Grand Prize Judge : Sam Moore began
songwriting in 2000, following 27 years in television newsrooms,
including stations owned by Hearst and Pulitzer. He has found that
songwriting is much like writing a news item. It is all about
storytelling. He writes in many genres, including country, rock,
Americana, religious and comedy. He is also a featured singer in Parker
Station, a party band based in the Dallas area. He is a member of Dallas
Songwriters Association. He is also affiliated with Music Row Coach, a
mentoring program by hit songwriter Lance Carpenter. Sam has served as
coordinator of the Dallas chapter of Nashville Songwriters Association
International since 2006. He is currently Director of Local Groups for the Associated Press.
Category Judges
Americana:
Jamey Shannon was born on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and raised in Tupelo and Starkville, and has also lived in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and now Florida. He holds degrees from Mississippi State University, Southwestern Seminary and The University of Southern Mississippi. Jamey recently retired as Director of Choral Activities at Mississippi Delta Community College where he taught songwriting, voice, guitar, and bass, and also directed the Ambassador Show Choir and the MDCC Singers. Jamey is now a touring singer songwriter. We thank Jamey for his time and expertise as a judge.
BOBBY SMITH
AND DORINDA DUNCAN
Bobby Smith is an author and Gospel Music Producer. He traveled the road many
years with Christian artist, Dion but has now switched his created talents to fiction
writing. His novel, Downline, is a gripping tale of the world of multilevel
marketing.
DORINDA DUNCAN is a singer songwriter who performed with the Briarwood Singers, opening for the Beatles in Carnegie Hall while under contract with United Artists. She and Bobby are ardent music writers producing a Christian album together. In the past they have judged the Christian category, and return as Christian/Inspirational and Singer/Songwriter category judges.
Country:
Ian Dickson is a singer/songwriter and guitarist, from McKinney, TX. Ian was born in Dunfermline Scotland, and came to Texas by way of Canada, Ohio, and Michigan. He didn't stay in Scotland long enough to develop an accent or a taste for Haggis. After spending a few years playing with Shenango, an acoustic folk/pop band in Cleveland, Ian formed Pine Creek in 1977. Pine Creek took their own brand of "Bluegrass and Beyond" to regional success on the club circuit in Midwest. Ian is currently writing and performing in Northeast Texas where he has opened for several Texas music icons including Ray Wylie Hubbard and Gary P. Nunn. Ian was the winner of the 2005 Wildflower performing songwriter competition. He has served as Coordinator for the City Line Stage at the Wildflower Festival. We thank Ian for all that he does with Dallas Songwriters.
Richard Theisen, a native Dallasite, is a keyboardist and singer who won a Grammy® Award in 1985 for his contribution to
the“Beverly Hills Cop” soundtrack LP with the track, “Rock and Roll Me Again”
performed by The System. He was also inducted into the annual Hall of Fame roster
in "Buddy Magazine" as a Texas Tornado.. He was a renowned Alley Cats
performer for many years and traveled extensively with the dueling piano type
show. He also performed with the show band, Custom Made, who took their stage
musical to Atlantic City, Japan and many other places. Most recently, he has been
nominated for the New Age Radio Music Awards in the Best New Age Album
category for his recent release titled, “Oceanova.” We thank Richard for his time
and expertise as a judge. Richardtheisen.com
Love Songs/Easy Listening:
Drummer Thomas Gillis Jr. is a Grammy award winning audio engineer for stage and studio, guitar tech/luthier, musician, audio repairman, and so much more. Tom has been a part of Kids Who Rock since 2020, teaching bass, (although his primary instrument is drums/percussion), Tom started playing drums when he was 14, guitar at 17, and got his first bass at 20 years old. Tom studied music and audio engineering at Loyola University New Orleans. Since then, Tom has been acquiring and putting those skills into work helping songwriters make the most of their creations by recording, augmenting, and helping perform their music as they envision it. Every year Tom takes two weeks to record bands performing at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival helping spread the word about the good music there.
Novelty/Children's :
Pop/Rock -
JeriAlice Arsenault is a solo recording artist, performer and owner of the RiverSounds Recording Resort, campgrounds and Merlin’s Cabin in Castell, Tx. She founded the non-profit, Chemo Sabe, that provides newly diagnosed patients with support and resources for navigating life with cancer. She has been a long standing DSA Sponsor. We thank JeriAlice for her time and expertise as a judge
Singer Songwriter:
BOBBY SMITH
AND DORINDA DUNCAN
Bobby Smith is an author and Gospel Music Producer. He traveled the road many
years with Christian artist, Dion but has now switched his created talents to fiction
writing. His novel, Downline, is a gripping tale of the world of multilevel
marketing.
DORINDA DUNCAN is a singer songwriter who performed with the Briarwood Singers, opening for the Beatles in Carnegie Hall while under contract with United Artists. She and Bobby are ardent music writers producing a Christian album together. In the past they have judged the Christian category, and return as Christian/Inspirational and Singer/Songwriter category judges. Please welcome Dorinda Duncan and Bobby Smith to present the Christian/ Inspirational category.
