Chris Austin Sonwriting Contest announced again

MerleFest 2004 organizers have announced that singer/songwriter Jim Lauderdale will again serve as Honorary Chairperson of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest . Entries on audiotape or compact disc for the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest must be received by March 18, 2004 . Lauderdale will put together a group of Nashville music industry figures that will evaluate all the entries.

This panel will choose three finalists in each of four categories: bluegrass, country, gospel, and general. The finals will take place at MerleFest 2004 on April 30th on the Chris Austin Stage, sponsored by ASCAP and No Depression . Songwriters performing at the festival will judge the finals. At MerleFest finalists will receive 4-day tickets and lodging within thirty miles of the event and compete for prizes include cash prizes, sponsored by Thomas Fisher, First Vice-President, Morgan Keegan, Durham, NC, and Epiphone Guitars from Gibson. Additional prizes and support come from Acoustic Guitar Magazine; Performing Songwriter , and D'Addario strings.

The first place contestants will perform for the main stage audience. For entry information, please call 800-799-3838 or visit the web site ( www.merlefest.org ). All entries must be submitted on tape or CD with entry fee and an official entry form to The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest; PO Box 121855; Nashville, TN 37212. Entries without completed entry form and fee will not be judged.

The competition was first introduced to Merlfest by Pete Fisher, who is currently general manager of the Grand Ole Opry and Kari Estrin, then Associate Coordinator of MerleFest, to honor the memory of Chris Austin, a northwestern North Carolina native. Austin had spent several years in the band of Ricky Skaggs, who had a top five hit with Chris' Same Ol' Love. On March 16, 1991, only a few hours after Skaggs recorded the song, Austin, who was 27 was killed in a tragic plane accident near San Diego along with other members of Reba McEntire's band. A solo record, Firm Believer appeared posthumously on Warner Brothers.

One of the most notable winners of this great contest was Gillian Welch who is now a top selling artist and plays to packed houses all over the world. So take a chance. Dust off that old guitar and send send in that song you have been humming for the last 20 years.
For a look at who else is appearing at Merelfest next year check here

Related links

http://www.gillianwelch.com

http://www.jimlauderdale.com