Jack Ingram and Shawn Camp open the Texas Songwriter U Showcase at the Saxon Pub in Austin before the All-Stars take the stage.

Press release

Texas Songwriter U (TxSU), in collaboration with Texas singer-songwriter Jack Ingram, the Texas Heritage Songwriters’ Association and partner Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), announces its 6th Annual Texas Songwriter U discovery and development songwriting program. Texas Songwriter U is now accepting the application of all lyrical, musical genres into its 2019 competition. Songwriters have until midnight, Monday, November 4, 2019, to submit two songs via upload to TexasSongwriterU.com.

Eight selected songwriting entrants will be invited to its 2-day workshop and showcase in Austin, December 11-13, joining host Ingram and his award-winning workshop mentors. One selected songwriter from among the eight finalists will earn opportunities for co-writes with award-winning songwriters, a new guitar, opening performances, studio time, a festival performance, and more!

Texas Songwriter U is an annual songwriting competition, educational workshop and showcase event serving to identify, develop and support the best adult songwriters both in and from Texas while improving upon the quality and quantity of professional songwriting across our state. The annual workshop and showcase program will return to Austin, Dec. 11-13, 2019.

The caliber of past songwriting mentors who have joined the Texas Songwriter U workshop weekend includes Gary Nicholson, Radney Foster, Liz Rose, Jon Randall, and Shawn Camp.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, and either have been born in Texas, currently live in Texas, or have lived in Texas for five (5) consecutive years. Applicants may hold a current publishing agreement, and TxSU will accept both self-published and co-written songs. A $25 processing fee is required of all contest applicants. The structure for judging individual songwriting talent will rely on industry professionals blindly rating each song.

Finalists will enjoy a two-night stay at Austin’s boutique Hotel Ella. All meals will be provided to finalists throughout their stay.

Texas Music Office Director Brendon Anthony presents to workshop attendees

The TxSU workshop will kick-off on Wednesday evening, December 11, and wrap-up on Friday, December 13 at Hotel Ella. For the second year in a row, TxSU will expand its workshop agenda to now include an “Industry Day,” providing finalists with personal access to key players in the music business. Workshop leadership will announce an overall selected-songwriting winner at the conclusion of the 2019 workshop.

These eight finalists will also participate in two incredible Austin showcases. Each will perform in our private Texas Songwriter U Kick-Off on the afternoon of December 11. The following evening, Texas Songwriter U will showcase each artist, who will perform before a packed house in Austin’s premier listening room, The Saxon Pub. This two-hour set will follow opening performances by Jack Ingram and Friends.

The 2019 Texas Songwriter U winner, chosen from its eight finalists, will be awarded the following:

• An opportunity to co-write one song with Jack Ingram
• An opening for Jack Ingram at a landmark Texas venue, (travel paid)
• A performance at the 2020 MJM (Mack, Jack & McConaughey) charity after-pick party, (travel not paid)
• A recording studio demo session at Austin’s famed Arlyn Studios, (travel not paid)
• A new Epiphone Masterbilt Century Deluxe Acoustic Electric guitar
• A three-night stay and two performances at the 2020 Key West Songwriters Festival (travel AND hotel paid)

“Texas has always produced more than its fair share of excellent songwriters over the years, and many of them have moved on to make significant contributions to the music industry,” said Texas Heritage Songwriters’ Association board member Michelle Johnson. “We are proud to be partnered up with Jack Ingram and BMI, working together to discover excellent young songwriters while keeping the art and craft of songwriting alive and well across the entire Texas music community.”

Proud to be a member of the Texas Country Music Association, and excited about its current list of Texas artists up for votes for this year’s numerous awards. The awards show will be Sunday, Sept. 22, at Billy Bob’s Texas in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

The link to view the categories and their many nominees (nominated by the public) and vote in this prestigious contest, go Online to www.texascuntrymusicassociation.org.

The association also has its own music chart, The Texas Country Music Chart, aka Texas Airplay Chart, following those artists who connect with them. That connection process is also Online.

This week’s chart can be viewed at (click here) https://www.texascountrymusicchart.com/chart

Items in one of the packages currently available on AaronWatson.com

Spoiler alert — Aaron Watson’s “Kiss That Girl Goodbye” is at No. 1. This is a release off his newest album, Red Bandana, being released this coming Friday, June 21. He’s made five of those songs available on the streaming sites, and “Kiss That Girl Goodbye” was released to radio long ago. There are videos already on YouTube.com for several of the songs off this same CD, including “Kiss That Girl Goodbye,” “Try Like The Devil,” and “Riding With Red.”

The CD can be purchased off Aaron’s Website, AaronWatson.com.

And, one can either sign up to receive these weekly chart reports, to join the association, to vote, and lots more at the Website: www.texascountrymusicassociation.org

Press release from 2911 Media with courtesy photos

Baillie & the Boys gained prominence in the late 1980s as the trio (Kathie Baillie, Michael Bonagura, and Alan LeBoeuf) first found work singing harmony vocals on singles for Ed Bruce, Dan Seals, and Randy Travis. Bonagura co-wrote Marie Osmond’s single “There’s No Stopping Your Heart”. In 1987, Baillie & the Boys were signed to a record deal with RCA Records. Their self-titled album was released that year, producing three Top 20 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. Turn The Tide, their second album, was released a year later. It produced four consecutive Top 10 hits on the country charts, including “(Wish I Had A) Heart of Stone”, their highest-charting single.

“Michael and I can’t even believe it’s been so many years since we started on this journey,” said Kathie Baillie. “The resurgence of country music from the 80s and 90s is very exciting for us. We, again, are getting calls to sing harmonies on projects, perform shows at venues around the country, even some backyards, and we are making some great new music. We realize the new music won’t make it to radio, but it is fun being back in the studio.”

“Just like Kathie said, we are excited to still be doing what we love,” added Michael Bonagura. “We have a new group of people around us working very hard to rebuild our brand, name, and awareness so things are looking up for 2019.”

The trio initially made their impact while singing on jingles for companies such as Burger King, Gallo Wine, Soft and Dry (and others) the trio was signed by industry giant Doug Morris to the Atlantic Records division Big Tree Records; releasing the group’s first Billboard charted single; “Please Don’t Tell Me Goodnight” in 1976 under the name Bittersweet.

Relocating to Nashville in 1983 and determined to achieve relevance in the Nashville country music scene, the group’s three-part vocal harmonies soon found their place and were used by many of the biggest names in country music, including Vince Gill, Lynn Anderson, Marie Osmond, Dan Seals, Moe Bandy. Their success singing harmony was such that one time you could have heard the backing vocals of Baillie & The Boys on five of Billboard’s Top 10 Ten Country Singles all in the same week, something no other group has yet to equal!

While performing at one of Music Row’s infamous night spots – The Hall Of Fame – the trio was discovered by Jeff Cook (founding member of the group Alabama) who brought them to the attention of Joe Galante (president of RCA Records) who – after hearing the trio perform a live 30 minute audition in his office – signed the act to a recording contract.

Watch for their new album coming out later this year.