InsideButlerCounty.com | Colgate Winner!

Port Matilda resident, Riley Roth recently took first place in the WBUT Colgate Country Showdown local qualifier held at the Succop Theater on July 8, 2010.

The Colgate Country Showdown is the nation's largest and longest running country music talent search that gives aspiring country music artists in America a chance to launch their professional careers. Competing against 8 other contestants, Riley sang “Broken Wing” by Martina McBride, and an original song she wrote called “Butterflies”. She will now represent WBUT at the State level of the contest to be held at Hershey Park on September, 11. She will compete against all local winners in Pennsylvania for the chance to move on to the Regional level of the contest.

There are five regional competitions across the country, and the winner from each of those will receive an all-expense paid trip to the National Final where each will compete for the $100,000 Grand Prize and the National Title.

Rounding out the top three at WBUT’s qualifier were Latrobe resident, Laura Lee who performed “Bring on the Rain” by JoDee Messina, and Carrie Underwood’s “Cowboy Casanova” and Dawn Elaine of Conneaut, Ohio singing “Home” and “Sunday Morning Coffee”, two songs she co-wrote.

Providing accompaniment for each act was a live backup band made up of members of the B.E. Taylor Group, the Fabulous Bender Boys, and the Joe Zelek Band. Band members include Jamie Peck, Roger Hoard, Jim Miller, Dennis Craig, and Chad Smith.

Each act was judged on a uniformed scoring system set forth by the Colgate Country Showdown, and given points based on the following categories: Marketability in country music; Vocal/instrumental ability; Originality of performance; and Talent. The panel of judges was comprised of local entertainers, Tom Menchyk and Jerry Johnston; Entertainment writer for the Tribune Review, Kellie Gormly; and Steve Graham of Graham Audio.

WBUT has been hosting a local Colgate Country Showdown qualifier since 2005. Past winners   include Curt Marino, Sara Nicole, Sarah Wilson, Rachel Mellor, and Sydney Hutchko. WBUT’s Bob Cupp, host of the Breakfast Club has handled the emcee duties each year.

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Last Updated on Friday, 09 July 2010 15:49