The founder and CEO of Black Smoke Music Worldwide, Kerry Douglas has helped shape the careers of dozens of contemporary gospel acts, among them Grammy nominee James Fortune, Earnest Pugh, and Pastor Mike, Jr. After finding initial success with Rev. E. Stewart's "I Believe" in 1998, James Fortune & FIYA delivered Black Smoke's first gospel chart-topper with the release of 2008's "I Trust You." Before the end of the next decade, Douglas was working to promote major artists outside of his label, such as helping Bebe Winans to land an airplay number one with 2017's "He Promised Me." Some of the artists he took under his wing from their professional inceptions include Pastor Mike, Jr. and Edwrin Sutton. The Stellar Awards inducted Kerry Douglas into the Stellar Honors Hall of Fame in 2020.