The Year of Alabama Music
Alabama Music News Stories
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Songbird Duo Wins Central Alabama Regional Songwriters Contest
July 19, 2011Alabama Tourism Department
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
July 19, 2011Songbird Duo Wins Central Alabama Regional Songwriters Contest
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Mary Katherine Samples and Lindsay Livings from Birmingham and their song “Alabama Nights” won the Central Alabama Regional Round of the Year of Music Songwriters Contest. The judging of the top 10 finalists from the region took place at Pepper Place Market in Birmingham. Preliminary judging of the 42 regional contestants took place at the Birmingham Museum of Art on Friday
Samples and Livings join Gulf Coast winner Eric Jones, North Alabama winner Joseph Baldwin and South Alabama’s regional winning duo Jason Givens and Joshua Pittman at the grand finale.
Second place in the central region contest went to Terry and John Davidson of Pinson with their song “It’s Alabama” and third place went to Fox 6 news anchor Janet Hall O’Neil with her song “Alabama Breeze.”
Each of the four regional finalists will perform for a panel of judges July 25th at 6:30 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre in Sheffield. The winner will receive $2,000 and a recording session at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals and the three runners-up will each receive $500.
The grand finale event is free, but a ticket is needed. Tickets are available at the W.C. Handy Music Festival office in Florence 256.766.7642 or at the Ritz Theatre box office the night of the event.
The judges for the grand finale include Rick Hall of FAME Recording Studios, Grammy Award winning songwriter Gary Baker and award-winning songwriter Walt Aldridge.
Hall is the co-founder of FAME Recording Studios and is recognized as the “Father of Muscle Shoals Music.” He has worked with greats like Aretha Franklin, Clarence Carter, Wilson Pickett, Etta James and the list goes on. Hall wears many hats and is a maverick producer, publisher, songwriter and musician. He is honored in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
Besides winning a Grammy, Baker created two of the music industry’s best-selling crossover hits “I Swear” and “I’m Already There.” The multi-talented singer, songwriter and producer is from Muscle Shoals and founded Noiseblock Studios.
Since 1977 Aldridge has worked as a producer, writer, engineer and singer on hundreds of albums. He has been named one of the top 10 country songwriters by Billboard magazine. A star in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame honors Aldridge and his accomplishments in the world of music.
WVAS in Montgomery will broadcast the grand finale live the night of the event. The jazz and news radio station is located on the campus of Alabama State University with coverage in seventeen central Alabama counties. If you are outside the WVAS coverage area you can still listen via live internet streaming at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wvas/ppr/index.shtml.
Finalists will perform their song before a panel of judges based on the following criteria: Originality and Creativity of Lyrics (30%); Melody (30%); Appropriateness to Theme (30%); and Performance (10%). Only acoustic instruments and/or portable keyboard are permitted to accompany vocal performance. Participants are responsible for providing their own instruments.
The Songwriters Contest is sponsored by the Alabama Tourism Department as an element of the Year of Music. For more information on the Year of Alabama Music “Songwriters Contest” visit www.yearofalabamamusic.com/songwriters.###
Edith Parten
Communication Director &
Gulf Coast Regional Director
Alabama Tourism Department
334.242.4537
edith.parten@tourism.alabama.gov
http://www.alabama.travelTwitter: @ALtourist
Twitter: @TweetHomeAla
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlabamaTourism -
Songwriter's Contest North Alabama winner named
June 25, 2011Joseph Baldwin and his song titled “I’m Alabama” wins North Alabama Region Songwriter’s Contest. Baldwin now moves on to grand finnale on July 25 where he will be one of four contestants to win it all.
The South Alabama Region contest will be held July 2 in Montgomery at the Exchange at the Renaissance Hotel downtown.
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Songwriter's Contest Top 10 North Alabama Region
June 24, 2011ALABAMA TOURISM DEPARTMENT
June 24, 2011
For Immediate Release
Huntsville, Ala – Judges named the Top 10 finalists in the North Alabama Regional “Songwriters Contest” today. Judges listened to more than 50 contestants perform at the Sound Cell Studios in Huntsville before selecting the top 10 to move on to the final round. The North Alabama final round takes place at the Lone Goose Saloon from 3-5 p.m. tomorrow in Huntsville.
The North Alabama Regional winner will be announced and will move on to the grand finale July 25 in Sheffield at the Ritz Theatre during the W.C. Handy Music Festival and the Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Each finalist receives $500 and the grand prize winner will receive $2,000 and a recording session at FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals.
Today’s top 10 finalists are as follows:
Name City/Town Song Title
Ashley Burgess Boaz Alabama The Beautiful
Buzz Lovell Elkmont Shine Alabama Shine
Carl Michael Owens Town Creek Southern Breeze
Craig Pierce Columbia Alabama is My Home
Gary Compton/Daniel Jones Elkmont Beautiful State of Mind
Gary Lynn Glover Somerville On An Alabama Summer Day
Joseph Baldwin Vina I’m Alabama
Robert Johnston Gadsden Alabama You’re Beautiful
Ruby Haddock Florence In Love With Alabama
Wayne Kilpatrick Florence Alabama You’re Always on My Mind
For more information on the Songwriter’s Contest and the Year of Alabama Music visit www.yearofalabamamusic.com and become a fan on
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North Alabama produces 59 aspiring songwriters for Songwriters Contest
June 21, 2011The regional rounds of the Alabama Songwriters Contest kick off Friday, June 24 and continue on Saturday, June 25 in Huntsville to find the first of four regional winners.
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Songwriters Contest Begins Regional Rounds
June 20, 2011More than 130 entrants to the Alabama Songwriters Contest have advanced to their respective regional rounds. Performances of their original Alabama-themed songs will begin in Huntsville on Friday, June 24.
