme song to Soul Train, which was playing on TV.

He's been singing ever since.