Below there is WWALS video of the winning song, described by Amanda M. Usher, Valdosta Daily Times, August 23, 2021, By the Riverside: Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest winners revealed,

VALDOSTA — Sweet William Billy Ennis of Palatka, Fla., is the first-prize winner of the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.

First Prize Winner Sweet William Billy Ennis.
Top: receiving the prize from Judge J.J. Rolle, introduced again by M.C. “Big Country” Wes James WAAC FM to play again.
Bottom: Sweet William Billy Ennis and his band playing his winning song, “Flat Bottom Boats.”
Photos: Angela Duncan for WWALS.

The annual competition was sponsored by WWALS and took place Saturday at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts Art Park and was also live-streamed on Zoom.

Scott Perkins and the Little Perks in Paradise headlined the show. Perkins is a past winner of the contest.

Ennis is a singer/songwriter who has penned original songs of multiple genres relating to various subjects, including love and war with blues influence, for 50 years, according to his biography.

As the first-place winner, he received $300 along with $300 value in studio time.

Jimi Davies of Atlanta, who rocked the stage with his 15-year-old brother on drums, was the winner for best song submitted from outside the Suwannee River Basin. Davies is a native of Valdosta, according to his biography.

K.J. Wingate of O’Brien, Fla., is the winner for best song submitted from inside the Suwannee River Basin.

Both contestants received a $50 prize.

Judges were Kenji Bolden, John Jeffery “J.J.” Rolle and Josh Duncan. Each of them individually performed.

“We’re looking for the originality of the lyrics and the importance and the integrity that the lyrics pertain to our local watership, and we’re looking for the originality of the music and the composition, as well,” Duncan said.

There’s more in the article about the songwriters and from the judges.

See also WCJB Staff, WCJB, Gainesville, FL, 23 August 2021, Two North Central Florida musicians win Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest awards,

SUWANNEE, Fla. (WCJB) — A pair of North Central Florida musicians are taking home a couple of awards as part of the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest.

KJ Wingate of O’Brien won best song from Inside the Suwannee River Basin with his folk/country tune “The Hymn of the Convict Spring.”

Billy Ennis of Palatka won first place in the Studio Recording Time category with his song “Flat Bottom Boats.”

Billy Ennis band
Photo: Angela Duncan for WWALS.

Here is a video by J.J. Rolle for WWALS of Sweet William Billy Ennis playing his First Prize winning song, “Flat Bottom Boats,”

All about the Songwriting Contest is here:
https://wwals.net/pictures/2021-08-21–songwriting/

Thanks to all who paid for tickets, to the sponsors, especially Georgia Beer Co., and to all who helped.

And congratulations to the winners, starting with Sweet William Billy Ennis!

Billy Ennis receiving First Prize from M.C. “Big Country” Wes James of WAAC FM Rivers Radio.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

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