Dorothy “Dottie” Leonard Miller, born August 10, 1945, passed away on October 11, 2024, at the age of 79. A generous and gracious woman, Dottie profoundly impacted countless lives through her entrepreneurial endeavors in the Christian music industry. Guided by her faith and giving all glory to God, she leveraged her exceptional communication skills and unwavering determination to build several successful businesses that spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide. She consistently surrounded herself with talented individuals, fostering a collaborative environment that fueled her achievements.
From humble beginnings in Wilmington, Delaware, as the eldest child of William and Dorothy Golt, Dottie’s true calling emerged later in life. While raising two children as a single mother in Hendersonville, Tennessee, she gained valuable business experience through clerical work at an accounting and law firm, honed her sales skills selling Jhirmack hair products in Nashville, and further developed her communication abilities working on successful political campaigns for Senator Jim Sasser, President Jimmy Carter, and others. Simultaneously, she worked a second job in the ER admissions at Hendersonville Hospital to support her family. Despite lacking prior experience in the music industry, she began at Calvary Records as a receptionist, progressing to roles in radio promotions and sales to Christian bookstores.
Following producer Ronnie Drake to Windchime Records, Dottie continued her sales efforts before launching her own company, New Day Christian Distributors, in her garage in 1981. With seed funding from her father, William Golt, her brother, Bill Golt, and family friend, Ray Lorrig, the company initially focused on sheet music and albums by independent artists. It eventually evolved into a major distributor for labels like Word/Curb, Capitol Christian, Provident, Gotee, Centricity, Integrity, and Fair Trade, offering a wide range of Christian products to bookstores from its Hendersonville, Tennessee offices.
Recognizing the need for her own products, Dottie partnered again with Ronnie Drake to establish DayWind Soundtracks and Daywind Records, providing resources for church singers and introducing the music of numerous prominent artists to a global audience, including Opryland’s Gospel Quartet, the Cumberland Boys, the Steeles, the New Hinsons, Greater Vision, the Crabb Family, Gold City, Karen Peck and New River, and many more. Her entrepreneurial spirit continued to flourish, leading to the creation of Daywind Music Publishing (a leading publisher in Southern Gospel and Bluegrass music), two recording studios, a CD manufacturing facility, Daywind Worship (choral products), Spiritus Distribution (Catholic products), Daywind Music Foundation (Tree Radio – a 24/7 Southern Gospel music broadcaster), and Billy Blue and Billy Jam Records, representing artists in the bluegrass genre.
Dottie’s remarkable career earned her numerous Lifetime Achievement Awards from organizations such as the Gospel Music Association, BMI, the Southern Gospel Music Guild, Singing News Magazine, and Absolutely Gospel Music. She was inducted into both the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Her artists and songwriters garnered countless Dove Awards, Singing News Fan Awards, BMI Christian Music Awards, Grammy® nominations, and one Grammy® Award (Jason Crabb), along with over 125 #1 songs.
While acknowledging her own accomplishments, Dottie readily credited those who supported her journey, including Ronnie Drake, Sylvia Mays, Wayne Haun, and many others. Her greatest joy, however, remained her family. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Leonard Sovine; her son, Ed Leonard; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her sister, Cynthia Paranczak; and Jere Miller. She was preceded in death by her brother, Bill Golt, and her parents.
Beyond her professional life, Dottie enjoyed bridge, spending time in Florida and at her Tennessee cabin, and traveling. She will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, engaging personality, and love for family and friends. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.