DSA Song Contest Judges

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

2023 Dallas Songwriters Song Contest Judges

Christian/Inspirational: Art Greenhaw is an American musician, record producer and audio engineer who was awarded the Grammy Award in 2003 for the Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album for We Called Him Mr. Gospel Music: The James Blackwood Tribute Album. Additionally, he founded the independent record label, Greenhaw Records.
Greenhaw is the bassist, multi-instrumentalist and manager for the Light Crust Doughboys, which he officially joined as a band member in 1993 under the direction of Marvin "Smokey" Montgomery, one of Greenhaw's musical mentors. The symphony performances and other enterprises of the Light Crust Doughboys in the 1990s and in the new millennium, are largely the product of Greenhaw's imagination and promotional skill.
In addition, his musicianship, production, arranging and songwriting has included work with Nokie Edwards, Tom Brumley, James Blackwood, Ann-Margret, Engelbert Humperdinck, Trini Lopez and Ronnie Dawson.

Country: 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.

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 : Emmeline Miles is a musician and candidate for Doctor of Liberal Studies at SMU's Simmons School of Education and Human Development. Because music engages the entire brain and reaches aspects of the human spirit that are beyond words, the creation of music is uniquely capable of facilitating post-traumatic healing. Emmeline is doing research that seeks to identify whether the act of creative writing—with or without music—can better prepare children for adverse experiences and provide them with the tools to process those experiences. https://www.emmelinemusic.com

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 - Rob Case is a prominent figure in the Dallas-area music community. He hosts events that bring together local songwriters including Open Mic nights at the legendary Poor David's Pub. He is also an advocate for those recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury and hosts live music events to raise money and awareness about TBI. A native of New Mexico who has lived most of his life in Texas, Many of his songs reflect his time in both places. Rob has worked as a toolmaker, luthier, singer/songwriter and airline pilot.Travels in the sky were an inspiration for his songs and a backdrop for his photography. His new album, After Last Call was recorded and mastered at Cakemix Recording Studio in Dallas, Texas by award-winning composer and producer Bruce Faulconer. https://www.robcasemusic.com

Singer Songwriter: Bobby Smith and Dorinda Duncan - Author and Gospel Producer E Robert Smith who traveled the road many years with Christian artist, Dion, has switched his created talents to fiction writing. His new novel, Downline, is a gripping tale of the world of multilevel marketing. DORINDA is a songwriter who a performed across the US, most notably at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Former recording artist with Capitol Records, she is currently cutting a Christian album with Bobby producing.

Bobby's book on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Downline-E-Robert-Smith/dp/0988820900

Friday, December 23, 2022

2022 Dallas Songwriters Song Contest Judges

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: Roxi Copland is a songwriter and singer, who is a classically trained musician with a love for great songwriting. Her innovative sound is forged at the crossroads of Americana, roots, and jazz. She has won numerous awards for her songwriting in various competitions including Song Door, Unsigned Only, and International Songwriting Competition. She stays busy performing at the Fairmount and Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

https://youtu.be/UrdUMUjtouk. https://roxicopland.com

Christian/Inspirational: Bobby Smith and Dorinda Duncan - Author and Gospel Producer E Robert Smith who traveled the road many years with Christian artist, Dion, has switched his created talents to fiction writing. His new novel, Downline, is a gripping tale of the world of multilevel marketing. DORINDA is a songwriter who a performed across the US, most notably at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Former recording artist with Capitol Records, she is currently cutting a Christian album with Bobby producing.
Bobby's book on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Downline-E-Robert-Smith/dp/0988820900

Country: .Tony Ramey has had hit songs and gold and platinum record awards for songs on albums cut by George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Doug Stone, Craig Morgan, John Michael Montgomery, Easton Corbin, Alabama, Johnny Lee, Texas artists Aaron Watson and Jason Meadows, and a host of others. More about Tony at http://tonyramey.com/about-tony/

www.tonyrameymusic.com

Instrumental : Tom Faulkner a New Orleans-born singer/songwriter/producer knew by age 5 that music would be the fascination of his life when his mother took him to see “Lawrence of Arabia” and he begged her to buy him the music score. He graduated from Dallas' Highland Park High School where he played in The Oracle, a popular Dallas band. After earning a degree in philosophy from Washington & Lee University in Virginia and playing for three years throughout the east coast in Daddy Rabbit, Faulkner returned to Dallas and put together The Coconuts, a band that achieved rapid and prolonged regional success.

Signing with United Artists Publishing and a subsequent move to Los Angeles proved to everyone involved that record company promises can be as ethereal as vapor. After a multitude of unfulfilled promises, Faulkner came home, disillusioned, and the band broke up shortly thereafter. He immediately landed a job in a small recording studio with the intention of producing other bands and artists. While Faulkner was gaining production knowledge working in the studio, his boss, Stephen Arnold, asked him if he could write a jingle for a client, and then another… and another. Within a year Faulkner started his own production company. His reputation as an accomplished singer/songwriter turned commercial music composer quickly caught the attention of advertising executives coast-to-coast.

Since then Faulkner, a multi-CLIO winner, has created hundreds of national jingles and scores, including some of the most memorable commercial music on television and radio. Most notably, he composed and sang the wildly popular “I Want My Baby Back” for Chili’s, a jingle that has since found its way into motion pictures (Austin Powers) and over a dozen major network TV shows. He also created the multi-award winning music theme for Motel 6 and Tom Bodett, the longest running commercial campaign in the history of advertising (23 years, 5 CLIOs, and counting). https://www.tomfaulkner.com

Novelty/Children's : Monty Harper Monty Harper writes and performs award-winning children's songs about science, reading, and creativity. His audiences laugh, clap, sing, wiggle, shout, roar, giggle, jump, hoot, pop, snap, and most of all, think!
Harper began dabbling in songwriting just for fun around 1989, the same year he entered the Master's program in mathematics at Oklahoma State University. He found he had a knack for entertaining neighborhood kids with his songs, and by the time he completed his degree in 1992 he was fielding a slew of requests for appearances at schools and libraries.
Two decades of summer library programs have lent meaning to Harper's work. "It's so important for kids to love reading," says Harper. "I try to convey my own exuberance for books and libraries through the songs." Harper visits 40-50 libraries each year. His ReadingSongs.com website lists several dozen songs he has penned for various reading themes since 1990.
Harper's CDs, Take Me to Your Library, Paws Claws Scales and Tales, Get a Clue, and Let's Get Creative (recorded with kids' rock guru Mr. Billy), were each inspired by past summer reading program themes.
In 2007, Harper brought another life-long interest into his work with the launch of Born to Do Science (www.BornToDoScience.com), a monthly event at the Stillwater Public Library that brings kids into face-to-face conversations with real scientists about their current research. The ongoing program inspired his latest CD, Songs From the Science Frontier. His research-inspired songs power his latest elementary school offering, an interactive multi-media performance about the nature of science.
Harper teaches songwriting through his one-day "Say It in a Song" workshops and extended residencies for elementary schools, funded in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council. The songs he most recently co-wrote with fourth and fifth grade classrooms are available to hear on his website.
Harper has been on the Oklahoma Arts Council Touring Roster since 1995. His songs and recordings have won many honors from groups including Parents' Choice, iParenting, NAPPA, Children's Music Web, Kids Radio Mania, and Unisong International. He has released eight titles on CD, available through CDBaby.com and iTunes Music Store. https://montyharper.com
Harper resides in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with his wife, Lisa, and their daughter, Evalyn.

Love Songs/Easy Listening: Eyvindur Karlssonis hails from Iceland. The first thing you'll notice about him, his english accent sounds like he was born and raised in the mid-west of the United States! I kid you not.

The next thing you'll notice is how passionate he is about music and these days, especially teaching experienced songwriters to be better! He hosts a successful podcast entitled The Strong Writing Podcast, with at least one Local Open Mic alumni in his catalog. Along the way to all of this, Eyvindur has written music for theatre productions that have taken the show on the road, throughout Europe. His writing style is engaging since all of his songs tell a story. We get to hear the backstory to three of his songs, all while enjoying discussions about his musical journey

Website: https://onebadday.is

Song writing course: https://strongwriting.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eyvindurkarlsson

YouTube: Eyvindur Karlsson - YouTube

Instagram: #eyvindurkarlsson hashtag on Instagram • Photos and Videos

Pop/Rock - Johnny Hooper is an 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 33 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 23rd 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. We in the songwriting community are grateful to David Card for keeping the spirit of the Dallas music scene alive. On the 23rd day of April, 2022, the Dallas Songwriters Association inducts David Card of Poor David’s Pub into the Dallas Songwriters Hall of Fame in appreciation for his leadership and service to the songwriting community.

http://www.poordavidspub.com

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

2021 Dallas Songwriters Song Contest Judges

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: Jenni Mansfield Peal is a songwriter and singer, guitarist, accordionist, and mountain dulcimist. Her experience includes two tours of Northern Ireland, main stage at the Kerrville Folk Festival, numerous original productions and ensembles, and four independent albums. The Mr. Peppermint Show featured Jenni’s songs on multiple episodes that were syndicated world-wide for years, and her most recent recording is for children and families: Putting On the Old Folk’s Clothes. Jenni was named The Best Folk Song Writer in North Texas by CBS DFW, among four, in October 2010. From October 2012 until February 2014, Jenni created and hosted the broadcast radio show “Everybody’s Folk” for KNON 89.3 FM in Dallas.
http://www.jennimansfieldpeal.com

Christian/Inspirational: Bobby Smith and Dorinda Duncan - Author and Gospel Producer E Robert Smith who traveled the road many years with Christian artist, Dion, has switched his created talents to fiction writing. His new novel, Downline, is a gripping tale of the world of multilevel marketing. DORINDA is a songwriter who a performed across the US, most notably at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Former recording artist with Capitol Records, she is currently cutting a Christian album with Bobby producing.
Bobby's book on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Downline-E-Robert-Smith/dp/0988820900

Country: .Jamey Shannon was born on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and raised in Tupelo and Starkville, he 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. As Director of Choral Activities at Mississippi Delta Community College, Jamey teaches voice, guitar, and bass, and also directs the Ambassador Show Choir and the MDCC Singers. Jamey is also a singer songwriter. His musical style is a kind of country/blues/old rock feel, if you can imagine that. He writes songs that are personal, some songs that are just goofy and fun, and some that are about character and just doing what's right. https://www.jameyshannon.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.com http://www.enchantedrock.com/recording.html

Love Songs/Easy Listening: Emmeline Miles is a musician and candidate for Doctor of Liberal Studies at SMU's Simmons School of Education and Human Development. Because music engages the entire brain and reaches aspects of the human spirit that are beyond words, the creation of music is uniquely capable of facilitating post-traumatic healing. Emmeline is doing research that seeks to identify whether the act of creative writing—with or without music—can better prepare children for adverse experiences and provide them with the tools to process those experiences. https://www.emmelinemusic.com

Pop/Rock - 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.

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

Monday, November 9, 2020

2020 Dallas Songwriters Song Contest Judges

Grand Prize Judge : Roy Elkins, CEO of Broadjam, Inc.ROY ELKINS is a well-known music technology entrepreneur who has been leading industry innovations for over twenty years. Elkins is the Founder and CEO of Broadjam Inc., serving independent musicians and industry giants such as Warner/Chappell, The Academy of Country Music, AMD, Yamaha, Peavey, Roland, ProSoundWeb and others. Broadjam.com, the company's popular web site, now hosts one of the largest collections of searchable independent music on the planet. The site is known for its user-friendly services for musicians, including artist web pages, song reviews, song contests, Top 10 Charts and the revolutionary METAJAM software.
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.com http://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

Thursday, November 21, 2019

2019 Song Contest Judges

Americana: Graham Bramblett was born and raise in Texas and has lived in Missouri, Minnesota and Tennessee, where he currently resides. In 2000, Bramblett first moved to Nashville to pursue professional songwriting. There he logged hours in the writing rooms of Music Row and on the road as acoustic guitar player/ road manager for a national act. Bramblett founded his own music publishing company and secured several cuts during that time. In 2010, he moved to Minnesota to get sober and found a new community of artists to work with. He recorded two albums of material- ‘Under The Lights’(2016) and ‘Standard Harmony’(2018- Nominated for Midwest CMA Album Of The Year) which were well received critically and played on regional radio. Several songs that he co-wrote were also included on recording projects during this period. In the fall of 2018, Graham decided to move back to Nashville and is currently working on 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: Bruce Channel was inducted into the Dallas Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018. Channel recorded the song, HEY! BABY. In 1961. Six months later he watched in awe as this recording soared to number one in the pop charts and stayed there for three weeks. Thus began a long and fascinating touring and recording career in the U.S. and England. Later, hits on Goin’ Back To Louisiana, Mr. Bus Driver, and Keep On, kept Bruce at the forefront of the pop scene for many years. At the height of his popularity in England, he headlined a show featuring a relatively unknown recording group, THE BEATLES! After more than a decade of touring and recording, Bruce grew tired of the road and the music business. He returned to Ft. Worth to settle down with his wife Christine, whom he had met in England, and left the music scene for a while.
In 1978, Bruce moved to Nashville and began writing songs for Nashville recording artists. Since then his successes as a writer include number one records for T.G. Shepherd on Party Time, Janie Fricke on Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Baby, John Conlee As Long As I’m Rockin’ With You, Anne Murray’s re-make of Hey! Baby, and Mel McDaniel’s smash, Stand Up. Bruce has also had cuts by Alabama, The Oak Ridge Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis and Tom Jones. He co-wrote the country hit You‘re The Best, with Kieran Kane who recorded it, and Gonna Have A Party, recorded by Alabama.
Bruce received an award from BMI for two million radio performances of Hey! Baby. His original record of Hey! Baby is featured in the hit movie, Dirty Dancing, and on the international sound track album, listed in BILLBOARD’s Pop Album for over three months with sales of over twelve + million units.

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.com http://www.enchantedrock.com/recording.html

Love Songs/Easy Listening: Michael Brandenberger, affectionately known as Brando, is the President of the Dallas Songwriters Association. Michael has been involved in music for over 40 years playing blues and jazz guitar since his high school days in San Antonio. His most recent band in Dallas was Big Daddy and the Swell-Tones who made the Hole In The Wall their home base up until its demise. He only started writing songs several years ago but has had songs placed on internet radio stations. The Dallas Songwriters Association has given him many opportunities to play his original songs at open mics plus the Deep Ellum Arts Festival, the Wildflower Festival and the House of Blues.

Pop/Rock - 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.

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

Monday, October 22, 2018

2018 SONG CONTEST JUDGES

Grand Prize Judge : Roy Elkins, CEO of Broadjam, Inc.
ROY ELKINS is a well-known music technology entrepreneur who has been leading industry innovations for over twenty years. Elkins is the Founder and CEO of Broadjam Inc., serving independent musicians and industry giants such as Warner/Chappell, The Academy of Country Music, AMD, Yamaha, Peavey, Roland, ProSoundWeb and others. Broadjam.com, the company's popular web site, now hosts one of the largest collections of searchable independent music on the planet. The site is known for its user-friendly services for musicians, including artist web pages, song reviews, song contests, Top 10 Charts and the revolutionary METAJAM software.

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: Kendra Terry has been a volunteer at Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse since 1992 and is currently the Booking Manager. Kendra has been actively involved with the award winning Songwriter Stage at Richardson, TX, Wildflower! Art & Music Festival for about 20 years. She has been the Volunteer Manager for the Songwriter Stage for the past 5 years. Kendra was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation. A native Texan, Kendra grew up in South Louisiana singing with her three sisters. She has lived in the Dallas area since 1979.

Christian/Inspirational: BOBBY SMITH AND DORINDA DUNCAN - Author and Gospel Producer E Robert Smith who traveled the road many years with Christian artist, Dion, has switched his created talents to fiction writing. His new novel, Downline, is a gripping tale of the world of multilevel marketing. DORINDA is a songwriter who a performed across the US, most notably at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Former recording artist with Capitol Records, she is currently cutting a Christian album with Bobby producing.
Bobby's book on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Downline-E-Robert-Smith/dp/0988820900

Country: Terry Jennings is the CEO and founder of Korban Music Group LLC, a full service management, consulting and publishing company. Mr. Jennings is well known for his varied experience at all levels of the music business, including management of major label acts, since 1972. He was introduced to the business at an early age through his work as production manager for his father, Waylon Jennings. He has also worked for booking agencies, publishing companies and as a talent scout for major label companies, including RCA Records. As a member of the Jennings family, he has been involved in the music industry his entire life, and – over the years – he was given the opportunity to become personally acquainted with most everyone in the business. https://www.waylonson.com

Instrumental and Love Songs/Easy Listening: Melani Skybell is a Dallas based jazz pianist/vocalist whose repertoire includes traditional jazz numbers, sultry ballads, swing standards, bossa novas, pop classics, and her original jazz-pop compositions. She performs regularly at a number of Dallas jazz venues and has five CD albums that include original songs, some of which have sold to various media outlets including the well known TV series "Breaking Bad" on AMC, and NBC's "Friends With Benefits".

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.com http://www.enchantedrock.com/recording.html

Pop/Rock - Our Pop/Rock judge was Music Director KATHY FORSTE who graduated from Central Missouri State University with a degree in Broadcasting and Film and a minor in music. KC Café Radio is a realization of her two passions, broadcasting and music. Kathy has worked in television and radio for the past 30 years in various capacities. This includes production, master control, programming and development for ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS. In her role as music director she coordinates and books the music for KC Café Radio Concert series which has included such well known acts as the Stray Birds, Jonathan Byrd, Beth Wood, Jeff Campbell and Stephanie Urbina Jones. Kathy is also a member of Folk Alliance International and Kansas City Songwriters Group.
www.kccaferadio.com

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

Saturday, October 14, 2017

2017 SONG CONTEST JUDGES

Grand Prize Judge : Roy Elkins, CEO of Broadjam, Inc.
ROY ELKINS is a well-known music technology entrepreneur who has been leading industry innovations for over twenty years. Elkins is the Founder and CEO of Broadjam Inc., serving independent musicians and industry giants such as Warner/Chappell, The Academy of Country Music, AMD, Yamaha, Peavey, Roland, ProSoundWeb and others. Broadjam.com, the company's popular web site, now hosts one of the largest collections of searchable independent music on the planet. The site is known for its user-friendly services for musicians, including artist web pages, song reviews, song contests, Top 10 Charts and the revolutionary METAJAM software.

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: Kendra Terry has been a volunteer at Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse since 1992 and is currently the Booking Manager. Kendra has been actively involved with the award winning Songwriter Stage at Richardson, TX, Wildflower! Art & Music Festival for about 20 years. She has been the Volunteer Manager for the Songwriter Stage for the past 5 years. Kendra was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the Kerrville Folk Festival Foundation. A native Texan, Kendra grew up in South Louisiana singing with her three sisters. She has lived in the Dallas area since 1979.

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

Children's/Novelty :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.com http://www.enchantedrock.com/recording.html
Christian/Inspirational: BOBBY SMITH AND DORINDA DUNCAN - Author and Gospel Producer E Robert Smith who traveled the road many years with Christian artist, Dion, has switched his created talents to fiction writing. His new novel, Downline, is a gripping tale of the world of multilevel marketing. DORINDA is a songwriter who a performed across the US, most notably at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Former recording artist with Capitol Records, she is currently cutting a Christian album with Bobby producing.
Bobby's book on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Downline-E-Robert-Smith/dp/0988820900

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: Terry Hankins is a premier jazz guitarist that regularly does solo and jazz trio performances at various Dallas/Ft. Worth restaurant and club venues. He has played professionally for over 30 years and has appeared with some of the top jazz artists in the country including guitarist Larry Carleton.

Love Songs/Easy Listening: Owner of the jazz venue, Kitchen Cafe, TONY HAKIM has been a positive music force in the Dallas - Fort Worth jazz scene for over 25 years, playing both solo performance and collaboratively. His mellow guitar styles and winsome vocals have won him much acclaim and a devoted following worldwide. His first CD, "Postcards From You", is packed with a delightful assortment of original tunes, while his latest CD's, "Summer Place" and "Two For The Road", show off his definitive style as he interprets the works of the legends of the music world. http://www.tonyhakim.net/

Pop/Rock - Music Director KATHY FORSTE graduated from Central Missouri State University with a degree in Broadcasting and Film and a minor in music. KC Café Radio is a realization of her two passions, broadcasting and music. Kathy has worked in television and radio for the past 30 years in various capacities. This includes production, master control, programming and development for ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and PBS. Kathy’s passion for music began as a child. At the age of 13 she wrote her first “real song” and has been writing songs and playing guitar ever since. She started performing live about 24 years ago as a solo artist in Oklahoma. She has played everywhere from Seattle, Washington to the Bluebird Café in Nashville. Kathy has written, recorded and produced three CD’s, “Mojo Hum”, “Too Late For Regrets” and “Home Fires”. In her role with KC Café Radio Kathy has had the pleasure of interviewing over 60 singer/songwriters for the KC Café Radio website. She is also the sole ear for choosing the music of almost 500 songwriters and 5,000 songs for the playlist on KC Café Radio. In her role as music director she coordinates and books the music for KC Café Radio Concert series which has included such well known acts as the Stray Birds, Jonathan Byrd, Beth Wood, Jeff Campbell and Stephanie Urbina Jones. Kathy is a member of Folk Alliance International and Kansas City Songwriters Group. www.kccaferadio.com