Meeting Critiques

Each month songs of members are critiqued at the 1st Thursday workshop. Winners each month are published in Songwriters Notes. Members only may enter up to 2 songs per month (or more if time allows) by going to this link https://dallassongwriters.org/song-critique/ to enter the lyric and audio file or you may upload the lyric and perform the song live at the meeting. Time is limited to the review of 8 songs per meeting on a first come basis. (If we run out of time, the songs will be moved to next meeting). Members will have until the end of November to rewrite and record their song before it is sent to the judge. At the end of each year, the songs are judged by industry pros and the Song of the Year is awarded to the songwriter whose song garnered the most points from the judges. Also, The Vern Dailey Songwriter of the Year Award goes to songwriter who has the most songs with the highest points in the top ten. Winners are announced at the Virtual Awards Program in February which include performances by the finalists.

Saturday, January 27, 2024

BEST SONGS OF THE MEETING 2024


On Saturday August 17, 2025 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, and Alexis Tapp. Thanks to our Director, Allen Larson, our tech directors Bill Martin and Keith Dodson and Our Vp of Technology Ben Halim for the certificates.

Thanks to our performers Steve Ledford, Bill Martin, Wayne Willingham, Michael RJ Roth, 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. 

Thanks to our Judge Edye Brookshire who comes from a long line of entertainment experiences.  She grew up singing  in church and playing in her mother’s family band, called the Young Family Band.   At a young age she sang gospel songs,  rock, country & western and performed on the Big D Jamboree.  Then later on,  she appeared on Dallas local TV musical shows and several other live variety programs from Texas to California.  She even yodeled in Switzerland.  Edye has sung background music on several recordings as well.  She is known for  her strong talent, great personality and interacting with people.    
Edye is a songwriter and publisher and has had the privilege of qualifying and attending the Country Music Awards in Nashville twice.  She qualified as an artist/singer, songwriter, as well as publisher.  Edye has appeared in Local Community Theatres, stage acts and one act plays.  She has made several industrial commercials, has been in two movies and has appeared on several TV programs, including TV Dallas with J.R. Ewing and the cast. Thank you Edye for your time and expertise in judging our song contest. 

We are initiating a new award this Year, the Harry Hewlett DSA Member Service Award. As Joni Mitchell once sang, “You don’t know what you got til its gone”. We realize that it takes many people to cover all the tasks that Harry did while he was a working DSA board member for many years as A&R director, Song Contest Director, Showcase Director, Zoom Wizzard, content creator, and youtube and facebook manager only to mention a few. Harry was fun to work with and the friendliest guy! He was the face of DSA! Plus a great songwriter and performer. You can find the songs from his two CDs, World Class Dirty Old Man and Tahoka Daisy on CDBaby, Youtube and all streaming platforms. He was awarded Vern Dailey Songwriter of the Year in 2019 & 2020. We are creating an award this year for him to be the first recipient and it will carry his name in perpetuity.
Thank you Harry Hewlett.

Thanks to our sponsor JeriAlice of River Sounds Recording Resort for the prize of recording at River Sounds

Community Award was given to Rob and Linda Case..Rob Cases Open Mic - Poor Davids Pub.  Rob is a native of New Mexico who has lived most of his life in Texas and his songs reflect his time in both places. Rob has worked as a toolmaker, luthier and singer/songwriter.  Before he suffered a stroke in 2016 he was an airline pilot.  Rob has become a prominent figure in the Dallas-area music community. He hosts events that bring together local songwriters including Open Mic nights at the legendary Poor David's Pub. He is also an advocate for those recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury and hosts live music events to raise money and awareness about TBI.  His recently released album, After Last Call, was recorded and mastered at Cakemix Recording Studio in Dallas, Texas by award-winning composer and producer Bruce Faulconer.

WINNER OF THE VERN DAILY SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Vern Daily Songwriter of the Year - Wayne Gathright for his songs
Anything But This by Wayne Gathright
Forevermore by Wayne Gathright
Take This House by 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 SONGBIRD SONG OF THE YEAR AWARD

 Anything But This by Wayne Gathright

1st runner up - Yucatan by Wayne Willingham

2nd runner up Falling Star by Steve Ledford

2024 SEMIFINALISTS

     Anything But This by Wayne Gathright
     Back Then by Steve Ledford
    Falling Star by Steve Ledford
    Forevermore by Wayne Gathright
    Grayson County Three by Keith Dodson
    Ode to the Raven and Dove by Alexis Tapp
    Spending Time With Me by Don Wall
    Take This House by Wayne Gathright
    That's How We Do Red White and Blue by Alexis Tapp
     Yucatan by Wayne Willingham   

 

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
 

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BEST SONGS OF THE MEETING CRITIQUES

Each month songs of members are critiqued at the 1st Thursday meeting. Songs that are critiqued each month are published in Songwriters Notes. Members only may enter by uploading lyric and audio file to https://dallassongwriters.org/song-critique/ or you may upload the lyric and perform the song live at the meeting. Members will have until the end of November to rewrite and record their song before it is sent to the judge. At the end of each year, the songs are judged by industry pros and the Song of the Year is awarded to the songwriter whose song garnered the most points from the judges.
Also, The Vern Dailey Songwriter of the Year Award goes to songwriter who has the most songs with the highest points in the top ten.