Winners of the SONGBIRD Awards 2023 plus some DSA Community Awards.

 On Saturday February 17, DSA gathered on Zoom for the Best Songs of the Meeting Awards Program. Barbara McMillen hosted the show along with presenters Michael Brandenberger, Bobby Montgomery, Bill Martin, Seth Ginsberg and Keith Dodson and our director Harry Hewlett.

Thanks to our performers Steve Ledford, Bill Martin, Wayne Willingham, Michael RJ Roth, Harri Wolf, Seth Ginsberg, Don Wall, Troy Inslee, Alexis Tapp, Keith Dodson, and Wayne Gathright the show was full of 21 wonderful songs between the awards given. 

DSA President Michael Brandenberger informed us of the new this year trophies to be given out for song and songwriter of the year will be called the SONGBIRD AWARD. 

Our sponsor JeriAlice of River Sounds Recording Resort was our judge and she presented the SONGBIRD AWARDS. 

Community Awards were given to Guitars and Growlers by Bill Martin, and Guitars For Vets Dallas by Bobby Montgomery.

WINNER OF THE VERN DAILY SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Vern Daily Songwriter of the Year - Wayne Gathright

Wayne Gathright written and recorded over 150 songs and garnered awards from Austin Songwriters, becoming ‘Songwriter of the Year’ in 2019. Wayne also won 3rd place in the Dallas Songwriting Competition, and has several ‘Publisher Picks’ in the Texas Songwriter’s Symposiums. Wayne is from Austin but has been an active DSA Member for the past two years.

WINNER OF THE SONG OF THE YEAR AWARD

Song of the Year -  Rattlesnake Rita by Keith Dodson

  

Keith Dodson retired from Raytheon as an engineer about 14 months ago to devote his time to songwriting. Besides being a DSA member and Director he is also involved in Acoustic Fridays in Lewisville where once a month they write a song with a prompt. Also he attends the Carrollton Bluegrass group once a monthly.

1st runner up I Hate Jazz by Wayne Gathright
                     Boxcar Lullaby by Steve Ledford
2nd runner up  There’s Always a Train by Steve Ledford
                        Bit By Bit by Wayne Gathright

2023 SEMIFINALISTS

Memorial Day by Eric Ramsey and Michael Roth
A Little More Time by Wayne Willingham
Rattlesnake Rita by Keith Dodson
Jonah Chapter 4 by Keith Dodson
There’s Always a Train by Steve Ledford
Boxcar Lullaby by Steve Ledford
I Hate Jazz by Wayne Gathright
Bit By Bit by Wayne Gathright
 Coming Home by Wayne  Gathright   
Country USA  by Wayne  Gathright