Dallas Songwriters Hall of Fame 2024 is looking for Rising Stars to perform songs by our 2024 inductees.
Each year Dallas Songwriters Assoc. holds our annual "Dallas Songwriters Hall of Fame" in which we recognize, honor and induct those iconic singer, songwriters, musician who have roots in North Texas.
As part of our Rising Star Youth Program, we invite young "Rising Stars from local schools of music to join our DSA members backed up by the BYO BAND on the big stage to perform one of our inductees songs (as listed below). The event will be held Saturday April 20, 2024 at LOVE & WAR PLANO, TEXAS.
QUALIFICATIONS: 18 years of age or under, talent and stage presence.
To apply please send a link with recent MP4 and contact info to BobbyMontgomery. Also pick the song you want to perform from the list below.
The invitation is open to Rising Stars through January 2024, at which time we must open it up to DSA members.
What a great opportunity to showcase the young talent we have in North Texas!
DSA PROGRAMS DIRECTOR
Here are inductees songs that I think the Rising Stars could choose from.
Michael Aday (Meat Loaf) - Presented by Alexis
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
Meat Loaf was born Marvin Lee Aday in 1947 in Dallas, Texas, where he grew up, often in the care of his grandmother, who made sure he regularly attended church services and bible studies. First attending Lubbock Christian College, he ended up at North Texas State University but left school in 1967 for Los Angeles where he started his first band, opening for Van Morrison and Them. He later described his early days in the music industry as being treated like a "circus clown”. After his first band split, he found work in musical theater with a new stage production called Hair which eventually led him to off Broadway work, ultimately earning him enough recognition to land a part in The Rocky Horror Picture Show stage production and then on to the screen version which developed a cult following, grossing more than $112 million over 30 years.
Meat Loaf built on this success with songwriter, Jim Steinman. The 1977 gold, then platinum landmark album, Bat Out of Hell, featured hits "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" and "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad." The album, which also included, “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth” and “Bat Out of Hell”, has since gone on to sell more than 43 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time, and raising our local guy to multi-platinum star status. After a rift with his writer, Meat Load fell into a drug habit, and his second album proved to be a disappointment. Several albums later, Meat Loaf turned things around by renewing his partnership with Steinman. 1993’s Bat Out of Hell II, a highly anticipated release, was a monster hit, anchored by the popular single "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)” and went on to sell more than 15 million copies, spurring more tours and albums.
Along his musical journey, Meat Loaf had some success with his other bands that toured with greats like Richie Havens, the Who, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Todd Rundgren, and Rare Earth. Meat Loaf also recorded lead vocals on a Ted Nugent album, Free For All, was in a Broadway musical production called Rockabye Hamlet, and was understudy for John Belushi in National Lampoon where he met his duet-partner, Ellen Foley. He also appeared on Saturday Night Live as the musical guest in 1978, showed more of his acting talents with appearances in 65 films, including Wayne's World and Fight Club, and recorded several more Steinman albums.
Meat Loaf was an interesting guy with a long, illustrious career that spanned nearly six decades and moved millions of albums, and left us some colorful stories and songs. He and his second wife, Deborah Gillespie, split their time between Texas and Los Angeles, and she made a brief appearance in his 2007 documentary, “Meat Loaf: In Search of Paradise”. In 2022, surrounded by his wife, daughters, and close friends, Meatloaf, who suffered health issues, passed away.
Meat Loaf built on this success with songwriter, Jim Steinman. The 1977 gold, then platinum landmark album, Bat Out of Hell, featured hits "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" and "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad." The album, which also included, “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth” and “Bat Out of Hell”, has since gone on to sell more than 43 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time, and raising our local guy to multi-platinum star status. After a rift with his writer, Meat Load fell into a drug habit, and his second album proved to be a disappointment. Several albums later, Meat Loaf turned things around by renewing his partnership with Steinman. 1993’s Bat Out of Hell II, a highly anticipated release, was a monster hit, anchored by the popular single "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)” and went on to sell more than 15 million copies, spurring more tours and albums.
Along his musical journey, Meat Loaf had some success with his other bands that toured with greats like Richie Havens, the Who, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Todd Rundgren, and Rare Earth. Meat Loaf also recorded lead vocals on a Ted Nugent album, Free For All, was in a Broadway musical production called Rockabye Hamlet, and was understudy for John Belushi in National Lampoon where he met his duet-partner, Ellen Foley. He also appeared on Saturday Night Live as the musical guest in 1978, showed more of his acting talents with appearances in 65 films, including Wayne's World and Fight Club, and recorded several more Steinman albums.
Meat Loaf was an interesting guy with a long, illustrious career that spanned nearly six decades and moved millions of albums, and left us some colorful stories and songs. He and his second wife, Deborah Gillespie, split their time between Texas and Los Angeles, and she made a brief appearance in his 2007 documentary, “Meat Loaf: In Search of Paradise”. In 2022, surrounded by his wife, daughters, and close friends, Meatloaf, who suffered health issues, passed away.
Billy Joe Shaver - Presented by Harry
Georgia On a Fast Train
Wacko From Waco
Old Chunk of Coal
Live Forever
Honky Tonk Heroes
Black Rose
Nora Jones - Presented by Barbe
Don’t Know Why
Chasing Pirates
Thinking About You
What Am I To You
Sunrise/Come Away With Me
Erykca Badu - Presented by Barbe
Didn’t Cha Know
Window Seat
Back In The Day
Appletree
Cleva
Tom Douglas - Presented by Brando
The House That Built Me
Little Rock
Southern Voice
Grown Men Don’t Cry
Meanwhile Back at Mama’s
I Got a Car
Thomas Stevenson Douglas is an American country music songwriter that has written Top 10 Billboard Country hits for John Michael Montgomery, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Collin Raye, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney and others.
Tom graduated from Oglethorpe University in 1975, and from Georgia State University in 1977 with an MBA. He worked in Atlanta for a time selling advertising but decided to quit his job to pursue his calling in songwriting. At the age of 27, Douglas opened a small publishing company with two of his friends and moved to Nashville to pursue music for four years. During his time in Nashville, he met his wife, Katie, with whom he decided to move to Dallas to work in commercial real estate, including at the Hank Dickerson Company where the current DSA president, Michael Brandenberger, met Tom and worked with him on occasion. Tom was a member of the Dallas Songwriters Association during the 90's.
Tom lived in Dallas for 13 years where he would raise 3 children, but in 1993, after revisiting songwriting as a hobby, Douglas attended a songwriters’ seminar in Austin and he played his song “Little Rock” for producer/publisher Paul Worley, who decided to take some of Tom's songs back to Nashville with him. One of his first cuts, "Little Rock," recorded by Collin Raye, made it to the country top ten in 1994, peaking at #2. "Little Rock" was nominated for Song of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1994,[ and received a "Million-Air" award from Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) for receiving one million spins on country radio. Douglas then signed with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in June 1994, and returned to Nashville, Tennessee in 1997.
Douglas topped the charts again in 1998 with his second number-one hit, “The Gift”, as recorded by and co-written with Jim Brickman. In 2001, Douglas started cowriting for Tim McGraw, and wrote the Number One singles "Grown Men Don't Cry" and "Southern Voice," as well as the Top Five songs "My Little Girl" (which also became the end title for the Fox film, “Flicka” in 2006) and "Let It Go." He cowrote on McGraw's 2015 album Damn Country Music As well. He also co-wrote Martina McBride's "Love's the Only House," as well as Antebellum’s Number One "I Run to You." In 2009 Tom received the rare Triple Play Award, in which he had three number one hits in a year. These included Lady Antebellum's “I Run To You”, followed by Tim McGraw's “Southern Voice” and Miranda Lambert's “The House That Built Me”.
Tom graduated from Oglethorpe University in 1975, and from Georgia State University in 1977 with an MBA. He worked in Atlanta for a time selling advertising but decided to quit his job to pursue his calling in songwriting. At the age of 27, Douglas opened a small publishing company with two of his friends and moved to Nashville to pursue music for four years. During his time in Nashville, he met his wife, Katie, with whom he decided to move to Dallas to work in commercial real estate, including at the Hank Dickerson Company where the current DSA president, Michael Brandenberger, met Tom and worked with him on occasion. Tom was a member of the Dallas Songwriters Association during the 90's.
Tom lived in Dallas for 13 years where he would raise 3 children, but in 1993, after revisiting songwriting as a hobby, Douglas attended a songwriters’ seminar in Austin and he played his song “Little Rock” for producer/publisher Paul Worley, who decided to take some of Tom's songs back to Nashville with him. One of his first cuts, "Little Rock," recorded by Collin Raye, made it to the country top ten in 1994, peaking at #2. "Little Rock" was nominated for Song of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1994,[ and received a "Million-Air" award from Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) for receiving one million spins on country radio. Douglas then signed with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in June 1994, and returned to Nashville, Tennessee in 1997.
Douglas topped the charts again in 1998 with his second number-one hit, “The Gift”, as recorded by and co-written with Jim Brickman. In 2001, Douglas started cowriting for Tim McGraw, and wrote the Number One singles "Grown Men Don't Cry" and "Southern Voice," as well as the Top Five songs "My Little Girl" (which also became the end title for the Fox film, “Flicka” in 2006) and "Let It Go." He cowrote on McGraw's 2015 album Damn Country Music As well. He also co-wrote Martina McBride's "Love's the Only House," as well as Antebellum’s Number One "I Run to You." In 2009 Tom received the rare Triple Play Award, in which he had three number one hits in a year. These included Lady Antebellum's “I Run To You”, followed by Tim McGraw's “Southern Voice” and Miranda Lambert's “The House That Built Me”.
Buck Owens - Presented by Keith
Crying Time
I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail
Love’s Gonna Live Here
Together Again
Under Your Spell Again
Texas Connections:
Alvis Edgar Owens Jr. was born August 12, 1929 on his family’s farm outside of Sherman, Texas – about 50 miles north of Dallas. The family had a mule they used on the farm named “Buck”. When young Alvis was 3 or 4 years old, he came into the house one day and announced that his name was also Buck. The name stuck, and Buck Owens is how we know and love him today. Later, the family moved to Garland, Texas where his father worked on a dairy farm. Buck went to first through third grade in Garland.
Surviving the dust bowl:
Life for the Owens family was hard. In addition to a severe economic depression gripping the country, the central plains of the United States were experiencing severe drought – causing the great “Dust Bowl”. One thing that kept them going was the family’s love of music. His mother played the piano and taught the children gospel music through the Baptist Church.
In 1935, the family moved to Mesa, Arizona. Buck continued his education, but he didn’t really care for formal schoolwork. He found that he could satisfy many school requirements by singing or acting in school plays, which he did as often as he could.
Buck quit school in the ninth grade to help out on his family’s farm and launch a career in music. He had learned to play guitar, mandolin, horns and drums. He obtained an electric steel guitar and his father converted an old radio into an amplifier for him. Though the family was skeptical of their son’s musical ambitions, they supported him nonetheless. He began playing in bars – passing the hat – and also playing on local radio.
Bakersfield:
In the late 1940s, Buck started working as a truck driver. Some of his trips took him to Bakersfield, California – a haven for dust bowl refugees with a budding music scene. He and his first wife moved there in 1951. Soon, he was traveling to Hollywood to work as a session player, recording with Tennessee Ernie Ford, Wanda Jackson, Tommy Duncan, etc. He released his first solo single – a rockabilly number called “Hot Dog” – under the pseudonym “Corky Jones” so that being associated with rock and roll would not tarnish his budding country music career. Eventually, he would release numerous country songs that became hits and established himself as one of the great founders of what became known as the “Bakersfield Sound”.
Success and Accolades:
Buck has released 39 studio albums, 9 live albums, and 97 singles. Twenty One of those singles (such as “Act Naturally”, “Love’s Gonna Live Here”, “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail”, and “The Streets of Bakersfield”) were number one country hits in the USA. Buck was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996. He was named as #12 in CMT’s Greatest Men in Country Music in 2003. In addition to being a member of the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, he is now a member of the Dallas Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. US Highway 82 in his birthplace of Sherman, Texas is named the “Buck Owens Freeway”.
Alvis Edgar Owens Jr. was born August 12, 1929 on his family’s farm outside of Sherman, Texas – about 50 miles north of Dallas. The family had a mule they used on the farm named “Buck”. When young Alvis was 3 or 4 years old, he came into the house one day and announced that his name was also Buck. The name stuck, and Buck Owens is how we know and love him today. Later, the family moved to Garland, Texas where his father worked on a dairy farm. Buck went to first through third grade in Garland.
Surviving the dust bowl:
Life for the Owens family was hard. In addition to a severe economic depression gripping the country, the central plains of the United States were experiencing severe drought – causing the great “Dust Bowl”. One thing that kept them going was the family’s love of music. His mother played the piano and taught the children gospel music through the Baptist Church.
In 1935, the family moved to Mesa, Arizona. Buck continued his education, but he didn’t really care for formal schoolwork. He found that he could satisfy many school requirements by singing or acting in school plays, which he did as often as he could.
Buck quit school in the ninth grade to help out on his family’s farm and launch a career in music. He had learned to play guitar, mandolin, horns and drums. He obtained an electric steel guitar and his father converted an old radio into an amplifier for him. Though the family was skeptical of their son’s musical ambitions, they supported him nonetheless. He began playing in bars – passing the hat – and also playing on local radio.
Bakersfield:
In the late 1940s, Buck started working as a truck driver. Some of his trips took him to Bakersfield, California – a haven for dust bowl refugees with a budding music scene. He and his first wife moved there in 1951. Soon, he was traveling to Hollywood to work as a session player, recording with Tennessee Ernie Ford, Wanda Jackson, Tommy Duncan, etc. He released his first solo single – a rockabilly number called “Hot Dog” – under the pseudonym “Corky Jones” so that being associated with rock and roll would not tarnish his budding country music career. Eventually, he would release numerous country songs that became hits and established himself as one of the great founders of what became known as the “Bakersfield Sound”.
Success and Accolades:
Buck has released 39 studio albums, 9 live albums, and 97 singles. Twenty One of those singles (such as “Act Naturally”, “Love’s Gonna Live Here”, “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail”, and “The Streets of Bakersfield”) were number one country hits in the USA. Buck was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996. He was named as #12 in CMT’s Greatest Men in Country Music in 2003. In addition to being a member of the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, he is now a member of the Dallas Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. US Highway 82 in his birthplace of Sherman, Texas is named the “Buck Owens Freeway”.
Miranda Lambert - Presented by Troy
The House That Built Me
Gunpowder and Lead
Famous In a Small Town
Baggage Claim
Crazy Ex Girlfriend
Keeper of the Flame
Born in Longview and raised in the piney woods of Lindale, Texas, it didn’t take long for Miranda Lambert to make her mark on the country music scene. By 16, she appeared in the Johnie High Country Music Revue in Arlington, Texas. Miranda resisted the pop version of country music and asked her father to teach her guitar so that she could write her own songs. Her next milestone was a third-place finish at the Nashville Star talent show.
In 2003, she signed with Epic records. In the summer of 2004, Miranda released her initial album, titled “Kerosene”. That album produced four Top 40 singles, including a Top 20 for the title track. After several successful albums, she performed at the 2010 CMA show after which, she accepted her “Female Artist of the Year” award. During the 2010’s decade, Miranda continued her country superstar status. She joined with Ashley Monroe and Angeleena Presley to form the all-girl band, “Pistol Annies”. They made several albums together, while Miranda continued to release solo works as well.
She has also enjoyed successful business ventures. She was the first female artist to open her own bar on lower Broadway in Nashville, has her own boots and clothing line, a brand of wine and the Pink Pistol Boutique in her hometown of Lindale. Miranda also founded MuttNation with her Mom, which helps with animal rescue and adoption. Please congratulate Miranda Lambert as a member of the Dallas Songwriters Hall of Fame!
In 2003, she signed with Epic records. In the summer of 2004, Miranda released her initial album, titled “Kerosene”. That album produced four Top 40 singles, including a Top 20 for the title track. After several successful albums, she performed at the 2010 CMA show after which, she accepted her “Female Artist of the Year” award. During the 2010’s decade, Miranda continued her country superstar status. She joined with Ashley Monroe and Angeleena Presley to form the all-girl band, “Pistol Annies”. They made several albums together, while Miranda continued to release solo works as well.
She has also enjoyed successful business ventures. She was the first female artist to open her own bar on lower Broadway in Nashville, has her own boots and clothing line, a brand of wine and the Pink Pistol Boutique in her hometown of Lindale. Miranda also founded MuttNation with her Mom, which helps with animal rescue and adoption. Please congratulate Miranda Lambert as a member of the Dallas Songwriters Hall of Fame!
KNON - Presented by Barbe
KNON - a radio station that supports local music for over 40 years.
KNON is a non-profit, listener-supported community radio station, deriving its main source of income from on-air pledge drives and from underwriting or sponsorships by local small businesses.
KNON went on air on July 30, 1983 with 10,000 watts of power. In March 1990, KNON raised it’s power to 55,000 watts. The signal covers a radius of approximately 60 miles from Cedar Hill. it extends from McKinney, Hillsboro, Corsicana and from Ft. Worth to Greenville.
KNON is on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the most diverse programming in Texas. The volunteer disc jockeys play their own music or conduct talk shows during specifically targeted programs. The program variety can be seen on our schedule.
Each music format has its own unique demographics, but the one thing that the entire KNON audience shares is that they listen to KNON, rather than just using it for background noise.
Throughout the years, KNON has received awards for its unique programming. KNON was chosen as the Best Radio Station in Dallas by both The Dallas Observer and D-Magazine – an unprecedented honor for the Station and all of its dedicated volunteers. Dallas Songwriters recognizes the station as a community treasure for playing local music. Accepting the award for KNON is Dave Chaus has been the station manager for over 20 years,
KNON is a non-profit, listener-supported community radio station, deriving its main source of income from on-air pledge drives and from underwriting or sponsorships by local small businesses.
KNON went on air on July 30, 1983 with 10,000 watts of power. In March 1990, KNON raised it’s power to 55,000 watts. The signal covers a radius of approximately 60 miles from Cedar Hill. it extends from McKinney, Hillsboro, Corsicana and from Ft. Worth to Greenville.
KNON is on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the most diverse programming in Texas. The volunteer disc jockeys play their own music or conduct talk shows during specifically targeted programs. The program variety can be seen on our schedule.
Each music format has its own unique demographics, but the one thing that the entire KNON audience shares is that they listen to KNON, rather than just using it for background noise.
Throughout the years, KNON has received awards for its unique programming. KNON was chosen as the Best Radio Station in Dallas by both The Dallas Observer and D-Magazine – an unprecedented honor for the Station and all of its dedicated volunteers. Dallas Songwriters recognizes the station as a community treasure for playing local music. Accepting the award for KNON is Dave Chaus has been the station manager for over 20 years,
Jack Calmes - Presented by Alexis
Chuck Rainey - Presented by Bobby
