Joseph Baldwin Wins State Songwriting Contest

The Birmingham News reports that Joseph Baldwin, a country rocker from Vina, has won a statewide songwriting contest linked to the Year of Alabama Music.  His upbeat tune, "I'm Alabama," was selected  at the Ritz Theater in Sheffield. Baldwin won the final round of a competiton sponsored by the Alabama Tourism Department.

The lyrics of his song include: "I'm an old yellowhammer right in your face, from Muscle Shoals to Amazing Grace. I'm Alabama."

Entries in the contest were whittled down through four regional rounds in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and Mobile. Musicians entered 145 songs in the contest, according to the tourism department.

Baldwin took the grand prize -- $2,000 and an eight-hour recording session at FAME Studios. He beat three other finalists, who'll receive $500 each:

Birmingham's Songbird duo, Mary Katherine Samples and Lindsay Livings, ("Alabama Nights").

Montgomery's Jason Givens and Joshua Pittman ("When Alabama Knows Your Name").

Eric Jones of Daphne ("Bama Agenda").

Baldwin attended Vina High School, according to his Facebook page. (Vina is in Franklin County, near Red Bay, in the northwest part of the state.) His MySpace page features three other songs: "Superman," "Shaky Ground" and "Between an Angel and Me."