Before founding Broadjam, Elkins was the Vice President-Sales & Marketing for Sonic Foundry, and held several director-level positions with Ensoniq Corporation. He maintains a database of over 5,000 music industry contacts include executives at virtually every company in the music industry and past and/or present artists such as Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, D.J. Jazzy Jeff, the Beach Boys, the Allman Brothers Band, BoyzIIMen, Roy Firestone, Joe Walsh (The Eagles), Paul Broucek (Lord of the Rings), ELP, Yes, Journey, Skid Row, Bill Walton, Jackie Martling (Howard Stern), David Arkenstone, Randy Jackson and many others. He is an accomplished musician and songwriter who thoroughly understands the musician's world. www.broadjam.com
Category Judges
Americana: Graham Bramblett was born and raise in Texas and has lived in Missouri, Minnesotaand Tennessee, where he currently resides. In 2000, Bramblett first moved to Nashville to pursueprofessional songwriting. There he logged hours in the writing rooms of Music Row and on theroad as acoustic guitar player/ road manager for a national act. Bramblett founded his ownmusic publishing company and secured several cuts during that time. In 2010, he moved toMinnesota to get sober and found a new community of artists to work with. He recorded twoalbums of material- ‘Under The Lights’(2016) and ‘Standard Harmony’(2018- Nominated forMidwest CMA Album Of The Year) which were well received critically and played on regionalradio. Several songs that he co-wrote were also included on recording projects during thisperiod. In the fall of 2018, Graham decided to move back to Nashville and is currently workingon a new EP project for 2020.
Christian/Inspirational: Aaron Shook has spent most of my early working career behind a microphone....either on stage in a studio, or on the radio. He’s produced voice overs for radio and TV commercials, narrations, audio books, web presentations, and various other projects. As a lifelong musician and singer/songwriter, Aaron has been performing all his life and has been a worship leader, also. His current release, "Wrinkle Road" is full of heartfelt songs and can be found on most digital outlets.
He recently narrated and produced 2 audio book projects: "Death By Facebook" written by Everett Peacock, and "'Scuse Me While I Kiss the Sky" written by David Niall Wilson. Both are now available on Audible.com., Amazon.com, and iTunes.
Country: Alan Rhody’s hit song, "I’ll Be True To You", performed by the Oakridge Boys became a standard by the late eighties ringing up more than four million in sales and eventually over one million airplays. He has spent three decades writing and singing with the passion of someone who is not only highly gifted, but who is driven to create. His poignant ballads and gutsy rockers have also garnered over a hundred recordings by a long list of major artists in country, folk, and bluegrass. Rhody’s newest new album, "Rhody In Black & White" (Ashwood Recordings), is a 21 song retrospective ranging from his beginnings in the Canadian folk scene of the early seventies through brand new material and his own arrangements of his hits by others including Del McCoury, Lorrie Morgan, Murray McLauchlan, Kevin Welch, Hoyt Axton, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Tanya Tucker.. www.alanrhody.com
Instrumental : John Bryant is a Dallas based drummer, percussionist, composer, music producer and founding member of the world music percussion, D'Drum. He is adjunct professor at the Southern Methodist University Meadows School of Music. He majored in music at the University of North Texas, where he performed and recorded with the One O’Clock Lab Band. He has recorded and/or performed with numerous artists including Ray Charles, Delbert McClinton, Joe Walsh, Lightnin' Hopkins, Paul Winter, Paul Stokey, Phil Ramone, Stewart Copeland, Dallas Symphony and Doc Severinsen. Bryant has played, composed and produced music for many different types of projects that include regional artists, touring shows, major motion pictures, and documentary films for PBS and National Geographic.
In early 1974, Bryant joined the acclaimed world music group Paul Winter Consort, playing drums and percussion. Based out of New York City, he toured extensively throughout the country doing concerts and university clinics; he also recorded with the Consort and Paul Stookey in New York, working with producer Phil Ramone.
https://www.smu.edu/Meadows/AreasOfStudy/Music/Faculty/BryantJohn
Novelty/Children's : JERIALICE ARSENAULT, owner of Riversounds Recording Studio provides the creative atmosphere, equipment, sound studio, and accommodations for aspiring artists. Musicians of all genre have recorded there. Owner Jerialice is no stranger to musical machinations herself as she is a solo recording artist and front woman for the band Enchanted Rock. She has also performed with Joe King Carasco. She currently manages the Riversounds studios, campgrounds and Merlin’s Cabin. In addition, she founded the non-profit organization Chemo Sabe, a group dedicated to providing uplifting music to cancer patients in addition to organizing, supporting, and providing recording services for cancer benefits and events. The group also provides newly diagnosed patients with support and resources for navigating life with cancer. Jerialice.comhttp://www.enchantedrock.com/recording.html
Love Songs/Easy Listening: Kent and Kay Ellingson, Kent has been a part of the Dallas music scene since the early 1980’s. He has performed in jazz groups for years and has played in concert with many jazz greats, including Randy Brecker, Kevin Mahogany, Clark Terry, Chris Vadala, Phil Woods, and others.Kent is a full-time music instructor at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Dallas Arts Magnet). He also teaches jazz piano at Collin College in Plano and Eastfield College in Mesquite.
Kay has been called “small but mighty” with a dynamic range of voice and style. A familiar name in the DFW area, her fan base circles the globe thanks to her versatility and smooth, silky style.
Pop/Rock - Johnny Hooper - award winning composer of radio and TV jingles, including promos for Kix Brooks' “American Country Countdown”, Radio Disney, and Casey Kasem’s “Top 20 Countdown”. Johnny was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2016. In addition to being an expert on this topic he is a performing vocalist, writer and guitarist who played at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, England.
Singer Songwriter: DAVID CARD, Owner, Poor David’s Pub
Most of Texas’ greatest songwriters have one thing in common: they’ve headlined at Dallas’ legendary music venue, Poor David’s Pub. For the past 31 years, Poor David’s Pub owner David Card has been host to outstanding artists such as Sara Hickman, the Dixie Chicks, Patrice Pike, Max Stalling, Guy Clark, Jimmy Webb and more. Card is also the founder of the annual BW Stevenson Memorial Singer-Songwriter Competition, held at Poor David’s every April and now in its 20th year. Card, Poor David’s Pub and the annual contest have helped the careers of past singer-songwriter winners including Adam Carroll, Max Stalling, Kristi Kruger, Gordy Quist, Elizabeth Wills, Colin Boyd, Owen Temple and many others. http://www.poordavidspub.com
