KEITH RIVERS – SONG WRITER WINNER 2007

I started writing songs when I was only 14 years old. I was inspired by singer/songwriters Dolly Parton, Dan Fogelberg, and Hank Williams to name a few. Now at age 46, I’ve been fortunate enough to have written and copyrighted over 300 songs. I have always loved the art of writing, creating something from nothing. I get such a thrill when something I have written touches someone else. I’ve had a Poem Published in 1995 in The Encyclopedia of American Poets. I have recently had poetry published in various issues of Dixie Living Magazine. In the late 80’s early 90’s I wrote two children’s stories published by a New York based magazine called “Kid’s Life and Times.” I am currently working on a collection of short stories geared more toward adults, but my first love remains Songwriting. Winning 1^st Place in last years Hank & Jett Williams Songwriting Contest was one of the high points of my life. Winning 1^st Place again this year is unbelievable! I would like to thank my Family and Friends for all their love and support.

“Eyes Of Spanish Brown” was written shortly after I took a trip out west a few years ago. Seeing the Grand Canyon, and the Beautiful Deserts of Arizona and New Mexico was amazing. The people I met along the way were warm and hospitable. I stopped to buy gas at a small store in the “middle of nowhere” and behind the counter was a beautiful dark haired girl, with beautiful chocolate brown eyes, and I immediately developed a “crush.” I was daydreaming abut my trip weeks later and her face came to mind, and I picked up my guitar, started strumming, and ended up writing one of my better “story songs.” Although the song is over 5 minutes long, I get lots of request to sing it, and of course, that always makes me happy.