Singer, songwriters cruise

BREATH OF FRESH AIR-Connie Blackledge was a finalist with her DEMO "Breathe of Fresh Air."

The annual Texas Songwriters Cruise was held the first week in December.

This year's cruise was the largest crowd yet, with songwriters from as far as Germany and Australia . Local Songwriter Connie Blackledge placed in the finals with her first five- song DEMO CD:, "Breath of Fresh Air". "I was so honored. It just goes to show, that if you truly love what you do and set your mind and heart on your goals, you can do it!!", said Connie.

Connie has been writing songs for only two years, and was proud of the fact that her professionally recorded CD was made right here in East Texas at Jim Taylor's studio, "The Mixing Room".

Connie was born in Laurel, Mississippi, but now calls Lufkin, Texas, home. Her mother played the piano and her father was a music director in church. By the age of six she knew there was nothing like perfect harmony.!! After raising three children, Connie decided to fulfill

her passion for music. Connie replied, "I always wanted to play the guitar. In 2005 I began taking guitar lessons and soon was writing my own songs. I know it is God that puts a song in my heart every day. Writing has truly overcome me. My favorite thing to do in songwriting is to, take a bad event or circumstance, find a positive, turn it around, write it down, and make it a song. Then I hope that it will help someone mend things that were unseen."

A personal favorite quote of Connie's is: "Life is a song...write it down and pass it along!" She enjoys recording and entertaining locally; however, her passion is writing the songs and melodies.

In conjunction with Lufkin's First Street Arts Center, Connie recently started Write Around Texas, a songwriters association. The association will support area songwriters and live music in our communities. The songwriters meetings are the first Tuesday night of each month from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the First Street Arts Center, located at 104 South First Street, downtown Lufkin. It is easy to tell that Connie has a true passion to bring music to life in downtown Lufkin. Connie said, "I am so proud of all the work that has taken place to improve our downtown area. , I think we should fill every corner we can with music and fun. It is an honor to be working with the First Street Arts Center."

For more information, please call 936-639-3250, or visit www.firststreetartscenter. com and click on Write Around Texas. Also, visit Connie's website at www.writtenbyconnie.com.

Connie will be performing at Becker Art Studios, at 116 S. First Street in downtown Lufkin during the Arts Center's "Shades of Red" exhibition opening Valentine's Day, February 14th, from 5 pm - 8 pm.