Darren Watson wins the Blues section of the International Song Contest
Wellington based blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Darren Watson has won the Blues Song section of the Memphis based International Song Contest. Darren entered the song "All Going Wrong" from his 2005 album, South Pacific Soul in the 2008 contest and the results were announced yesterday, 29th April 2009.
Says Watson "I am totally bloody chuffed! I really didn't expect to come anywhere after making the final bit.... just blown away. I'm on One News (or maybe Closeup not sure yet) this Friday, I'll be waving the flag for all of the NZ musicians who fly under the 'NZ On Air' radar for NZ Music Month."
The ISC says:
With judges as diverse as Tom Waits, Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20), Ray Davies (The Kinks), Chaka Khan, McCoy Tyner, Jerry Lee Lewis, Robert Smith (The Cure) and many more, winning the ISC Grand Prize is an accomplishment that recognizes excellence in the craft of songwriting.
In its seventh year, ISC received over 15,500 songs from amateur and professional songwriters from 100 countries worldwide, confirming ISC's status as the leading global songwriting event. In all, ISC bestows prizes on 62 winners, awarding more than $150,000 in cash and prizes.
Darren Watson:
In 1985, Watson formed Chicago Smoke Shop with harmonica player Terry Casey and, although Casey left the band in 1987, the band went on to record two charting LPs and several radio hits. The group was also in big demand as a support act by international touring bands. Between 1987 and 1990, Smoke Shop (the 'Chicago' tag was eventually dropped) opened for NZ tours by Robert Cray (twice), Koko Taylor, George Thorogood, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Watson has made several albums, since, under his own name, and performs regularly in the Wellington area.
