Twenty to compete for local title in Colgate Country Showdown | www.northfloridanewsdaily.com

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Winners vie for grand prize of $100,000

LIVE OAK, FL - Twenty winners in the four Live Oak Colgate Country Showdown contests sponsored by WQHL 98.1 radio station and hosted by the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) have been chosen to compete in the local finals June 20 at the SOSMP. The Colgate Showdown is searching for the best new country act in America. The competition will be fierce as all 20 contestants are ready, willing and able to compete as they move toward the grand prize of $100,000!

SPIRIT OF THE SUWANNEE MUSIC PARK, LIVE OAK, FLA - The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Fla. hosted the last of four WQHL 98.1 radio sponsored Colgate Country Showdown talent contests May 30 in a nationwide effort to find the best new country artist. The five chosen this week to go on and compete for the grand prize of $100,000 are, l to r, Timmy Smith (Live Oak), Cady Carter (Jasper), Dannica Lowrey (Pensacola), Heart N Soul (Chuck Vielecki & Jessica Johnson of Mayo) and Sierra Williamson (Jasper).

Photo: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park/Susan K. Lamb

Winners in the final contest May 30 at the beautiful Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park north of Live Oak were Dannica Lowrey (Pensacola), Timmy Smith ( Live Oak), Cady Carter (Jasper), Heart N Soul (Chuck Vielecki & Jessica Johnson of Mayo) and Sierra Williamson (Jasper).

Dannica Lowrey played guitar and sang her original song, "Alaska," which she wrote about relationships. Timmy Smith played guitar and sang. Heart N Soul’s Jessica Johnson sang while Chuck Vielecki played guitar. Cady Carter and Sierra Williamson both sang.

Other winners in the four-part series of contests were (May 9) Amy Maree (Jacksonville), Melvin Morrison (Valdosta, Ga), Angel Mucienko (Lake City), Breanna Paulus (Lake City) and Billy Drifter (Madison); (May 16) Deanna Burkett (Live Oak), Jessica Pickles and Mike Johnson (Madison), Terrell Spivey (Lake City), Ashley Starling (Live Oak) and Adam Sanders with the Roadhouse Band; (Lake City); (May 23) The Kayes (sisters Kimberly and Kelsie Baron with Terry King of Deerfield Beach), Jason Sapp and David Burch (Live Oak), Afton Markham ((Lake City) Mary Nims (Live Oak) and Felisha Williams (Lake City). All will be in the June 20 competition.

The local winner June 20 in Live Oak will compete against five other winners from across Florida in the state finals at the Spirit of the Suwannee Nov. 1. That winner will go to regionals. Regional winners will compete in the national Colgate Country Showdown on live TV in January 2009 for the title of Colgate Country Showdown winner and a hefty check of $100,000!

Florida winners are chosen through contests sponsored by six country music radio stations around Florida, including WQHL 98.1 in Live Oak.

Emcee for the four local competitions, local finals June 20 and state finals Nov. 1 at the SOSMP is WQHL 98.1’s morning Daybreak host Kevin Thomas. WQHL 98.1’s A Little Bit of Heaven host Gail Taylor is the coordinator for the local competition.

If you’re planning to travel to the local competition June 20 or the state contest Nov. 1, make reservations now to stay at the beautiful SOSMP in Live Oak on the famous Suwannee River where these events will be held. The SOSMP features full RV campsites, primitive camping, beautiful cabin rentals, the SOS Café and Restaurant, Arts and Crafts Village, golf cart rental, canoeing, horseback riding, hiking and much, much more. Call 386-364-1683 or go to musicliveshere.com for more information.