CONTEMPORY SONG OF THE YEAR | COUNTRY SONG OF THE YEAR
The Writer - Garry Koehler
Winners were announced at TSA’s Gala Concert on Wednesday 20January 2010 at the West Tamworth LeaguesClub. Also presented was the Songmaker Award which is decided on votes by TSA’smembers, and the Tex Morton Award to someone who has made a lasting contribution to the cause of Country Music in Australia.
COMPERES | CLAIR HAYES & GRANT LUHRS
WINNERS | NATIONAL COUNTRY SONGWRITING CONTEST
AMATEUR – TRADITIONAL sponsored by PC ENTERTAINMENT
A MAN WHO WORKS THE LAND
Magdalena McDonald from Yackandandah in VIC
Born in Holland, and immigrating with her family to Australia aged 4, Magda McDonald is an aspiring songwriter whose name has appeared in amateur categories over the last few years, with songs like’Never In A Million Years’ and ‘Fixing Fences’ finalists in the 2009 TSA National Songwriting Comp.
AMATEUR – CONTEMPORARY sponsored by SUNDOWN MUSIC
THE SEED – KAYLEE BELL& LANCE COASSIN
Songwriting duo, former Camerata student and Gore Gold Guitar talent winner New Zealander Kaylee Bell & 2007 Queensland Champion of Champion Grand Winner Lance Coassin teamed up to write‘The Seed’ after first crossing paths in Tamworth at the Jazzer Smith Talent Quest a few years ago.
LYRICS ONLY sponsored by SUNDOWN MUSIC
DOWN ON DOGS AND DUCKS – MERV WEBSTER
Merv is a successful lyricist and poet. He was a finalist in 2008, and a previous winner of the Lyrics only section in 2006 & 2009. His win shows that Merv has a way with words that people appreciate, either as the lyricist of a good song, or as a Bush Poet
PROFESSIONAL – TRADITIONALsponsored by AXIOM ENTERTAINMENT
G’DAY MATE – JOHN SEERS & JOHN BATTLE
John Seers is best known for his original work co-written with Bob McGee and recorded by Denise Brooks, the very successful ‘A Scene From Long Ago, a Top 10 finalist in the 2008 People’sChoice Awards. Originally from Bulladelahin NSW, John Battle is a familiar facein the country music scene across the Hunter, Mid North Coast and Central Coastal areas, as well as a successful participant in many talent quests, andthe reigning New Talent winner at the Gidgee Coal Awards.
PROFESSIONAL – CONTEMPORARY sponsored by AXIOM ENTERTAINMENT
WHEN GRANDMA WOULD REMINISCE – WENDY WOOD
From Tamworth’scountry music capital, Wendy Wood is consistently recognised in national awards, and equally internationally. In November 2008 'Do You Want Love WithThat?' received an Honour Award in France's 100Music. In 2007 she was named a finalist in the NSW Gold Medallions Songwriter of the Year, and acknowledged earlier in the year atTamworth's prestigious country music festivalwith 5 of her songs selected and performed by various artists in the finals ofCCMA. In 2004 for the first time in TSA history she tied for first place with not one but two of her own songs Key ToThe Door and The Other Side of Life to win the Capital News/TSA New Songwriter of the Year Award. Wendy’s first big break came with the inclusion of 2 songs Don’t Tell Him and I Built A Bridge[To Get Over You] on the first TSA Country Song Search Winners Album and againon the TSA SongSearch 2 album with Till She Called Here last night.
JUNIOR – sponsored byAUSTRALIAN CHILDREN’S MUSIC FOUNDATION
YOUR MINE– AMELIA RICHARDS
Born in Kempsey NSW. Amelia now lives in Sydney. For obvious reasons Amelia loves Slim Dusty and loves to go back to Kempsey as often as she can. Her goals are to keep writing songs and have them grow with her and to perform for people to make them happy. Amelia was a grand finalist in the Queensland Champion of Champions, last November.
WINNERS | 2010 TSA SONGWRITER’S SALUTE AWARDS
GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR sponsored by
ORANA CM ASSOCIATION DUBBO
GOLDENMILE – JIM HERMEL & VIRGINIA HERMEL
Songwriting team husband & wife Jim& Virginia Hermel are no strangers in the music industry. Jim Hermel toured the United States in theearly 80s, performing at most of the top clubs in Nashville, Tennessee, including an appearance on the same show as legendary rocker, Jerry Lee Lewis at the ‘Jerry Lee Lewis Showroom’ in famous Printer's Alley, Nashville, again in 1986 when based in Austin Texas for 3 months, where he toured a second time, performing at top venues and appearing at Austin's Sixth Street, the home of Texas blues and former 'haunt' of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, and more recently in 2004 when he married Virginia Coad, a member of the established act ‘Peter Coad & the Coad Sisters’,where together they performed at concerts in Arizona and Tennessee, whilst ontheir honeymoon.
CHILDREN’S SONG OF THE YEAR sponsored by
AUSTRAIAN CHILDREN’S MUSIC FOUNDATION
THE AUSSIE OUTBACK SCHOOL – MEGAN BARTLETT-HORNE
What began as a children’s book, has become a very successful lyric, publication and CD release for Sanctuary Coverecording artist Megan Bartlett-Horne. The Aussie Outback School has one very important message ‘Everybody is welcome’! Available also as a 28 page illustrated picture book, it tells of the importance of school in a rollicking rhyme to engage children's attention. The story addresses a young wombat's concern that he is ‘hopeless’ because he can't yet read or write or keep up with the other animals in the playground. It was finalist last year, in the 2009 Australian Bush Laureate Awards."
COMEDY/NOVELTY SONG OF THE YEAR sponsored by
DARYL KIRKUP & COL ELLIOTT
THE BARCALDINE CUP – GRAHAM RODGER
Graham is a multi award winning singer/songwriterand recording artist specialising in Bush Ballads and Australiana, writing about real life people and places throughout the outback. His numerous hilarious stories tell also, of his patriotic view of this country. As a writer of comedy/novelty songs, Graham is a very popular performer wherever he travels.
TRADITIONAL BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEAR sponsored by
TUDOR HOTEL TAMWORTH
SORRY MATE – BEN JACOBS & SHAZA LEIGH
The combination of experienced writers Ben Jacobs & Shaza Leigh is proving a very successful partnership. In 2009, they teamed with Lindsay Butler, and were named as finalists with the intriguing ‘His Little Shiralee’ in the Country Song of the Year. Shaza Leigh is also one of a number of Australian country music finer songwriters, previously successful in the Songwriters Salute Awards, winning the Gospel Song of the Year in 2007, and sharing the Country Song of the Year with Leanne King in2004.
COUNTRY BALLAD OF THEYEAR sponsored by
LBS MUSIC GROUP
THE ALMOND TREE – GRAHAM RODGER
This is Graham Rodger’s second award at the 2010 concert. Graham is a finalist in three categories in this year’s Salute Awards, and has four songs in the National Songwriting Comp. Many of you may recognise ‘The Almond Tree’s’ win last year in the very same National Songwriting Comp, this year the strongest of contenders in the Salute Awards.
An exceptional writer, songwriting professionally since 1991,Graham Rodger is a past winner in this category, in 2006, 2008, 2009 and now in 2010.
CONTEMPORY SONG OF THE YEAR sponsored by
SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY,SHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PROGRAM
THE WRITER – GARRY KOEHLER
One half of the popular duo The Bobkatz,Garry Koehler continues to establish himself as an undefined ability for success, with a barrage of songs including ‘The Man in the Picture ‘ and ‘The Long Haul’, all receiving accolades of excellence. The Writer, is no exception. The Bobkatz collaboration combines Garry's song writing and vocals with Rob Mackay's multi instrumental talents and harmonies. They like to call their music ‘Organic Country’ and describe it as depicting real stories of real people and real places.
MAJOR AWARD OF THE EVENING | COUNTRY SONG OFTHE YEAR
The Country Song of the Yearis chosen from the winning songs of all sections.
Sponsored by DUNCAN’S FUEL & COUNTRY STORE
THE WRITER – GARRY KOEHLER
The title track from their latest album, ‘The Writer’ is undoubtedly a winner for writer and Bobkatz recording artist Garry Koehler, choosen as TSA Country Song of the Year. It confirms Bobkatz’s national growing popularity along with the packed venues at their appearances at Tamworth in 2009 & the Gympie Muster in 2008, and nomination in this year’s Gold
Guitar Awards. Touring is kept to a minimum for the guys due to writing, recording & travel commitments for their Music Publishing Company Pacific International Music P/L in Queensland & a noffice in Nashville USA. ‘The Writer’was recorded under the direction of producer Mike Flanders and is receiving rave reviews throughout the industry
WINNER | 2010 TSA/AVIS NEW SONGWRITER AWARD
JUST ADD WATER – VAUGHAN BAKER & BEC HANCE
Lyrist Vaughn Baker teamed with Bec Hance who arranged the music to produce Just Add Water. Reflective of the TSA motto, ‘First theSong’, Vaughn’s writing is right on the mark. Bec is also a serious contender in this category in her own right, andin the comedy|novelty section, with another of her songs ‘You’ll Find A Bloke’. She is one of the new generation of Australian singer/songwriters - along with the likes of Sara Storer and Amos Morris who feel a real affinity with the land, and aren’t afraid to express it.
PRESENTATION | LIFE MEMBERSHIP JOHN TOOMEY
Presented by Vicki WalshTSA President
From Dubbo in NSW, committee Member John P Toomey’s long association with TSA goes back many years.. At one stage he held membership no 49. A songwriter John Toomey has written a number of well remembered tracks, one in particular Inside A Woman’s Handbag, recorded by Terry Gordon, was released on the very first TSA Country Song Search Winners Album in 1998, and again on the 30th Anniversary Limited Edition launched in 2008. More recently, ‘The Bushman’s Reward’ ‘The Legend of the Outback’, ‘’I Went Fishing Instead’, ‘The Old Bush Sawmill’ and ‘Ode to Stan Coster’ were released on a number of Australian Bush Ballads Assoc - The Balladeers Series 2000-2009 releases.
MAJOR AWARD OF THE EVENING | 2010 TSA SONGMAKER AWARD
JIM WESLEY A post humous award presented to family
Finalists:
COLIN BUCHANAN, GEORGE DASEY, JIM WESLEY, REG POOLE and TONY BROOKS
The nomination process for this award takes place in October each year, with an outcome determined by mid November. AllTSA members are asked to participate in an election process, with the award going to the nominee who receives the most votes.
This year’s thirty-first recipient is songwriter Jim Wesley. Sadly Jim passed away only a few weeks ago on New Year’s Eve. This award is presented post humously with a great deal of sadness and respect, to Jim’s wife Dorothy and family. A lyric writer and poet, Jim had his first lyrics recorded in 1961. His famous “White Crosses in the Jungle” was recorded by many Australian artists, while his best known song, “Maker of Raindrops and Roses” was recorded in both Australia and the USA,giving Jim international recognition.
At the age of 19, he published a book of poems titled My Australian Paradise. His song writing career spanned over 40 yearswith his first lyrics recorded in 1961. Mainly a lyric writer, Jim worked with many artists who added their own melodies, with the exception of about 5 songs.
Through the years many artists have recorded Jim’s work including Slim Dusty, Buddy Williams, Rick & Thel Carrey, Arthur Blanch, Brian Letton, Reg Poole, Barry Thorton, Anne Kirkpatrick, and an international cover by USA artist Margie Rayburn. One of the first songs - a story about alocal sighting in the New England area of NSW,was ‘The Panther’ a single recorded by Buddy Williams on RCA in 1961. Jim seemed to have a good feel for these story songs, later writing ‘The Stairs That Namatjira Climbed’ and ‘When I Went Back to Sulva Bay’ recorded in 1965 by Rick and Thel Carey. ‘Namatjira’ was recorded by SlimDusty, Barry Thornton and others. ‘WhatThe Man Said’ and ‘Ten Golden Rules’ were two great gospel songs also recorded by Slim Dusty, Evelyn Bury and other recording artists.
More recently, in 2000 Brian Letton recorded two songs from Jim’s pen – ‘Two Hundred Flags’ and ‘No Medals forMary’. Jim Wesley’s plaque will be added to the other 30 Songmaker plaques,which can be found displayed all year round on the lawn of the Tamworth Information centre, here in Country Music Capital.
MAJOR AWARD OF THE EVENING | 2010 TSA TEX MORTON AWARD
HEATHER McKEAN
Presented by Dianne Lindsay on behalf of TSA foundation member Reg Lindsay
TSA acknowledges the support Australia’scountry songwriters receive from all sections of the industry – and each year presents a special award to someone in the industry who has given support and encouragement to the songwriting community. The award is named in honour of the father of Australian Country Music Tex Morton.
This Award is presented on behalf of APRA|AMCOS who are major sponsors of TSA.
Heather McKean grew up with her older sister Joy, in a musical household where both their mother and father, who was a steel guitar playing school teacher , encouraged them to enjoy music of all kinds. When they moved to the southern tablelands, the girls expanded their skills, and nurtured by their family,performed on stage and radio by the ages of 10 and eight respectively. In 1942 the budding duo had a big opportunity… an appearance on Dick Fair's legendary Australian Amateur Hour Show followed by The Diggers Show at the Tivoli Theatre where they brought the house down.
Heather was only 13 when they began presenting their own country music radio show from 2KY in Sydney. She mainly hosted the last few years on her own at the same time travelling with the Reg Lindsay Show. In1950 the McKeans did their first recording when they backed Tim McNamara on a couple of songs, steered by Tim in the following year, to the Rodeo Label,producing such country classics as McKean Sister originals The Gymkhana Yodel,Yodel Down The Valley and The Morning Mail. In 1953, Joy and Heather started pursuing solo careers, also becoming two of Australia'smost successful managers, working closely with their respective spouses Slim Dusty and Reg Lindsay. As well as her partnershipin Reg's growing career, Heather went on to build a life of her own as a soloartist, recording many albums and winning a Golden Guitar for Female Vocalistof the Year in 1976. She worked in radioand TV production including co-production, working with Reg on his television shows National Country Hour in Adelaide NWS9, SA& Country Homestead in Brisbane, which they won several Logies for.
In the 70s, she worked for three years atthe Country Music Association in Nashville where she also represented Australiaon the International Country Music show appearing on the Grand Ole Opry. Back in Australiashe was President of Country Music Australia, one of our early industry groups. With Reg, Heather alsobrought up three fine daughters Diane, Sandra and Joanne. In the audience, were all three daughters and Heather’s first grandchild, Joanne’s daughter Grace.
Heather recorded several albums on her own, and was awarded female vocalist of the year in the 1976 Australasian Golden Guitar Awards with ‘Ï Can Feel Love’. In 1977 she was inducted into Tamworth’s Hands Of Fame. In 1983, Heather and Joy returned to the stage together again for the first time in almost 30 years as the McKean sisters, when they became the eighth pioneering Australian country music act elevated to country music’ shighest honour, the ACMF Roll of Renown. The recipient of the Tex Morton Award for 2010 - is Heather McKean.
SPONSORS |
Compere Clair Hayes thanked TSA major sponsors, Rural Press Events publishers of Capital News, Australia’s leading Country Music publication – the glossy monthly magazine available from newsagents, for their corporate support; and APRA |AMCOS Australian Performing Rights Assoc, and Australian Mechanical Copyright Association for their on going national support.
“First the Song” is the motto of the TSA
and songwriters wherever you are
we salute you.
Blazes Auditorium, Wests League Club, Tamworth
Comperes:Clair Hayes & Grant Luhrs
Guest artists: Allan Caswell, Karen Lynne, Craig Giles, Those Gals,David Delle-Vergin, Harmony James, Tom Maxwell, Ronni Rae Rivers, Grant Luhrs,Lou Bradley and Daly Stephenson, with a special tribute to Rita Schneider by Melinda Schneider, Mary Schneider, Geoff Mack.
All photos available for purchase from TSA officialphotographer
Country Music Capital News | TSA Notes March 2010 Edition
TSA Showcases – The Showcases were held for four days during festival in the Outback Bar at the West Tamworth League Club and were very well attended.
Many thanks to the artists who appeared on the Showcases. They were all met with great enthusiasm from the audience who thoroughly enjoyed hearing their original material.
Thanks to Paul Rowe and Jon Wolfe from festival FM Capital News for their support for the showcases and thanks also to Carolyn Stier and the Wests Entertainment Group, the Outback Bar is the perfect venue for the Showcases.
It wouldn’t have been possible to get the showcases off the ground without the marvelous organizational skills of Duncan Hill, who worked tirelessly to provide the audience with a wonderful array of songwriters, and his helpers on the dayAngus and Nicholas Hill.
Song Central was atthe rear of the room for each and every showcase as a sponsor and supporter ofTSA, assisting songwriters to get their songs on the site and out there to be found and assisting industry to utilise the site in the best way.
This years’ Songwriting Workshop was run by award winning songwriter Alan Caswell. This festival he celebrated the 30th anniversary of his first Golden Guitar.
The workshop, which was held at the Tamworth City UnitingChurch, St Andrews Room,was well attended and we have since had many favourable comments back regarding the day. Thanks to Patricia Cruzado for catering for the day and looking after the attendees.
On Wednesday the 20th January, the TSA Gala Concert and Awards were held in the Blazes auditorium at Wests Leagues Club. Everyone who went enjoyed the new format of the show, where the awards were announced throughout the course of the evening. A big thank you to Geoff Clapson and the TSA Showband for their wonderful music and support of the artists for the evening. Thanks also to our wonderful hosts Clair Hayes and Grant Luhrs. Congratulations to the winners and finalists on the evening.
A full list of winners was published in February’s Capital News but can also be found on our website at tsaonline.com.au I would however like to mention one special award that was presented by TSA on this evening, the TSA Songmaker Award - this year’s thirty-first recipient is songwriter Jim Wesley.
Our Pass the Guitar Night was held on Thursday night and was well attended. We had a very friendly atmosphere and heard some amazing songs on the night. Great to see some old familiar faces and some new ones too!!!! A sausage sizzle was enjoyed by all thanks to super chef Chris Davies.
This years’ Cavalcade entry was our most ambitious yet. The theme this year was Carnivale and Chris Davies had spent months cutting and painting props. Everyone turned up on the day ready to party and dressed in bright colours and I am very proud to say that after many years of entering that the TSA WON the Non-Commercial/ Not for Profit section of the cavalcade. Congratulations to all concerned.
The TSA Committee has already started organizing the events for festival 2011, so that it will bea bigger and even better festival than this year.
Footnote:The TSA committee would like to thank the five committed souls, working on the float until the early hours of Friday night, in addition to the many festival gigs (some 22 this year for Those Gals), plus commitments and preparation forother TSA activities, Pass the Guitar and Songwriter workshops: Chris Davies and Wendy Wood for their tireless work in pre and post design, sourcing and preparation, Darrell Daley and John Caulfield for being there as ‘blokes’ extra hands to do the hard stuff, the setting-up, lifting and construction, and the additional support given by Carolyne Morris TSA also thanks Dasha’s Transport for the supply and use of the semitrailer, and to sponsors Avis Rent A Car for supplying transport to ferry float participants; and for use of their secure Gunnedah Rd property to house,construct and dissemble the float.
TSA also expresses its appreciation to treasurer, membership and comp co-ordinator Judy Smith for her dedicated commitment throughout the year, and the almost daily commitment from September to early February in pre and post festival committee obligations and award concert preparations.
TSA Festival Round Up
