Orlando singer, songwriter wins statewide Colgate Country Showdown

Orlando singer, songwriter wins statewide Colgate Country Showdown

SPIRIT OF THE SUWANNEE MUSIC PARK, LIVE OAK, FLA - Johnny Bulford of Orlando was number eight among nine contestants competing to win the Colgate Country Showdown State Finals at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park. The competition was tough as

Johnny Bulford

the best of the best was ready and all contestants came determined to win. But when the judges had tallied their score cards, Johnny, 23, was the overall winner with a $1,000 check to boot!

Johnny didn’t stay long after his win was announced…he’s on his way to Nashville where he’ll perform at the BMI Buzz at the Basement Nov. 5 with Marjory Lee, Audrey Baker and Tyler Dow Bryant. He’ll also compete at a regional Colgate Country Showdown in Nashville Nov. 16 for the chance to compete in the January 2009 Colgate Showdown national finals. The winner of that event will receive $100,000 and be named the 2008 Best New Country Artist in America.

"This is what I love and want to do," Johnny said of his win Nov. 1. He said winning such a big contest gives him confidence he’s chosen the right path in life. "To get this type of recognition, it kind of validates all the efforts you put in over the years," he noted humbly.

This former high school athlete said he got the sports side of his dad and the music side of his mom and has enjoyed it all. "Growing up, when we had birthday parties, we sang ‘Happy Birthday’ in 4-part harmony!" he laughed. "It was kind of cool."

This isn’t the first time Johnny Bulford has won the statewide Colgate Showdown. He performed a "jaw-dropping performance" in the November 2004 Colgate Country Showdown and earned first place, according to his website. He was a Florida finalist in the 2003 Colgate Country Showdown, and missed the "big prize" by just a few points.

This tall, good looking, proud to be a Christian Central Floridian hasn’t let any grass grow under his feet since he began writing at age 14. His style of music has been compared to the likes of Vince Gill, Garth Brooks and James Taylor. He writes, plays and sings country and "faith-based songs," he said. To finance his dreams of becoming a country star, in his day-job he does "the type work Jesus did,"…as a custom trim carpenter. Johnny said he takes after his grandpa who was also a musician. "I always wanted to be like my grandpa because he was pretty cool!" he said.

He has cut four albums available for purchase through his website, www.johnnybulford.com. His latest is What Happens Here Stays Here. Among the songs on these albums are "When I Make It," "What Happens Here Stays Here," "A Kiss Away," and one very special song about his grandmother, Juanita T. Davis, who passed away in May of this year, "In My Hands, Granny’s Song." Written by Johnny, it talks about him becoming a Christian as a result of his grandmother’s efforts.

He has established himself in the upper echelon of the country music community. By age 21, Johnny had opened for headliners such as Collin Raye, the Warren Brothers, Josh Turner, Trick Pony, Emerson Drive, Chris Cagle, Diamond Rio, Tracy Lawrence, Tanya Tucker and Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night. Johnny performed with Charlie Craig, Marty Brown and The Wilkinsons at a writers’ show this year for Fan Fair in Nashville, one of the biggest country music gatherings in the nation.

Johnny received the 2004 Award for Best New Performance Artist/Writer, in the category of New Country, for the Southeastern United States Region given by the IMAA. He was recently featured on a one-hour morning radio program with Dottie Wynn, where her audience welcomed him warmly.

Johnny regularly performs with a five-piece band in Central Florida but also managed to earn his associate degree from the University of Central Florida, thinking music all the while.

Although he’s spent many hours writing and performing since he was a teenager, Johnny said he has followed a path that was Christ-led. "I was always taught to be Christ-like growing up," he points out. As a kid, other kids around him were in therapy because it was "the thing to do" but not Johnny Bulford. "My therapy was music!" Johnny laughed. Johnny said it gave him a perspective others don’t have. " I was always a little chubby kid so I think about those little chubby kids when I write and sing!"

Live Oak radio station WQHL98.1 (www.wqhl981.com) morning show host Kevin Thomas was the emcee for the 28th Annual Colgate Country Showdown Florida State Finals. Thomas’ Kickin’ Creations also brought the Colt Ford Show to the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park and the showdown in conjunction with the SOSMP and the Colgate Country Showdown.

To learn more about the SOSMP where there is always music playing somewhere, go to www.musicliveshere.com  or call 386-364-1683.