2012 DSA Song Contest Winners

Macy Medford 2012 Grand Prize Winner in Songwriters Song Contest

Houston's Macy Medford wins Grand Prize 

by Roger Russell


After winning 2nd place in the Singer Songwriter category in Dallas Songwriters Association international song contest, Medford’s “Just Me and You” (co-written with Jonathan George) won out over the top three winners from each of the contest’s eight categories.

“One song, ‘Just Me and You’ caught my ear throughout the process” said Roy Elkins, grand prize judge and CEO of Broadjam.com, an online community and resource for musicians.

DSA President Roger Russell had a chance to talk with Macy and her mother, Stacy.

Roger: How old are you?

Macy: I am 15 years old now.

Roger: Are you attending high school now?

Macy: I am a sophomore at Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas.

Roger: What instruments do you play?

Macy: Guitar and Piano.

Roger: Did you take lessons?

Macy: Piano for 4 to 5 years while I was in elementary school and I am taking guitar lessons in high school.

Roger: What was the first time you performed?

Macy: I played Annie in the musical production the summer before fourth grade, however, the first time I performed on stage was the school Talent Show in 2nd Grade.

Roger: What inspired you to write the song “Just Me and You”?

Macy: Jason Mraz inspired me. I wanted a song with ukelele in it. The song is a combination of songs I have written. Jonathan George was the cowriter and helped to decide how the song was written.

Roger: Do you currently perform?

Macy: I perform in the Houston area and in Los Angeles.

Roger: Is the song available for people to purchase?

Macy: My whole CD is available on iTunes. I also have a website: macymedford.com where I have music and videos. The video on the first page was recorded at Marilyn Monroe’s house in Los Angeles.

Roger: Have you done other performances?

Macy: I played Tinkerbell in a school play and I am currently playing Janet in the school production of the musical “The Drowsy Chaperone”.

Roger: What was the first song you wrote?

Macy: “Bye Bye” was written when I was 13.

Roger: Do you aspire to be a singer/songwriter?

Macy: Yes, in the future. I have wanted this since the 5th or 6th grade. I always liked English and Poetry and singing songs.

Roger: Did you know who Beth Nielsen Chapman was before you won the guitar she had signed?

Macy: Yes, and I was proud to win the guitar she signed. I was on the Fox Morning Show when the guitar arrived and talked about it during my interview.

Roger: Stacy, how do you feel?

Stacy: I am so proud of her.

Roger: Jonathan George is your cowriter. How does he influence your songs.

Macy: Sometimes he can change a word or two that takes the song in a whole new direction.

Roger: What can you tell people about the music business?

Macy: People don’t realize what it takes to put out a CD until they have actually done it.

Roger: How many songs have you written and recorded?

Macy: I have written 8 songs. I wrote all of them with Jonathan as cowriter.

Roger: Do you have a manager or agent?

Macy: Jonathan George is my manager.

Roger: How do you feel about winning the guitar?

Macy: I am so honored to be recognized for my songwriting from the Dallas Songwriters Association. I am very proud to be a part of this wonderful organization.

In conclusion, I am proud of Macy’s accomplishments. She has a bright future ahead of her as a songwriter and performer. At 15, she has already accomplished so much. Winning an international songwriting contest is something that some people spend a lifetime working toward. Her talent is a gift that she shares with the world and the Dallas Songwriters Association and I wish her the best in her songwriting. I see all kinds of possibilities for a talent like Macy, and I feel that one day I will see Macy as a star, and have the memory of the interview I did when she won our songwriting contest.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Just Me and You by Macy Medford, Jonathan George, Houston, TX

1ST RUNNER UP

That Old Shirt by Steve Chizmadia, Peekskill, NY

2ND RUNNER UP

You'll Be Back by Debra M. Gussin, Jonathan Bluth, LA, CA

Category Winners

AMERICANA
1. That Old Shirt by Steve Chizmadia, Peekskill, NY
2. Kids These Days by Andy Hill, Renee Safier and Hardrain, Redondo Beach, CA
3. Find My Way by Chris Alvarado, Santa Rosa Beach, FL

CHILDREN'S / NOVELTY
1. Bookstore Blues by Eric Colville, The Selkies, Ipswich, MA
2. Our Gumtree Home by Glen Naylor, Bright, Victoria, Australia
3. The Monster Masher by Lanny Sherwin, Santa Barbara, CA

CHRISTIAN
1. Blue Room by Keeton Coffman, Sping,TX
2. Is That You? by Debra M. Gussin, Rik Howard, LA, CA
3. Holy Water by Spencer Clark, Saint Helena, CA

COUNTRY
1. Abilene From Abilene by Kevin Reardon, Riverside, CT
2. Liar by Daniel Sumber, Josh Patton, Brandon Sparks, (Patton Sparks Band), Austin, Tx
3. I Love It When You Call by by Andy Taylor, Alpharetta, GA

INSTRUMENTAL
1. Dolphins In Love by Gavin R. Potter, Simons Town, S. Africa
2. I Need You by V. Padla Gootee, Arlington, VA
3. The Struggles Within by Diane Lekven, Jordan Perez, Rancho Sante Fe, CA

LOVE SONGS
1. I Like The Way You Look At Me by Belle Schneiderman, NY, NY
2. Believe In Love by Robert Graham, Toronto, Ont, CAN
3. Do U Miss The Heat by Debra M. Gussin, Stacy Hogan, LA, CA

POP/ROCK/RNB/ALT
1. Fade To Grey by Chris O'Neil, Heathmont, Victoria, Australia
2. Those Were The Days by Chase Thompson, Pasco, WA
3, Julie by Philip Creamer, Daniel Creamer, Tucker Cauble, Dallas, TX
HM: So Confused by Nestor Cora, Brooklyn, NY
HM: You'll Be Back by Debra M Gussin, Jonathan Bluth, LA, CA

SINGER SONGWRITER
1. I Am Not James Taylor by Gordon Lustig, Napa, CA
2. Just Me and You by Macy Medford, Jonathan George, Houston, TX
3. Sing Your Song by Susie McLean, Mississauga, Ontario, CAN
HM I Gave You Away by Becky Wright, Tahlequah, OK

Sponsors providing our prizes include Beaird Music Group, Roger Russell, River Sounds, JoMusik, Barbara McMillen, Broadjam, and Sonicbids. Additional sponsors include Crystal Clear Sound, Patrick McGuire Recording and WM Sales/Cam Audio. Submission partners are Broadjam.com and Sonicbids.com.  Music industry partners are Dallas International Guitar Festival, Arlington Guitar Show, Tradition Guitars, Texas Music Group, Bar-b Music Marketing Consultants, Musemuse.com, Austin Songwriters Group and Jo-Musik.  

Dallas Songwriters Assoc. is a 501c3 non-profit educational organization dedicated to providing information about the craft and business of songwriting. All styles of music are welcome in the DSA, and membership includes writers of all ages. DSA monthly activities include meetings with guest speakers, song critiques and performance showcases that are open to the public. In addition, the DSA supports and promotes workshops and contests and publishes a monthly newsletter. For more information, visit www.dallassongwriters.org.

CHILDREN’S SONGWRITER WINS ANNUAL DALLAS SONG CONTEST TOP PRIZE

Lanny Sherwin’s songs take grand prize, sweep Novelty/Children’s category

Dallas Songwriters Assoc. Announces Winners at Dallas International Guitar Festival

DALLAS (April 17)—The Novelty/Children’s category delivered the grand prize winner for the first time in the 20-year history of the Annual Dallas Song Contest, the Dallas Songwriter’s Assoc. (DSA) announced today.

Lanny Sherwin, president of Sandman Records, swept the Novelty/Children’s category with first, second and third place wins. His top winner was “I Can’t Rhyme,” taking first place in the category as well as grand prize for the overall contest. In the song Sherwin cleverly doesn’t rhyme disease/wasps, any more/window, mad/upset, time/sound the same. You expect to hear bees, door, glad and rhyme, but he fools and delights you every time.

Sherwin, who lives in Santa Barbara, Calif., won a Tradition S200 Gold Top electric guitar featuring a pair of PAF humbucker pickups, a “killer guitar” according to Tradition President Rusty Bickford. He presented the S200 Gold Top today to the DSA’s Steve Sullivan and Buck Morgan during the 33^rd annual Dallas International Guitar Festival.

“If you visit us in Fort Worth, you’ll see that our company is made up of guitar and bass players, so we like to stay close to the musician,” said Bickford. “We have a lot of love and admiration for good songwriting and love the thought of someone writing a great song with one of our guitars.”

Other grand prizes included a Premier Demo by Beaird Music Group, one of Nashville’s top recording facilities, and a one-year Primo MoB membership with Broadjam, the on-line resource company and web community for musicians.

Noel Cohen of New York took first runner up with “Delete,” which also won the Pop/Rock/Alt/R&B category. Country winner “Some Things You Don’t Throw Away” by Claire Ulanoff and Will Hopkins of Nashville took second runner up.

Cohen won a day of free recording at River Sound Recording Studio and a night in Merlin’s Cabin, both nestled along the Llano River on the back of a 300 acre ranch in the Texas Hill Country. He also won a one-year Broadjam Primo MoB membership.

The team of Ulanoff and Hopkins won a song demo/consultation by Kim Copeland of Kim Copeland Productions. Kim’s work as a Nashville producer consistently receives rave reviews. They also won a one-year Broadjam Primo MoB membership.

All first place category winners won $100, a one-year Broadjam MoB membership and a year’s membership in the DSA. Second place winners won $50 and a year’s DSA membership, and third place finishers won a DSA membership.

Other categories and their winners were:

Americana, “Stonewall” by Ward Parker, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Christian/Inspirational, “Hard and Unforgiving” by Scott Tonkinson, Chandler, Ariz.

Instrumental, “Wanderings” by John Visconti, Merrick, N.Y.

Love Songs/Easy Listening, “That Ain’t Me” by Claire Ulanoff and Will Hopkins

Singer/Songwriter, “Photographs” by Noel Cohen

Music Video, “Get Your Clothes On” by Peter Bacsalmasi, Calgary, Alberta.

Find out more about category winners here: http://dsasongcontest.blogspot.com/2010/04/2009-song-contest-winners.html

“It’s always rewarding work to be involved in the Dallas Song Contest,” said the DSA’s Morgan. “Without the generosity of our sponsors and judges, none of it would be possible.”

Contest judges this year were David Card of Poor David’s Pub, Dallas, Christian producer Randy Adams, children’s performer Deborah Poppink, artist manager Marty Rendelman, Mike Hall of Uncle Calvin’s, Dallas, Bart Weiss of Dallas Video Festival, film and advertising composer John Bryant, and hit songwriter Allan Rhody. Roy Elkins, CEO of Broadjam.com, was grand prize judge.

Additional sponsors included Crystal Clear Sound, Patrick McGuire Recording and WM Sales/Cam Audio. Submission partners were Broadjam.com and Sonicbids. Music industry partners were Dallas International Guitar Festival, Arlington Guitar Show, Texas Music Group, Bar-b Music Marketing Consultants, Musemuse.com, Sante Fe Design, Austin Songwriters Group and DIFS.

Dallas Songwriters Assoc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing information about the craft and business of songwriting. All styles of music are welcome in the DSA, and membership includes writers of all ages. DSA monthly activities include meetings with guest speakers, song critiques and performance showcases that are open to the public. In addition, the DSA supports and promotes workshops and contests and publishes a monthly newsletter. For more information, visit www.dallassongwriters.org.