Randy Overton Wins Grand Prize Casio PX-S1000 Privia Piano

DSA SONG CONTEST 2020  Grand Prize Winners

Randy Overton Wins First Place for

“That’s My Name”

Randy Overton of Waxahachie, Texas, the Grand Prize Winner of the 2020 Dallas Songwriters Association International Song Contest is enjoying his new Casio PX-S1000 Privia Piano, which he won for his award-winning song “That’s My Name.”  

“Pretty cool,” said Overton.  “I have been affiliated with the DSA over the last 30 years and have been fortunate to build some lifelong relationships during that time.  So I’m thankful to those friends and memories and so humbled and appreciative of the recognition given to “That’s My Name” this year.” 

The judge, Roy Elkins, Founder and CEO of Broadjam, who has been the Grand Prize Judge for the DSA for years said, “The winner has one of the best opening lines I’ve ever heard:  My old man told me the day I left home, Son you’re taking the only thing I own and that’s my name.” 

Elkins went on to say that he evaluated the songs based on six criteria:  lyric, melody, hook, structure, truth, and originality.  Elkins said about the Grand Prize Winner, “The melody works very well for this lyric.  The hook, ‘That’s My Name’ is simple and works perfectly.  The truth is off the charts.” 

Randy Overton considers himself a Texas Country/ Red Dirt artist inspired by George Strait, Merle Haggard, and Waylon Jennings, along with the Eagles, Bob Seger and Lynard Skynard. 

As for the grand prize, Overton says, I'm so pleased to get such a wonderfully professional portable keyboard that has such a realistic piano touch and sound. It's a great main addition to my songwriting gear." 

In addition to the Grand Prize winner, second place went to Steve Jackson of Irving, Texas for “Don’t Ever Say Never Again.”  His 14 track CD, “Goodnight Moon” includes the title song which won first place in the Singer/Songwriter category.  Jackson’s soulful vocal lines and musicianship have been compared to Paul Simon and Pat Metheny.  

 Third place went to Len & Jon Seligman of Sarasota, Florida for “On the Caravan.”  Len Seligman is inspired by poets Rumi and Mary Oliver and songwriting greats such as Randy Newman, Neil Young, and Ry Cooder.  After a career as a PhD computer researcher, he returned to his love of music and became a full-time musician in 2018.   

All three of the Grand Prize Winners win a 1-year Broadjam Primo MoB Membership ($199.95 value), song critiques from Barbara McMillen, Associate Professor of Songwriting at Collin College and the Founding President Emeritus of the Dallas Songwriters Association, along with recording time at JoMusik Studio and 2 tickets to the Between the Waves Music Conference.  

This was the DSA’s 30^th Annual Song Contest, which was broadcast live on Zoom over two shows in January 2021.  Performances can be seen on the DSA Facebook page and on the DSA YouTube Channel.  A complete list of winners and comments by Roy Elkins can be seen at www.dsasongcontest.blogspot.com

Harry Hewlett Wins “Song” & “Songwriter of the Year” In the DSA MEMBERS BEST SONGS OF THE MEETING 2020 CONTEST

 Dallas, TX - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – contact dallassongwriters

The Dallas Songwriters Association is pleased to announce the results of the 2020 DSA members Best Songs of The Meeting songwriting contest. Awards were celebrated at the DSA Awards Program on January 17, 2021and included “Song of the Year,” and the “Vern Daily Songwriter of the Year.” 

Harry Hewlett,
DSA A&R Director, VP of Showcases

“Song of the Year” honors go to “The Girl’s So Texas,” by Harry Hewlett and Chuck Ehrmann.  

The “Vern Daily Songwriter of the Year” for 2020 is awarded to Harry Hewlett for the second year in a row.  

Second place for “Song of the Year” goes to “If Every Week Was Friday” by Rick Valente.  

Rick Valente,Katy, Tx,
Sr Reliability Analyst at Southwest Air 

Third place for “Song of the Year” goes to “You Gotta Go,” by Don Wall.  

Don Wall, Dallas, Tx, DSA Director of PR,
 CEO Don Wall Productions

Second place in the “Vern Daily Songwriter of the Year” for 2020 goes to Don Wall.  

Third place goes to John Jaggers.  

John Jaggers, Dallas, Tx,
Co-founder ColoradoCapo

Our judge, Jack Allday, is a DSA Hall of Fame member, and a founding member of the 1960’s hit recording group, The Nightcaps.  The winning songs were selected from the 50 songs that were submitted by DSA members as “Songs of the Meeting.”  Members submit original songs at monthly DSA meetings for consideration and a professional critique by Collin College Adjunct Professor of Songwriting and DSA Founding President Emeritus, Barbara McMillen, and Joe Milton, former touring musician and Founder and CEO of the recording studio, www.JoMusik.com.  Song of the Year goes to the song which earns the most points.  Songwriter of the Year goes to the songwriter who has the most songs in the top ten, which have earned the most points.  

”This year we had an enormous response in entries, resulting in a great number of really good songs entered,” said Barbara McMillen, DSA Founder and President Emeritus.  

The DSA member response was greatly enhanced during the pandemic by “DSA’s Virtual Open Mic Every Wednesday” and “DSA’s Virtual Global Songwriter Showcase Saturday” both hosted by Harry Hewlett on Zoom.

DSA is a 501 C3 nonprofit organization.  Please join DSA as we celebrate 34 years of motivating and uplifting songwriters through education.  https://dallassongwriters.org/join-dsa/