BEST SONGS OF THE MEETING 2025

 
2025
JANUARY CRITIQUES
Train of Time BY Wayne Gathright
Without You by Wayne Gathright
We Can Start the Fire Again   by Steve Ledford
Don't Let Him Take Her to the Dance  by Steve Ledford
Every Road to Heaven  by Steve Ledford
Santi Done Landed That Sleigh by Alexis Tapp


2025
FEBRUARY

Half The Man, Twice The Faith  by Troy  Vanderhoof
Fairytales and Honeymoons  by alexis  tapp  
Don't You Be Up To No Good   by Steve  Ledford 
South Field  by Steve  Ledford  
I Am Those Thorns  by Steve  Ledford  
You Left the Pain  by Larry  Beamer 
Repay  by Wayne  Gathright 
Graveyard Blues by Wayne  Gathright 

MARCH

Whispers of Forever  by Robert  Juch 
When She Tells Him Goodbye  by Steve  Ledford 
Maybe We Just Happened By  by Steve  Ledford 
My Clichés Just Don't Cut It Anymore   by Wayne  Gathright

 APRIL
 
There Must Be A Joke In There Somewhere  by Michael R. J.  Roth 
Song Rider  by Wayne  Gathright
Let's Play  by Wayne  Gathright
Margarita, Where Can We Take This From Here  by Steve Ledford
She'll Burn You Down  by Steve Ledford

MAY
 
Another Cowboy Song  by Robert Juch
Mr.Kerry.M.Hughes@gmail.com 
In Your Light  by Kerry  Hughes 
I Won't Be Your Welcome Mat No More  by Steve Ledford
Sweet Melody  by Wayne Gathright
Recipe for a Happy Man  by Wayne Gathright
Me And Your Memory  by Steve Ledford

JUNE

Honest  by Kerry  Hughes   
Dance?  by Kerry  Hughes
That Old Brazos River  by Steve  Ledford
The Road Is Not That Long  by Steve  Ledfor
New Memories  by Wayne  Gathright 
The Game  by Wayne  Gathright 
The Moon (Doesn't Do a Damn Thing)  by Don Johnson
Texas Let 'Em Go  by Bob Juch
Cash, Cards, and a Cowboy Heart  by Bob Juch

JULY

MOUNTAIN  by Alexis Tapp & Emmeline Miles
Dragon Ride  by Steve Ledford
Hagen's Place  by Steve Ledford
The Moon (Doesn't Do a Damn Thing)  by Don Johnson
Paper Plane Love  by Bob Juch
Thirty Cats  by Bob Juch
That Was Your Last Second Chance  by Bob Juch
Three Things in Life  by Bob Juch
Holdin' Hands Again  by Bob Juch

SEPTEMBER 
 

Animal in Bed  by Allen Larson
I'm Gonna Have a Good Day  by Kerry Hughes
More  by Don Johnson
I Am Love  by Steve Ledford
Halley's Comet  by Steve Ledford
The Doomsday Clock  by Charles Carter
Boot Scootin’ High Falootin’ Crazy Little Country Girl  by Wayne Gathright
Hit Song  by Wayne Gathright
Cool Jazz  by Kendall Yancey
Step It Up, Cowboy  by Robert Juch
Best Left Unsaid by Kevin Peredes (not critiqued)

OCTOBER

Floating On a Ball  by Wayne Gathright
Wash It Away by Wayne Gathright
Goodbye My Old Friend by Robert Juch
Dawson Will Be Waiting At The River by Steve Ledford
I Have To Keep Riding by Steve Ledford
The Last Thing by Wayne Willingham


NOVEMBER

Sunset Highway by Bob Juch
Boots and Brass by Bob Juch
All I Have To Give by Wayne Gathright
It’s The Wind That Makes Me Crazy by Steve Ledford
Lessons In Blue by Steve Ledford
Sing Your Song by Wayne Gathright
Petty Troubles by Kerry Hughes
The Mighty Colorado by Kerry Hughes

BEST SONGS OF THE MEETING 2024

JAN

Hold Me Close by Don Wall
Spending Time by Don Wall
The Front Runner by Keith Dodson
Fort Collins by Bill Martin
Mr Moon by Wayne Gathright
Cut To The Chase by Keagan Riley
Outlaw Outta Me by Troy Inslee and Alexis Tapp
Ashes of Paradise by Michael Roth, Harri Wolf, Sarah Riddell
Classic Cars Are Nothing New by Steve Ledford
I Didn’t Sing To Her by Steve Ledford
Boo Bye Bye by Alexis Tapp

FEB

I Won’t Bring You Flowers Anymore  by Michael Roth
Walk a Mile in My Blues  by Keith Dodson
Keep It Down  by Theodore Henning
Wedding Party by Wayne Gathright
I'll Never Be a Falling Star by Steve Ledford
Back Then  by Steve Ledford
That Street by Wayne Willingham
Perfectly Imperfect (or something like that)   by Alexis Tapp
Fuels The Flame  by Rickey Gene Wright
Love Washes Off  by Michael Roth
Red, White and the Blues by Don Wall
  Me and You by Don Wall

 

MAR

Most Of All  by Troy Inslee

Time Flies By So Fast by Trevor Renteria did not show move the next month
Jagged Memories by Steve Ledford
If I Had Known that I'd Be Blind by Steve Ledford
If I Had Known that I'd Be Blind by Steve Ledford GIVE CREDIT NEXT MONTH
Footprints  by Alexis Tapp
Still Watching Golf With James by Seth Ginsberg
Another Lazy Day in Texas by Seth Ginsberg
Ghost of Bell Starr by Barbara McMillen
Prayer of Peace for Israel by Barbara McMillen

APR 

Take This House by Wayne Gathright. Pd St
Anything But This by Wayne Gathright pd st
My Journey Home by Steve Ledford pd st
There Were Five Of Them by Steve Ledford    pd st
Other Side of The C by Troy Inslee and Jamey Shannon pd st
That’s How We Do Red White and Blue by Alexis Tapp and Joe Milton pd st
Greyson County Three by Keith Dobson pd st
Without Knowing The Night by Michael RJ Roth and Harry Wolf pd st
Blood Moon by Barbara McMillen

MAY

Texas In My Genes by Don Wall
Texas to Tennessee by Don Wall
Make The Change for Good by Wayne Gathright
December 1932 by Steve Ledford & Joe Milton
Who is Lying To You About Me by Steve Ledford
Riptide by Alexis Tapp. Michael Roth & Erin Michel
Trying to Write The Perfect Song Before I Die by Alexis Tapp

JUNE

Dewberry Duel  by Wayne Gathright

The Bloody Years by Wayne Gathright

Horizon  by Keith Dodson

The Time of Your Death by Michael RJ Roth

That's Not All by Steve Ledford

Once Around the Sun by Steve Ledford

'Til There's Sun On My Face  by Alexis Tapp

 

JULY

Marie by Don Wall 

Slow Road by Don Wall 

Memories Find Their Way Home by Wayne Gathright

Love is Real by Wayne Gathright  

Is "No" Really So Bad? By Keith Dodson 

Story In Her Tears by Steve Ledford
Once Around the Sun by Steve Ledford
The Time of Your Death  by Michael RJ Roth

 

 

SEPT 

 Forevermore by Wayne  Gathright 
Bass Ackwards Tonight by Wayne  Gathright
Shadow of a Tear by Kerry Hughes
Where the Harleys Are Parked  by Steve Ledford
Yucatan by Wayne Willingham
This is The Day The Lord Has Made by Alexis Tapp

 

OCT 

Ditching The Devil by Alexis Tapp 

Waylon and Me by Don Wall
Dear Heartache by Wayne Gathright
Big Iron Dinosaur by Wayne Gathright
As If Whiskey Could Put Out A Fire by Michael RJ Roth
Riptide by Michael RJ Roth
Winding Down by Steve Ledford
The Past Is Not Through with Me  by Steve Ledford
October 7, One Year On by Seth Ginsberg
Raven and Dove: Proof of Life  by Alexis Tapp
My Name Is God  by Alexis Tapp

NOV
Enough With the Damn, Fresh Zucchini by Seth Ginsberg
There Will be Another Day by Seth Ginsberg
Deuce and a Quarter of Love by Seth Ginsberg
Roaming the Ranch by Seth Ginsberg
How Can You Love Me Now?by Steve Ledford
She Drove a Little Red Car by Steve Ledford
Playing Your Game by Steve Ledford
In The Pantry By Troy Vanderhoof
Descent To Love By Troy Vanderhoof
The Cowboy Way by Wayne Gathright
You Don't Know What You Don't Know by Wayne Gathright
Sunshine State by Alexis Tapp
Without Knowing the Night by Alexis Tapp
 

BEST SONG FOR THE MEETING CRITIQUES 2023 and AWARDS SHOW

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 Gathright
Cheap 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 Gathright
We’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

Perfect Harmony by Wayne Gathright
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

Get On Going by Seth Ginsburg
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

BEST SONGS OF THE MEETING 2022

The DSA Members and Community Virtual Awards on March 25, 2023 honored songwriters with the Song of the Year Award and the Vern Dailey Songwriter of the Year Award. There were performances by our member contestants Wayne Willingham, Troy Vanderhoof, Seth Ginsberg, Alexis Tapp, Wayne Gathright, Rio King, Bill Martin, Michael Brandenberger, Michael Roth, Harry Wolf, and Barbara McMillen. Community Service Awards were presented to Opening Bell, Tone Shop, Patty Allen Driver, and Guitarlington. Please tune into our facebook page for the live stream or watch it on our youtube channel. YOUTUBE LINK: https://youtu.be/biSYiLJVXV8  While you're there, please subscribe to our channel. https://www.youtube.com/@dallassongwriters_official2702

Thanks to our judge Jamey Shannon!

VERN DAILEY SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Vern Dailey Songwriter of the Year Award goes to Alexis Tapp  for the songs in order of highest points: When You Fight The Giant,Brighter Day, American Dream and Bill’s Records.

 

SONG OF THE YEAR AWARD

Wayne Willingham is the songwriter who has the most songs with the highest scores in the top twelve listed earlier from the Meeting Critiques.

TOP 5 SEMIFINALISTS - (no audio clips)

#5 When You Fight the Giant - Alexis Tapp
#4 What’s So Wrong - Seth Ginsberg
#3 Sensational Five - Troy Inslee Vanderhoof
#2 Something Behind - Troy Inslee Vanderhoof 

#1 Should Coulda Woulda - Wayne Willingham.

 2022 Top 12 Best Songs of The Meeting Critiques (Semifinalists) are (alphabetical order)

American Dream by Joli Hope and Alexis Tapp
Bill’s Records by Alexis Tapp
Brighter Days by Alexis Tapp
Emotional Cuts by Troy Inslee Vanderhoof
Hot Rod by Wayne Willingham
Sensational Five by Troy Inslee Vanderhoof
Shoulda Coulda Woulda by Wayne Willingham
Something Behind by Troy Inslee Vanderhoof
Staten Island Girl by Seth Ginsberg
That’s All I Really Need by Seth Ginsberg
What's So Wrong (with Being Sentimental) by Seth Ginsberg
When You Fight The Giant by Alexis Tapp

MEETING SUBMISSIONS BY MONTH

JANUARY 2022
Days Like These by Eric Ramsey

FEBRUARY
Kick It Up by Kevin Reardon
Mad Lonely by Troy Vanderhoof
Til The Tide Comes In Troy Vanderhoof
Everybody’s Got To Go Back Home by Eric Ramsey
Well Done by Sarah Skoog
Hot Rod by Wayne Willingham
Shoulda Coulda Woulda by Wayne Willingham
Broken Mirror by Michael Roth
It’s Still Home Sweet Home to Me by Joe Pafume

MARCH
Bills Records by Alexis Tapp 

When You Fight The Giant by Alexis Tapp 

Back to the Country by Francile Curry- McCotry
A Thought by Wayne Gaithright
Toe to Toe With The Ruskies by Seth Ginsberg

APRIL
Brighter Days by Alexis Tapp 

Darts and a Blindfold by Troy Vanderhoof
Something Behind by Troy Vanderhoof

Big Texas Goodbye by Troy Vanderhoof

People Like You and Me by Seth Ginsberg

MAY 

Mama Really Knows Her Stuff by Alexis Tapp 

India by Kimberly Cotton
Beneath The Trees of Bangalore by Seth Ginsberg

JUNE
Skipping Stones by Seth Ginsberg
Growing Pains by Troy Vanderhoof 
Sensational Five by Troy Vanderhoof 
American Dream by Jolie Hope

JULY

That's All I really Need by Seth Ginsberg

Nowhere Bound by Troy Vanderhoof 

SEPT

Skin Time by Rio King and Malinda Cannon

What's So Wrong (with Being Sentimental) by Seth Ginsberg

Statin Island Girl by Seth Ginsberg

New Life In Me by Troy Vanderhoof

Emotional Cuts by Troy Vanderhoof

Walking To Town by Alexis Tapp and Seth Ginsberg 

OCT

Love's a Little Scary by Alexis Tapp

She by Steve Ledford

Behind a Wall by Wayne Gathright

NOV

We Didn’t Know by Bill Martin

I Am Alone by Seth Ginsberg  

Just Another Waltz For Texas by Seth Ginsberg 

Old Worn Glory by Barbe McMillen & Bobby Montgomery 

No Love Lost Cafe by Michael Roth and Harry Wolf

Brighter Days by Alexis Tapp

If I See You Again by Michael Brandenberger

Semifinalist are invited to perform at the Virtual Awards Program.

These songs are eligible to compete for the Best Songs of the Meeting Awards, Songwriter of the Year and Song of The Year. 

You must resubmit your completed files. You have until midnight Friday, November 26 to record or re-record your song(s) and place the audio file along with the lyric into this folder on the google drive. 

BEST SONGS OF THE MEETING 2021

 BEST SONGS OF THE MEETING 2021

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. You’re the Best by Michael Brandenberger

2. Now That Your Gone by Stephen Troum

3. That's The Kind of Love I'm Talking About by Eric Ramsey

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Stephen Troum

SONG OF THE YEAR SEMIFINALISTS

You’re the Best by Michael Brandenberger

Now That Your Gone by Stephen Troum

That's The Kind of Love I'm Talking About by Eric Ramsey

Hearts In Heaven by Louie Cates

I Should Have Kissed You by Stephen Troum

Lift Your Head by Stephen Troum

I’ve Got A Thing For You by Seth Ginsberg

Retake Our Time by Troy Ensley Vanderhoof

Made My Day by  Rickey Gene Wright

Thrift-Store Hero by Michael Roth, Eric Ramsey

Run-in' Away by Wayne Willingham, John Terry