Heather Cowart, winner of the first ALABAMA PECAN FESTIVAL TALENT CONTEST, is pictured here holding the 1st place Trophy and the Guitar donated by the Music and Sound Center of Mobile. 

Miss Cowart also received professional recording time from LIVE WIRE PRODUCTIONS and JADA PRODUCTIONS.  Her performance of HERE FOR THE PARTY placed first in a field of 20.  The judges had some mighty fine talent to analyze and were hard pressed to find the best.  But, find it they did, and we are proud to have Heather Cowart as our first winner in a contest we hope will bring some recognition to the massive amount of talent in this area.

 

 

Chris Barbour, winner of the second ALABAMA PECAN FESTIVAL TALENT CONTEST, is pictured here holding the 1st place Trophy and the Guitar donated by the Music and Sound Center of Mobile, and the certificate entitling him to 8 hours of professional recording time donated by JADA PRODUCTIONS, INC.

A native and life long resident of Mobile County residing in Tillman's Corner, Chris taught himself how to play the guitar while in the sixth grade.  His first public appearances were at church functions.  Chris began writing lyrics and melodies when as a senior in high school he surprised his English lit teacher by creatively adding music to some ballads and sonnets for extra credit.  She asked him to write a class night song.  He wrote and performed the song before the largest audience of his short career his classmates in the Theodore High School Class of '84.  The performance was well received and thus began his commitment to music and songwriting.
 
Chris has recorded some of his original songs with the help of a close friend who is a professional musician.  Chris' ambition is to some day sell some of his songs so that he can be more helpful financially to his family and close friends --  giving back is what it's all about.

 

 

 

EDWARD C. SMITH – TALENT CONTEST WINNER 2006

A lifelong resident of LA, better known around here as LOWER ALABAMA, Edward (known to his friends as Ed) and his wife, JoAnn now reside in Creola, Al and are the proud parents of two lovely daughters and proud grandparents of 6 grandchildren.  These lovely additions became the inspiration for the song “DADDY’S ROSE”,  which Ed dedicated to them “thru” HIM our heavenly father, which placed 3rd in the competition for song writer.

While working in the oil fields for 28 years (retired now) Ed picked up on a little french (Cajun lingo) and felt inspired to incorporate it into a song, a reminder of the friendships he has enjoyed over the years, the beautiful language so quickly fading into extinction and the song “LOUISIANA DREAMIN’”; Ed’s entry in the TALENT CONTEST which won  Ed  the FIRST PLACE IN TALENT and also placed SECOND in the Song Writer contest.

It is only in recent years that Ed has found (or in his words took) the time to pursue song writing and singing accompanying himself with his guitar.   His love for music and poetry has come to the forefront of his endeavors and Ed humbly desires that this be his guiding emotion;  and I quote Ed Smith “May the songs that I sing; and the notes that I play; bring joy to your heart; as troubles fade away – 11/3/06 ECS (Ed Smith).