Band on the rise

Quitman junior, group win singer/songwriter contest

By Amanda Duncan
news@wood.cm
Posted 3/11/20

The Bobby Irwin Band of Quitman won the 2020 TXM Records Texana Troubadour singer and songwriter contest on Sunday, Feb. 23 at Lindale Texas Music City Grill & Smokehouse.

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Band on the rise

Quitman junior, group win singer/songwriter contest

Posted

The Bobby Irwin Band of Quitman won the 2020 TXM Records Texana Troubadour singer and songwriter contest on Sunday, Feb. 23 at Lindale Texas Music City Grill & Smokehouse. 

Irwin won a $1,000 guitar from Victory Gun & Guitar and a single to be recorded with Mauldin Productions on the TXM record label and played on Texas radio stations.

“The exposure Bobby will get from this contest is the real prize,” said Bobby’s stepmom, Cory Irwin. 

The grueling three-month contest began on Jan. 5 with open auditions held in Lindale and Fredricksburg. Four rounds were held in each location, followed by the semifinals and finals held in Lindale. Over 60 singers and songwriters from all over the state competed. 

This is the third year that TXM Records has held the Texana Troubadour competition. The first year’s winner was Kayla Ray. In the second year, Bryan Martin won and later became the 2019 TCMA songwriter of the year.

Bobby said he didn’t want to do the contest because he didn’t think he had a chance. At the last minute, they decided to audition and surprisingly advanced to the next round. Bobby realized he needed to get some songs written to be able to continue in the contest. In the past couple of months, he has written 14 songs. 

“From the get-go, we (the judges) recognized that Bobby had true Troubadour potential. What really impressed us also was his awesome improvement during the contest. By the time the finals rolled around, Bobby showed that he was a hard-working songwriter that deserved the opportunity to get his music produced and released…hopefully, with TXM Records. His melodies are cool and his ‘hooks’ are beyond his 17 years. I’ll be a fan for life,” vowed Tye Phelps, owner of TXM Records.

The Bobby Irwin Band is still a fairly young band but shows amazing talent and potential. Guitarist Chance Melton is 17 years old. Last summer, out of boredom, he picked up the guitar for the first time and has been playing with the band for three months. 

T.K. Sherwood, the oldest in the group at 24, has played bass guitar with the band for five months. Mason Waller has been playing drums since he was three years old and has been playing with Bobby since the inception of the band a year and a half ago.

Bobby started singing and playing bass guitar at age 11 under the guidance of his pawpaw, the late Joe Jones. He developed a passion for music and taught himself to play guitar.

What started as a Johnny Cash sort of sound has evolved with the influence of each band member. With inspiration from heavy metal to southern rock and country, the group has created a new sound that is unique to them – rockin’ East Texas country.

“There shouldn’t be a genre in music; good music is just good music,” Bobby said.

The band has performed at Neon Moon in Yantis, Texas Music City Grill & Smokehouse in Lindale, Coyote Sams in Tyler and Silver Saloon in Terrell and has opened for popular musicians such as Zane Williams, Blacktop Mojo and Dylan Wheeler.

Their schedule is filling quickly. In March, the band will play at the Quitman Dogwood Fiesta. In April, they will be at the Red Rooster Fest in Hawkins and the Pet Fair at Quitman Animal Clinic. In June, they will take the stage at the Big Bass Festival on Lake Fork. They also plan to build a 2020 summer tour around the Song Swap in Luckenbach.

“I’m so thankful for all of my friends and family. God and my pawpaw have been two huge influences in my life and career. Winning the contest was really cool and I can’t wait to see where this music goes,” said Irwin.