David Pitt, he of the golden voice, took the fleur-de-lis trophy and $1,000 in Grand Prize money at the LASC Hit Makers '91 Awards Banquet this past November 9. The winning song, "In Your Arms," won in the gospel category, which netted David another $100. He wrote the song about seven years ago, but this was the first time he had entered it in our contest. David, who now lives in Indianapolis, also won last year's Gospel category with "Refuge and Strength."
Before the awards were distributed, we had a leisurely dinner of roast beef with mushrooms, glazed ham, rice, new potatoes, broccoli a la Holiday Inn, salad, rolls and dessert. The beef as sliced this year, so we weren't treated to "Follow the bouncing beef" or "Kick the roast," antics which enlivened last year's affair. The main food item for some this time was Derby Pie©
It seems that I ran into Kathie Holmes and Gloria Coulter, part of the famed Georgia connection, in the lobby Friday night following the Songwriter Showcase. They were in a frenzied quest for some Derby Pie and I was at a loss where to find some except for Ehrler's, and I didn't know where any stores were located in relation to the hotel.
Well, I worried about that all night Friday, but upon inquiry Saturday morning, it was discovered that the Holiday Inn served it. At the banquet, I noticed that Kathie had at least one piece zealously guarded while working on the main course.
Following dinner Prez Paul Moffett invited Maggie Cavender, who had remained in town for the banquet, to say a few words to open the ceremony. Then, despite some confusion on the awards stand (my apologies for that), the top ten finalists from each of the ten categories were presented and the category winners announced. The ten winners received $100 each and a shot at the Grand Prize.
Besides David's "In Your Arms," the other category winners were:
Bluegrass: Sharon Adams for "Willow Grove";
Blues: Joseph Diamond, for "Speak to Me";
Children's: Earl Meyers, for "Ridin' on a Hayride";
Country: J. J. Gann, for "Rainin' in Tennessee";
Folk: Cori Connors, for "Stone on Stone";
MOR/Pop: Ross McCort and Eric T. Johnson, for "In My Own Sweet Time";
Other: Gloria Coulter and Sue Kinsey, for "Back to Work";
Rock: Jan Smith, Ross McCort, and Lee Davis, for "It Goes On."
This year David Pitt collected the accolades and appropriately received a standing ovation for being selected the best of 479 entries, Congratulations, David and I hope you try it again next year.