DSA Monthly Meeting & Song Critiques - Thursday, JULY 9
Location: Your home via ZOOM
6:30 pm: Open portal and networking
6:30 pm: Open portal and networking
7:00 pm: Program followed by song critiques for members
Our Guest Speaker is Christian Brooks
Born in the early 1950s in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas, Christian Brooks first cradled a guitar at the age of 13, changing his focus forever and the catalyst for his life-long musical journey. Developing his skills during his teen years while playing with high school friends, Brooks became acquainted with the professional stage at Dallas’s The Cellar Club, during the revolutionary late 1960s rock scene. A directional change in his life during the early 70s added contemporary gospel to his performance experience, before the early 1980s introduced soul and blues into the equation—a change that became the foundation of his taste and performance. Coming from the tight-knit Oak Cliff community that produced many early greats in the Texas blues-rock scene, Brooks took this native sound and adapted it into his own evolving repertoire.
As a last-minute substitute for a friend’s group, Brooks began playing drums and then went on to play percussion with numerous local and statewide groups, before teaming with the late blues guitarist Bro. Dave Altice (formerly with the Greg Allman Band). This musically-altering experience put Brooks on a new road that led to five years in New Mexico and three CDs. Smell It Cookin’ won two awards (Best Blues and Best Mainstream Rock) at the 2000 Mic Line Awards in Albuquerque and gave Brooks the opportunity to broaden his professional horizons. The years with Altice and his Louisiana flavor injected the final element into Brooks’ musical equation, the amalgamation producing the artist’s new personal sound—where Cajun blues meets Texas honky-tonk rock.
Lengthy trips between Dallas and Albuquerque, afforded him the time and incentive to experiment in composition, but this time with lyrics to match his developing style. In the process, he discovered a new love and a new talent—slide guitar and songwriting. He then added his own vocal performance to the mix. Playing in clubs and nightspots in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana, Brooks became increasingly comfortable with his unique sound and his own compositions, and audiences liked it, too.
Moving back to Dallas in 2002, Brooks has played at the Dallas House of Blues, the Hard Rock Café-Dallas, the “KNON Blues Festival,” numerous “Stevie Ray Vaughan Ride and Concerts,” the “Dallas International Guitar Festival,” and released two CDs: Christian Brooks, produced by Andy Van Ells and Lucky Me, Anson Funderburgh producer. Brooks was also featured in two additional CDs: the Cliffhanger Project I and II, Robert Ware producer, released by Topcat Records. In 2024, he recorded two new soon-to-be-released songs, produced by Ric Web at Ric Web Productions, Nashville.
Among the many artists Brooks has played with are Anson Funderburgh, Sam Miers, Rocky Athas, Buggs Henderson, “Smokin’” Joe Kubek, Robin Syler, Mike Morgan, and Anton Fig (drummer for David Letterman). Current members of the Christian Brooks Band are: Brooks-lead guitar; Robert Ware-bass; Clint Hooks-drums; Bram Flynn-keyboards.
DSA Monthly Meeting & Song Critiques - Thursday, JUNE 11
Our Guest Speaker is Will Townsley
Will is a professional composer/arranger/film composer/sound designer/songwriter, and Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Texas at Arlington! Plus, he is also a member of the Dallas Songwriters Association and has performed at several DSA showcases!
Will Townsley who is from Arlington, Texas won a Grand Prize Honorable Mention for his song,"Nothing To Do With You" in the 2023 Dallas songwriters Song Contest. A former writer for Curb Publishing and Al Jolson/Black and White Music, both out of Nashville, Will Townsley’s songs have been recorded by Jason Ashley, Colt Prather, and others.
Will has performed with artists that include Sammy Kershaw and Joe Nichols and opened for Jake Owen, Brett Young, Chris Jansen, Richie McDonald (Lodestar), Larry Stewart (Restless Heart), Tim Rushlow (Little Texas), Blues Traveler, and The Wilder Blue. He has performed for major organizations including the Dallas Cowboys and was invited to perform at songwriter showcases that include the world-famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee and the Wildflower Music Festival.
Will teaches currently teaches music industry courses at the University of Texas–Arlington.
Will is going to talk about his musical journey and answer any questions you may have, so don't miss it!
Also, get your song critiqued by industry pros Barbe McMillen and Joe Milton and be considered for the 2026 Member Song Contest and Songwriter of the Year. Limit of 3 songs per meeting. You can pay online via the critique form, and the cost is $10 per song. However, please be advised that songs that make use of Artificial Intelligence for any lyrics, melody or production will not be considered for the Member Song Contests.
Will is a professional composer/arranger/film composer/sound designer/songwriter, and Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Texas at Arlington! Plus, he is also a member of the Dallas Songwriters Association and has performed at several DSA showcases!
Will Townsley who is from Arlington, Texas won a Grand Prize Honorable Mention for his song,"Nothing To Do With You" in the 2023 Dallas songwriters Song Contest. A former writer for Curb Publishing and Al Jolson/Black and White Music, both out of Nashville, Will Townsley’s songs have been recorded by Jason Ashley, Colt Prather, and others.
Will has performed with artists that include Sammy Kershaw and Joe Nichols and opened for Jake Owen, Brett Young, Chris Jansen, Richie McDonald (Lodestar), Larry Stewart (Restless Heart), Tim Rushlow (Little Texas), Blues Traveler, and The Wilder Blue. He has performed for major organizations including the Dallas Cowboys and was invited to perform at songwriter showcases that include the world-famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee and the Wildflower Music Festival.
Will teaches currently teaches music industry courses at the University of Texas–Arlington.
Will is going to talk about his musical journey and answer any questions you may have, so don't miss it!
Also, get your song critiqued by industry pros Barbe McMillen and Joe Milton and be considered for the 2026 Member Song Contest and Songwriter of the Year. Limit of 3 songs per meeting. You can pay online via the critique form, and the cost is $10 per song. However, please be advised that songs that make use of Artificial Intelligence for any lyrics, melody or production will not be considered for the Member Song Contests.
BEST SONGS OF THE MEETING CONTESTS
Started over in January for 2026
members only pay $10 here in our Square store
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/02JSQHH1RYQP5/checkout/MRGZLHJH5IRTCVIRCKPBBKKGUpload lyrics in pdf file format and audio file in mp3 format on our Google drive.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nz_0TRsPERTYVG-eSzFMRF13JYqpfqvE?usp=sharing
