Songwriters Guild of America

RAUL MALO OF THE MAVERICKS HONORED WITH 2026 AMERICAN EAGLE AWARD BY NATIONAL MUSIC COUNCIL

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Slide 1

Winner and Finalists Named in Country Contest

Country hit songwriter judges Steve Wariner, Pam Tillis and Bob Morrison listened to our semifinalists and chose the three best country songs from among the entries. Check out winner, Ray Collier; finalist Sean Magwire; and finalist Ed Silver.

WINNER - RAY COLLIER

Ray Collier's country song, "The Only Shot I Got," has been named Best Country Song by our hit songwriter judges Steve Wariner, Pam Tillis and Bob Morrison. From helping others as a therapist, to giving comfort to others through his music, his story will inspire you. Give him a listen!

FINALIST - SEAN MAGWIRE

Sean is a veteran songwriter. His song, "For The City," is a finalist placement in our contest. He also won Song of The Year in the John Lennon Songwriting contest in 2022. Sean’s music has been featured on prestigious platforms like WGBH’s All Things Considered, The Boston Globe, PBS and NPR.

FINALIST - ED SILVER

Edward Alan Silver is a multi-award-winning songwriter from New York City. His song, "A Shot Of Country," is a finalist in our contest. His compositions have been performed worldwide. His music has also been heard on the long-running ABC daytime drama "All My Children."

Slide 2

LISTEN TO: ONLY SHOT I GOT

WINNER - SONGWRITER RAY COLLIER

Ray was born and raised in Nashville Tennessee and started writing songs at the age of 15. After earning a master’s degree in Psychology, he became a licensed therapist. But, Ray never stopped writing songs. Throughout his education, he wrote songs daily, something he’ll tell you he could NOT help but do.

Ray got close to his dreams of being a country songwriter at least once during his life, hanging out at Cedarwood Studio and Publishing Company as a young man, getting to know John Denny, the head of Cedarwood who encouraged Ray to write. Even setting him up to write with the late, great Billy Swann. They wrote several songs, one called “Town Clown By Day, Town Crier By Night,” but Ray was never lucky enough to get it cut.

Throughout his life, Ray always kept writing songs. He has hundreds of lyrics, many with melodies. The winning song submitted to the SGA country songwriting contest, “Only Shot I Got” was co-written with Brian White and Chad Chapin, two professional songwriters in their own right.

Ray’s most ardent wish is to use the time he has left on this earth to continue writing, hoping that a new co-writer or two approach him to fulfill his dream of getting songs recorded by current country music artists. Ray is grateful for his award from SGA which he says “means the world” to him.

Slide 3

LISTEN TO: FOR THE CITY

FINALIST - SEAN MAGWIRE

Sean Magwire, a native of Angola, Indiana, grew up in a home where music was as essential as air. His father, a gifted singer-songwriter, filled their home with melodies that ignited Sean’s passion for music at a young age. Inspired by legends like The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel, Sean picked up the guitar at age 14. But it was Coldplay’s “Yellow," released the following year, that truly convinced him he could create his own songs.

Sean settled in Chicago. From 2012 to 2016, he was the main songwriter and band leader of the award-winning Chicago folk act, The Lulabelles. His song "Between the Cracks" won the Grand Prize for Folk in the 2015 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, marking a significant milestone in his career.

Love eventually took Sean to Massachusetts, where he quickly found a home in the Northeast music community. Balancing his roles as a school adjustment counselor, dedicated singer-songwriter and father, Sean discovered his true purpose: connecting deeply with others through his music.

Currently, Sean is working on a new solo album set for release in Fall 2024. Sean’s music can be found featured on prestigious platforms like WGBH’s All Things Considered, The Boston Globe, PBS, NPR and in the feature film Fly Old Birds: Escape to the Ark.

Slide 4

LISTEN TO: A SHOT OF COUNTRY

FINALIST - ED SILVER

Edward Alan Silver is a multi-award-winning songwriter from New York City whose compositions have been performed worldwide.

His music has also been heard on the long-running ABC daytime drama "All My Children."

Ed enjoys working with such notable talents as Adam Cunningham (NBC's "The Voice" semifinalist), Matt Dame (CMT's Next Superstar), Rian Swanepoel (South Africa Idols finalist), and producer/performer Michéal Castaldo (José Feliciano).

He is currently developing material for a variety of recording artists around the world.