the 11th annual riverfest Singer/Songwriter Contest and festival
The OSFR Song Contest is held LIVE! at RiverFest on Sunday, March 26. Come see these talented artists sing about our beloved river. Other fun activities include a silent auction that features an exciting list of items that are donated by our area’s accomplished artists, businesses, and individuals, food from local vendors, beverages from local breweries, a pop-up t-shirt printer offering this year’s RiverFest t-shirts for sale, a real live mermaid, and a 50/50 raffle.
This year we have the most ever contestants for the song contest.
Twenty new songs about the Santa Fe River. Thanks to our co-founder of OSFR Merrilee Malwitz-Jipson who came up with the idea to get songs written about our river.
And since imitation is the highest form of complement, there is also an annual contest for the Suwannee River sponsored by WWALS Watershed Coalition.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
Wayne Hooper
Wayne Hooper is a homegrown Florida songwriter, born in Hialeah, and residing in Hawthorne. He played honkytonks and dives for years some time ago, but never stopped writing, and playing. Only these days more so around the campfire or in the back of the Ol’ Barn.
Song Title: Ol’ Man and The River©
It’s about a man who lost his love to the river, but still managed to find peace in the give and take of life and love.
Ted McVay
Ted McVay, a retired Spanish professor currently living in Gainesville, has been writing songs for about 10 years and has performed at songwriter festivals, songwriter rounds, coffee houses, and tons of open mics. His songs are stories that have been variously described as quirky, captivating, and sometimes deeply moving.
Song Title: Santa Fe River (A Murder Ballad), © 2023
This song came to me after I moved to Florida. I had been having trouble writing songs during the pandemic, but one day I was in the back yard and saw my green canoe up on sawhorses and the line “in a green canoe on the Santa Fe river” came to me. It sort of came together after that.
Ray Myers
Florida native & international adventurist, from Jacksonville.
Song Title: Wild River – ©℗ 2023 Ray Myers
Inspired by my early years on the Santa Fe.
Jim Hearn
I’m Jim Hearn and I’ve been coming to the Santa Fe River since I was 8 years old. Lived here for the past 26 years. Raised my daughter on this beautiful river and love woodworking, writing
and playing music.
Song Title: The Turpentine Man © 2023
The story takes place in the Rum Island Area close to 100 Years ago during hard times, but a man could make money in the turpentine business where he could go out into the forest cut cat face in the pine trees and catch the pitch in pots. This industry collapsed when they started using synthetic materials to replace turpentine.
William S. Ennis
“Sweet William” Ennis is a singer/song writer who has lived in Palatka Florida for over three decades. His original
songs written over the span of fifty years covers multi genres and subjects including the environment, love & war with a heavy dose of Blues. Sweet William is very active in the Florida music community and recognized for
organizing volunteer music events supporting soup kitchens, assisted living facilities and worthy fund raisers.
Song Title River In A Bottle© 2023
The fight to protect the Santa Fe River and her springs is centered on the bottled water controversy, and the plastic plague our world faces. My song is effort to bring awareness to the issue.
Rachel Grubb
Rachel is a seventh generation Floridian raised in rural north central Florida. She enjoys songwriting and is currently working on her second solo album, Florida Home. She is also a member of the all-female Americana trio, The Krickets.
Song Title Rum Island © (2021) (Rachel Grubb)
I grew up in north Florida swimming in the local rivers and springs. I started writing this song during the pandemic when we were all stuck at home. I couldn’t go anywhere but I dreamed of spending a hot spring day on the Santa Fe.
Trevor Zetrouer
I am a Gainesville native and grew up visiting the Santa Fe and surrounding rivers and springs.
Song Title Santa Fe River Take Me Away© 2023 Trevor Zetrouer
This was a collaborative effort by a group of friends who have had some great time on the Santa Fe River.
Tommy Stone
Born in Gainesville. Grew up in our great environment; Natural, musical, artistic, social justice etc.. Heard Dale Crider in middle school singing about the importance of mosquito larva and saw gamble Rogers at a water protest at Kanapaha.
Song Title Floatin’ Down the Santa Fe © 2023
Just written from my personal feelings about time on the river.
Suzanne Burris
Originally from Lake City Florida and grew up on the Santa Fe River.
Song Title Ol’ River©
This song was made possible because of the love we have for and the time we have spent in the Santa Fe river.
Richard Ryan and the Rick Ryan Band
Rick has been writing and playing locally, in all original bands for almost thirty years. Drummer Gray has been keeping the beat for every one of them. Matty, lead guitarist, joined the band six years ago, bringing his New England skill set and energy. BK, bass, has been a welcome recent addition. And together we make THE RICK RYAN BAND.
Song Title When the Water Gets Low © (2011) (Rick Ryan)
My late wife saw an advertisement for the Santa Fe River song contest and thought I should enter. The lyrics are somewhat true. I spent a lot of time on the Santa Fe River.
Rick Guerry, Grace Schuppie, Jose Boada
Rick is an original Gainesvillian Reptillian. Rick is a singer, songwriter, guitar player and worship leader who loves North Central Florida and is honored to be a part of today’s RiverFest celebration. We are all truly grateful to Our Santa Fe River for all the work they do to protect this great treasure. Thank you.
Song Title: Take Me Down to the River © 2023 Rick Guerry
I started writing this song with the central idea that no matter where I go or how far I travel, being back on the river and swimming in the crystal clear springs of North Central Florida is as good as life gets. This is where I go when I need to celebrate or when life throws the inevitable curveball. This is home.
Mike Manetz
Mike is a longtime area musician, songwriter, and educator.
Song Title: Roll On, River © 2023 by Mike Manetz
The Santa Fe has flowed through thousands of years of history, from the Native People who fished her streams, to the Spanish who named her, then the Seminoles, enslaved Africans, cracker cowboys, and farmers. The river was here before us, and she’ll be here when were gone.
Mikaila McGregor
We are the Alfalfa Pals! We are friends who share a passion for music, nature, and community.
Song Title: Blue Eyed Girl© (2023)(Alfalfa Pals)
Our song is about the beauty we feel lucky to experience every time we visit the Santa Fe! We want this natural beauty to be preserved and protected.
Larry Condra
Artist/poet/singer-songwriter; recently retired from the Veterans Administration; interested in preserving our world and saving it for future generations.
Song Title: “The Santa Fe River Blues” © 2023 Larry L. Condra
I wanted to express my sadness and hope in this song. I laid out how the Santa Fe River has – and is – being devalued by corporate greed; but I also wanted to express some about how the river feeds and nurtures the environment around it. If we continue to support this river, we can keep it healthy and “free” for generations to come.
Bacon James
Bacon James is a singer-song writer based out of Gainesville Florida, who enjoys performing for environmental and charitable causes.
Song Title: Lost and Found (At the Santa Fe) ©
Writing this song was a very special experience for me. Camping at the Santa Fe served as a retreat in difficult times over the last few years, and really helped me center myself when nothing else would. Putting the lyrics onto paper allowed me to express a lot of emotions that I would otherwise be aware of.
F. Russell Tyndall Jr
I am a musician and software engineer from Gainesville Florida who has been playing music with my bands Vowls, Funky Miracle and Headstash while raising my son, and loving my wife Amy. It’s important to me to support our community and environment through music, education, art and fun times.
Song Title: Sweet Relief © 2023 Russ Tyndall
This song is about how different day-to-day life and a float can be. The Santa Fe River has been formative in my life and it represents a continuity of spiritual and natural wonder from my youth through my adulthood and into my son’s life. Along the river I have found friends and solace, opportunities and grace. It feels like the most wondrous part of my home and the part I would point to when people asked why I live here.
Erin and James aka Jared
Jared is from Gainesville and writes: we love music! With more time we can perfect our Santa Fe song.
Song Title: Slowdown dancing river©
The beautiful magic of the Santa Fe River.
Daniel Stepp
I teach painting and drawing at Santa Fe College and am a musician and songwriter in Florida.
Song Title: Sharks’ Teeth ©2023 Daniel Stepp
It’s about nostalgia and the artifacting of objects and memory. The Santa Fe River appears as tributary of escape and transcendence.
Caitlyn Vinci
Caitlyn Vinci is one of the original co-founders of (V)owls (an americana band born out of the heart of Gainesville, Florida). She is a multi-instrumentalist musician who currently sings,plays guitar, banjo-ukulele, piano, bass, and drums. She believes that our ecosystems, and all of the life that exists within them, should be respected and protected by all means necessary.
Song Title: Don’t Take My Santa Fe © 2023 Caitlyn Vinci
Water is life. Rivers and ecosystems need rights, yet they have no voice in our government. It is up to us to create systems and laws that protect and care for nature and all that lives within it.
I believe it’s our purpose to protect this earth, and that all living creatures have the right to a place to co-exist, a healthy food source, and clean water.
Bob Patterson
www.lullabyoftherivers.com Creator of original songs and stories about Florida. Bob is from St. Augustine.
Song Title SantaFe©
When one is experiencing wilderness, you become aware of the spiritual world.
