The two judges awarded Joe First the First Prize! In addition to a plaque, organizing committee chair Sara Squires Jones handed him a $300 check.

Thanks to Joe First of Dowling Park, Florida, for writing the song, and to Joe on accordion, Martin Sensiper on guitar, and John White on percussion for playing it, at the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest 2025. Joe was the last Finalist to arrive, yet won First Prize.
https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2025

About Joe First:

I earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The University of Florida.and then taught K-5 Elementary Music for 10 years in Alachua County, FL and 20 years in Pinellas County, FL I retired in 2007 and moved to Nashville, TN for 18 years. I returned to north Florida in 2023 and reside in the Advent Christian Village in Dowling Park, FL. I play a lot with the Song Farmers of the Suwannee and The Suwannee Bluegrass Association and play my singer-songwriter material in Tallahassee, Nashville, and Switzerland.

Joe First, Dowling Park, FL, with an Americana song 2025-09-06, Beautiful Florida Day: First Prize, Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest

About Joe’s song:

I was visiting friends who had a house right on the Santa Fe River and did a lot of kayaking there. At one point, looking at a map, I envisioned a trip through the river connections all the way to the Gulf and, instead of taking the trip, I made up a song about my sort of dream.

Here’s Joe First and band singing his song:
https://youtu.be/Xs68D_tD8Zk Continue reading →