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
BEST SONGS OF 2023
JANUARY
Go Nowhere But Straight Ahead by Seth Ginsberg
Memorial Day by Eric Ramsey and Michael Roth
Montreal (We All Flew To Paris) by Wayne Willingham and Michael Roth
Even As The Fire Burns Bright by Alexis Tapp
FEBRUARY
The Hardest Thing To See by Michael Roth
Full Moon Over His Shoulder by Wayne Willingham
I Know A Guy by Troy Inslee & Bobby Montgomery
I'll Stay by Troy Inslee
Drink Happy Thoughts by Troy Inslee
MARCH
A Little More Time by Wayne Willingham
Let's Sit Together and Tell Our Stories by Seth Ginsberg
Peanut Butter Poor by Troy Inslee
Love Verse Is All by Troy Inslee
Rattlesnake Rita by Keith Dodson
APRIL
He Ain’t Got Diddy by Wayne GathrightCheap as a Kiss by Michael R. J. Roth & Eric Ramsey
Lamborghini Dreams by Steve Ledford
At Our House by Wayne Willingham
Broken Pieces (Of What Used to Be) by Troy Inslee
Lovers Dose by Troy Inslee
I'm Money! By Seth Ginsburg
Hide a way by Heather Hatchet
Almost Everything by Seth Ginsburg
Jonah Chapter 4 by Keith Dodson
End of the Line by Steve Ledford
Even as the Fire Burns Bright by Alexis Tapp
MAY
Save Me by Wayne GathrightWe’re Here for the Ones We Love by Seth Ginsburg
Cinco de Mayo by Keith Dodson
I Sing Sad Songs Too by Steve Ledford
What A Day To Feel Gods Peace by Troy Inslee & Alexis Tapp
Unravelling by Troy Inslee & Alexis Tapp
There’s Always a Train by Steve Ledford
Slingshot at the Moon by Michael Roth & Erin Michael
JUNE
Who Gets The Love by Wayne Willingham
In The City Of Angels by Troy Inslee
I Look To The Sky by Alexis Tapp
I’m Not As Ugly As I Look by Michael RJ Roth & Shanna Hoar
Sweet Songs by Steve Ledford
JULY
What Should I Do by Michael Roth & Harri Wolf
I Need to Ride by Michael Roth& Harri Wolf
Inside My Dream by Wayne Gathright
Boxcar Lullaby by Steve Ledford
Pork is the Point by Keith Dodson
SEPT
Knew Her When She Wasn't All That by Wayne Gathright
I Declare! by Seth Ginsburg
On the Fourth of July by Seth Ginsburg
Wiggle Room by Troy Inslee
Everything by Troy Inslee & Alexis Tapp
OCT
The UPS Man by Seth Ginsburg
I Hate Jazz by Wayne Gathright
Bit By Bit by Wayne Gathright
Girl of My Streams by Keith Dodson
Sandy Bernard by Keith Dodson
All That Remains by Michael RJ Roth & Harri Wolf
Believer Outta Me by Wayne Willingham
I wish You’re Memory Would Tell Me Goodbye by Steve Ledford
NOV
Coming Home by Wayne Gathright
Country USA by Wayne Gathright
The Light Shines (A Christmas Song) by Keith Dodson
Fort Collins by Bill Martin
Fishin' on the Gulf by Don Wall
Love in a Sleeping Bag by Don Wall
