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
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.
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
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
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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
