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