The two judges awarded Saylor Dollar Best Song from Outside the Suwannee River Basin.
In addition to a plaque,
the organizing committee chair Sara Squires Jones handed them a $50 check.
Thanks to Dale Dollar and Lisa Saylor Dollar of Tallahassee, Florida, for writing the song, and to Saylor Dollar for playing it,
at the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2025.
https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2025
About Saylor Dollar:
Saylor Dollar is a husband-and-wife duo hailing from Tallahassee,
Florida, comprised of lifelong musicians Lisa and Dale Dollar. They
are known for their original songs and eclectic Americana sound
infused with elements of bluegrass, folk, and blues.
Lisa Dollar, a music teacher by profession, boasts a degree in music
education and has performed with professional orchestras and as a
freelance violinist. Dale Dollar, a guitarist, also studied guitar
at Florida State University, has taught private guitar lessons, and
played in local bands for many years.
Their music has been praised for its “pristine production,
extraordinary writing and performing,” according to indiestrong.com.
Reviewers have praised their “sassy angelic vocals, flawless guitar
chops, and fiddle that hits right on the mark.” Saylor Dollar’s
original songs are noted for their introspective and poetic
lyricism, drawing inspiration from Appalachian storytelling and
love. Their song catalog is available on all streaming platforms.
Dale on guitar and Lisa on fiddle were assisted by Bradley Waldron on bass.
Saylor Dollar, Tallahassee, FL, a Bluegrass song, Suwannee, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, September 6, 2025
Our song, Suwannee, was inspired when we spent time along the
Suwannee River during our first visit to perform at the Florida Folk
Festival this year. We loved the beauty of the river and wanted to
learn more about its history. We read about the Timucuan legend that
said the Moon of the Suwannee infused the earth with all the colors
of the rainbow; then the Sun drew out the colors by putting them
into flowers that bloomed along the Suwannee. We used that in the
first verse of the song. We were intrigued by the meaning of the
name “Suwannee”. We used some of the possible origins of the name:
“Echo River” and “Crooked Black Water” in the lyrics of the song. We
also learned that the Suwannee is a rare wild and free-flowing
river, so we made sure to write that in the chorus of the song. Dale
and Lisa played all the instruments on the recording of their song,
Suwannee. Dale played guitar and banjo; and in addition to singing,
Lisa played fiddle and string bass.
Here’s Saylor Dollar singing their song:
https://youtu.be/LIu8nLROvEE?si=8IPMOd8wQY5NKrU- Continue reading →