A True Life Touching Song Wins Top Honors In The 22nd Annual USA Songwriting Competition

Priscilla Renea Hairston of Los Angeles, California has won the Overall Grand Prize and First Prize in the Pop category in the 22nd Annual USA Songwriting Competition with her song "Family Tree" along with songwriters Boots Ottstad and Ben Burgess. This is her first win in any Songwriting Competition. Her winning song "Family Tree" is a touching mid-tempo song based on a true story on Priscilla's turbulent early life.

Priscilla was signed to Capitol Records in 2009. She is also a professional songwriter, her songs she has written reads like who-who's in Pop music. Her songs were recorded by Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Fifth Harmony, Demi Lovato, Rihanna, Madonna, Selena Gomez and Chris Brown. Several of her songs have hit the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.

Her hits she wrote include co-writing the song "Timber", recorded by Pitbull, the song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 2013, certified six times Platinum, making it the biggest hit she has co-written so far in her career.

She wrote the recent hit song "Love So Soft", recorded by Kelly Clarkson, along with other songwriters Maureen "Mozella" McDonald and Jesse Shatkin. The song hit # 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.

She wrote the hit song "Worth It", recorded by Fifth Harmony, along with other professional songwriters Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen and Ori Kaplan, the song hit #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, and #4 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 Charts in 2015. That song has been certified Triple Platinum.

She wrote the hit song "California King Bed" recorded by Pop superstar Rihanna, along with other professional songwriters Andrew Harr, Jermaine Jackson and Alex Delicata. The song hit #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts in 2010.

She wrote "Infinity", recorded by Pop superstar Mariah Carey, along with other songwriters Eric Hudson, Taylor Parks and Ilsey Juber. The song hit #82 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts in 2015.

She wrote "Somethin' Bad", recorded by Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood, along with songwriters Chris DeStefano and Brett James. The song hit #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts in 2014.

She wrote and performed as a vocalist on "John Doe", recorded by hip hop recording artist B.o.B, the song hit #69 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.


The Overall Second Prize went to Folk songwriters Hope Schneir and Justin Schneir of Camarillo, CA with their song "Lay You Down".

The Overall Third Prize went to Aubrey Logan of Bellevue, WA with her song "Pity Party". She is the only songwriter not having any co-writers of all the top three winning songs.

NOTABLE WINS
Other notable wins include Wouter Kellerman, Mauritz Lotz, Ratshepe Makhene, David Klassen and Steve Marshall of Johannesburg, South Africa, who won the First Prize in the Instrumental category with their song "Soweto Travels".

Seb Byford and Naked Six of North Yorkshire, UK, won First Prize in the Rock/Alternative category with "Heart Brake". Seb is the son of Biff Byford, lead singer of Hit heavy metal band Saxon.

The complete list of winners can be seen at:
http://www.songwriting.net/winners


ABOUT USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION
USA Songwriting Competition has a long history of having winners getting recording and publishing contracts, have their songs placed on the charts as well as having their songs placed on film and television. 2013 winner American Authors were signed to Island Records, and hit #1 on the Billboard Charts and went Double Platinum.

2015's winning song "Are You Ready" by Distant Cousins was featured on the final season of American Idol as well as the Box office hit motion picture 'This Is Where I Leave You', starring Jason Bateman and Tina Fey. This is the third consecutive year that the top winner has a song placed in a box office hit movie.

2014's winning song by Justine and Kerris Dorsey was featured in the box office hit movie "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" starring Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner. The 2013 winning song by American Authors "Believer" was placed in the hit movie "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", starring Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Shirley MacLaine and Sean Penn. American Authors is a rock group from New York City. They hit #1 on the Billboard Charts after they win at the 2013 USA Songwriting Competition. The song has been certified double platinum.

The top two winners of 2011: Nenna Yvonne and Alexander Cardinale were signed to Interscope Records after their win. The 2007 winner Ari Gold hit Top 10 on the Billboard charts with his winning song. The 2005 Winner of the Country category had his winning song cut by Country Superstar Faith Hill. The 2005 winner of the Pop category was signed by Interscope Records; she went on to hit Top 10 on the Billboard 200 Album charts. Our 2008 winner appeared on David Letterman TV show and was signed to a record label.

USA Songwriting Competition is sponsored by: D'Addario Strings, Recording Magazine, New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, Airplay Access, Audio-Technica, Presonus, Sonoma Wireworks, Disc Makers, School of Rock, CD Baby, AudioBlocks, and Berklee College of Music.

In its landmark year, the 23rd Annual USA Songwriting Competition is currently accepting entries. For more information, visit: http://www.songwriting.net/enter

Source: http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=201118