SONGWRITERS NOTES ISSUE #240 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2024

 Hello Songwriter,

Happy New Year 2024. We've had a  active year in 2023 and we will carry on with our virtual and live meetings schedule from last year with with 7-8 regular events monthly and a special event almost every month. Also, we have 2 special awards events coming up (scroll down) and 3 workshop announcements from ASG, Ironbridge and Steve Seskin (see workshops below.) Wildflower Performing Songwriting Contest deadline is coming on Feb.15. see below in Contests. 

Collin Classes start soon. You can sign up for my songwriting class on Monday nights 6-9pm as continuing ed in a class with credit students. I hope you will take this opportunity to do so now. There may not be this opportunity in the future. Here is the link to Continuing Education Registration. Located on the Plano campus, in the Commercial Music Dept. MUSC 1021. Barbara McMillen is your instructor. If you need help call CE Information 972.985.3750 or email ceinfo@collin.edu

What happened in NOVEMBER - We held Director elections (see below for the list). Officers will be elected at the Planning Meeting on January, 6. We had some final song critique entries for the Member Song Contest and we had a very informative Speaker, Chris Robley. You can find his talk on our Youtube channel.  

What happened in DECEMBER  -

DSA's Barbara McMillen and Bobby Montgomery present and $500 check from Dallas Songwriters to Bobby Wilbanks to buy bicycles for the Larry Tutson Jr. Toy Drive, Barbara and Gregg Smith's Foundation serving the kids of South Dallas. Bobby M, Barbe M, Hippie Bobby, Barbara, Gregg.

 

DSA Prez Emeritus Barbara McMillen and Director Harry Hewlett presenting a plaque of the Dallas Songwriters Community Service Award to the Opening Bell. Pictured from left to right - Harry, Robin, Barbe.

Jim Collins, 2023 DSA Hall of Fame recipient, takes a selfie of his plaque which was sent to him through the mail. He lives in Nashville. We gave up on him coming to Dallas, so Harry put it in the mail.

 

Thanks to our hosts Karol and Michael Brandenberger for hosting a great DSA Christmas party at their home. Their was lots of good food and carols.

Photo by Allen Larson

 

 

SPECIAL EVENTS coming up.

SONG CONTEST AWARDS PROGRAM - On January 13, 2024 we will celebrate the 2023 Song Contest winners. The program will run from noon to 3pm central time and feature 15 performances by our semifinalists from all over the US and as far away as Australia. The event will be streamed to the DSA Facebook page, so please join us on Facebook.

MEMBER AWARDS PROGRAM - On February 17, 2024 we will celebrate the 2023 Best Songs Of The Meeting where we will award the Vern Dailey Songwriter of The Year Award and The Song of The Year Award. The program will run from noon to 3pm central time and feature 15 performances by our semifinalists. The event will be streamed to the DSA Facebook page, so please join us on Facebook.

 

 

DSA announces the Hall of Fame inductees for 2024 and a lit of suggested songs for performance on the program. On April 20, 2024, Rising Stars, DSA Members and the BYO Band will perform songs by our inductees.

Michael Aday (Meat Loaf) - I’ll do Anything for Love, Whatever Happened to Saturday Night, Hot Patootie Bless My Soul, Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad, Paradise By the Dashboard Light

Billy Joe Shaver - Georgia On a Fast Train, Wacko From Waco, Old Chunk of Coal, Live Forever, Honky Tonk Heroes, Black Rose

Nora Jones - Don’t Know Why, Chasing Pirates, Thinking About You, What Am I To You, Sunrise/Come Away With Me

Erykca Badu - Didn’t Cha Know, Window Seat, Back In The Day, Appletree, Cleva

Tom Douglas - The House That Built Me, Little Rock, Southern Voice, Grown Men Don’t Cry, Meanwhile Back at Mama’s, I Got a Car

Buck Owens - Crying Time, I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail, Love’s Gonna Live Here, Together Again, Under Your Spell Again

Miranda Lambert - The House That Built Me, Gunpowder and Lead, Famous In a Small Town, Baggage Claim, Crazy Ex Girlfriend, Keeper of the Flame

 REGULAR EVENTS

The FIRST THURSDAY VIRTUAL MEETING WORKSHOP is held monthly and features a guest speaker and song critiques. It is streamed live to facebook. See below for details and the Zoom meeting link. 

http://dsameetings.blogspot.com

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2476523092

DSA Monthly Meeting and Song Critiques - Jan. 4

Chuck Rainey, the most recored bass player in the history of music
https://dallassongwriters.org/song-critique/

Our virtual open mic is still occurring every Wednesday 7 - 9. Join us via the Zoom meeting number. 247 652 3092 or just watch on the Dallas Songwriters Facebook page as we stream live. Some of our members, who are home bound or from out of town depend on this weekly opportunity to share their songs. The hosting duties are shared by Bill Martin, Ace Pounder, Allen Larson, Keith Dodson and Harry Hewlett. Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28

Second Thursday Songwriter Spotlight streams to YouTube. 7-9 Hosted by Harry Hewlett featuring co-host Barbe McMillen and songwriter performance and interview
Thursday Feb 8, 2024, 7pm - Bradley Banning

Love and War wants you to perform at our 4th Thursday open mic 7 - 9. Rickey Gene Wright hosts with a songwriters round format. Come out and sign up with RGW.   Jan 26, Feb 22

Quick look events page: https://dallassongwriters.blogspot.com

SONGWRITERS NOTES ISSUE # 239 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

 Hello Songwriter,

We've are finally blessed with some cooler weather and a season of fun. 

SEPT - Brought the close of the DSA 2023 International Song Contest, our Young Songwriters Song Contest and Summer Lyric Contest on Sept 30. The songs are in the judges hands.

Our North Texas Giving Day was a big success. We really appreciate your contribution. 

Lilly Harrigan receives a $500 scholarship from Dallas Songwriters. She's majoring in music at the university of Rochester where she is taking classes in music theory, musicianship, and intro to sound design and audio recording. She's an active member of the school’s musical community and participates in two choirs. She is also the head of an acoustic ensemble. She has started another band with her friends where they play her original songs at restaurants around Rochester. 

OCT  - DSA Prez Michael Brandenberger presenting a plaque of the Dallas Songwriters Community Service Award to the Tone Shop. Pictured from left to right - me, Mike Doty, Tommy Roberts, Austin Locker, and Grant Sheffield. 

DSA VP Bobby Montgomery presenting a plaque of the Dallas Songwriters Community Service Award to the Ruth Brinkmann of GuitArlington with Keith Dodson, Troy Inslee, and Jamey Shannon looking on. DSA members manned the booth for 2 days during the guitar show.

Former DSA President Ron Grimes has a song, Love Only Love, up for Grammy nomination with singer IMAJ.

DSA announces the Hall of Fame inductees for 2024 and a list of suggested songs for performance on the program. On April 20, 2024, Rising Stars, DSA Members and the BYO Band will perform songs by our inductees.

Michael Aday (Meat Loaf)  

I’ll do Anything for Love

Whatever Happened to Saturday Night

Hot Patootie Bless My Soul

Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad

Paradise By the Dashboard Light

Billy Joe Shaver

Georgia On a Fast Train

Wacko From Waco

Old Chunk of Coal

Live Forever

Honky Tonk Heroes

Black Rose

Nora Jones

Don’t Know Why

Chasing Pirates

Thinking About You

What Am I To You

Sunrise/Come Away With Me

Erykca Badu

Didn’t Cha Know

Window Seat

Back In The Day

Appletree

Cleva

 

Tom Douglas

The House That Built Me

Little Rock

Southern Voice

Grown Men Don’t Cry

Meanwhile Back at Mama’s

I Got a Car

Buck Owens

Crying Time

I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail

Love’s Gonna Live Here

Together Again

Under Your Spell Again

Miranda Lambert

The House That Built Me

Gunpowder and Lead

Famous In a Small Town

Baggage Claim

Crazy Ex Girlfriend

Keeper of the Flame

 REGULAR EVENTS

The FIRST THURSDAY VIRTUAL MEETING WORKSHOP is held monthly and features a guest speaker and song critiques. It is streamed live to facebook. See below for details and the Zoom meeting link. 

http://dsameetings.blogspot.com

DSA Monthly Meeting and Song Critiques - Nov 3

Chris Robley will speak about empowering your communication with your fans
https://dallassongwriters.org/song-critique/

Our virtual open mic is still occurring every Wednesday 7 - 9. Join us via the Zoom meeting number. 247 652 3092 or just watch on the Dallas Songwriters Facebook page as we stream live. Some of our members, who are home bound or from out of town depend on this weekly opportunity to share their songs. The hosting duties are shared by Bill Martin, Ace Pounder, Allen Larson, Keith Dodson and Harry Hewlett. Nov. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27

Second Thursday Songwriter Spotlight streams to YouTube. 7-9 Hosted by Harry Hewlett featuring co-host Barbe McMillen and songwriter performance and interview
Thursday Feb 15, 2024, 7pm - Bradley Banning

Love and War wants you to perform at our 4th Thursday open mic 7 - 9. Rickey Gene Wright hosts with a songwriters round format. Come out and sign up with RGW.   Nov 16, Dec 28

Quick look events page: https://dallassongwriters.blogspot.com

SONGWRITERS NOTES ISSUE #238 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023

Hello Songwriter,

It's been a long hot summer and the heat still lingers but we are looking forward to some cooler fall weather. Our hot summer included some hot events. Let's Recap.

JUNE - Brought the opening of the DSA 2023 International Song Contest and our Young Songwriters Song Contest. Deadline to enter the contests is Sept 30. 

http://dsasongcontest.blogspot.com

https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-annual-song-contest/

 

https://youngsongwriterscontest.blogspot.com

 

2023 Wild Dawgs

The Wild DAWG deep sea fishing adventure in Port Aransas on June 15 - 18 was an awesome weekend. Good times and big fish were caught by all. Join our Facebook Wild Dawg group and posting some photos and videos. If you have been on this trip you will want to join and post to share your photos of your past trips. Also, if you plan to go next year, this is a great way to connect for info. https://www.facebook.com/groups/486583939901589

JULY -

  On Sunday, July 23 - Columbia Lodge 66 presented the 5th Annual Blue Christmas In July -  A perfect Sunday afternoon blues event for charity included a BBQ Brisket, Chicken, Sausage Dinner + potato salad (bring a side) and a show with Texas Slim and Gregg A Smith to benefit the Larry Tutson Toy Drive at Sons of Hermann Hall.

 

 All proceeds went to the Larry Tutson Jr Foundation to give toys to kids in South Dallas at Christmas. This is an important community outreach event for Dallas Songwriters. This event is held each year on Bobby Wilbanks' and Gregg Smith's Birthday.

 

AUGUST - 

 

DSA held it's annual Pool Party at Joe Milton's on Saturday, Aug 5. There was enough gourmet food to feed an army. Joe is a great cook and also everyone brought side dishes. The pool was a bit warm as the hot weather has been relentless. There was lots of jamming throughout the afternoon. Yours truely has the flu and missed the party but look how much fun they had. 

SEPTEMBER SPECIAL EVENTS
North Texas Giving Day - 9-21-23
Early Giving opened September 1st!
https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/dallassongwriters

The North Texas Giving Day season is here! Early Giving opened on Friday, September 1.


 

‘Repeat Your Donation’ you gave in 2022 on Thursday, September 7th with one simple click.

SWARFA - Southwest Regional Folk Alliance - Sept 27 - Oct 1 Austin, Tx
http://www.swfolkalliance.org

 

DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE THE STATE FAIR ON YOUR CALENDAR. 9/29-10/22

 REGULAR EVENTS

The FIRST THURSDAY VIRTUAL MEETING WORKSHOP is held monthly and features a guest speaker and song critiques. It is streamed live to facebook. See below for details and the Zoom meeting link.

http://dsameetings.blogspot.com

DSA Monthly Meeting and Song Critiques - Sept 7

Dae Bogan from MLC will speak about collecting mechanical royalties 
https://dallassongwriters.org/song-critique/

Our virtual open mic is still occurring every Wednesday 7 - 9. Join us via the Zoom meeting number. 617 432 0082 or just watch on the Dallas Songwriters Facebook page as we stream live. Some of our members, who are home bound or from out of town depend on this weekly opportunity to share their songs. The hosting duties are shared by Bill Martin, Ace Pounder, Allen Larson, Keith Dodson and Barbara McMillen. Sept 6, 13, 20, 27

Second Thursday Songwriter Spotlight streams to YouTube. 7-9 Hosted by Harry Hewlett featuring co-host Barbe McMillen and songwriter performance and interview
Thursday Sept 14, 7pm - Alexis Tapp (Songwriter of The Year Winner)
Thursday Oct 12, 7pm - Jamey Shannon (Music Biz Prof at Mississippi Delta College

Love and War wants you to perform at our 4th Thursday open mic 7 - 9. Rickey Gene Wright hosts with a songwriters round format. Come out and sign up with RGW.  Sept 28, Oct 26, Nov 30

Quick look events page: https://dallassongwriters.blogspot.com