Mississippi Songwriters’ Festival 2023

Friday Night Showcase

9:15 pm - Until

Don Poythress

Don Poythress was born in Meridian, Mississippi, but has lived and worked in Nashville since 1986. He has penned songs that have been recorded by Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw, Daryll Worley, Sir Cliff Richard, Brian Littrell (Backstreet Boys), Lincoln Brewster, Blake Shelton, Earl Scruggs, Kari Jobe,Philips Craig and Dean, Jake Owen, and Jason Crabb among many others.

His song “A Little More Country Than That” recorded by Easton Corbin went to#1 and was nominated for CMA and ACM song of the Year. And Kelly Pickler had a hit with “Things That Never Cross A Man’s Mind”. Other recent singles include JakeOwen’s “Tell Me” and The Henningsen’s “I Miss You”.

His Dove Award-winning Song "The Promise" as sung by The Martins, wasawarded top recorded song in the Southern Gospel Category in 2004. He also won a 2011 Dove award for Jason Crabb’s version of “Joseph” in the Inspirational Song of the Yearcategory. And his third Dove Award was for Karen Peck and New River’s “Revival” in the Southern Gospel Category.

Don is also known as a performer in his own right, appearing on such stages asthe Grand Ole Opry, The Ryman Auditorium, The Louisiana Hayride, and a regular performer at The Bluebird Café. He has taught songwriting workshops at Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, Nashville Songwriters Association International, BMI,ASCAP, The Christian Musician Summit and many other places.

His latest album with Integrity Hossanna! Music entitled “Wash Away” included guest artist Ricky Skaggs, Paul Baloche, Susan Ashton and Jared Anderson.

Don has been blessed to be the worship leader at Abundant Life Church in Mt.Juliet Tn for the last 28 years. (mssongwritersfestival.com)

Wynn Varble

Wynn came to love country music at a very young age when he discovered his father’scollection of classic country vinyl records. He even traded his big brother’s “Grand FunkRailroad” for a copy of Jimmy Dean’s “Big Bad John”, and still has a scar to prove it! Around the age of 14, a neighbor showed Wynn a few chords on an old guitar. Beforelong, Wynn was playing on his own and writing his own songs.

After years of performing in honkytonks & bars, Wynn decided to make the move toNashville. His first radio single was “Fit To Be Tied Down” by Sammy Kershaw. Since thenWynn has had many hits including three number ones…all three were nominated for“Song Of The Year” by the CMA or ACM and sometimes both. Wynn’s three number onesongs are “Have You Forgotten” by Darryl Worley, “Waitin’ On A Woman” by BradPaisley, and “I’m A Little More Country Than That” by Easton Corbin. In addition to hisnumber ones, Wynn has had songs recorded by artists such as Garth Brooks, CodyJohnson, Jon Pardi, Trace Adkins, Mark Chesnutt, Willie Nelson, Kellie Pickler, Lee AnnWomack, and many others.

In 2009, Wynn received the Nashville Songwriters Association’s Songwriter of the YearAward. He made his Grand Ole Opry Debut in 2011. Additionally, Wynn has appeared onseveral tv shows and was featured weekly on the Joey & Rory Show for several years.Wynn writes songs nearly every day and tours extensively. He is currently signed with BMG Music Publishing.

Steve Azar

Steve Azar, a Mississippi delta native, is a hit songwriter, recording artist, music producer and author. He has released seven critically acclaimed studio albums including Waitin’ on Joe which rendered a hit title track and #1 music video as well as the smash hit “I Don’t Have To Be Me (‘Til Monday)”, a recipient ofthree coveted BMI Million-Air awards. The hit single “Sunshine” (also a #1video) and the album Slide on Over Here were featured in the 2011 “Oprah’s Favorite Things” edition of O Magazine. The Steve Azar & The Kings Menalbum titled Down at The Liquor Store is backed by veteran bandmates of B.B.King, Elvis Presley, and other icons of music with a feature documentary, Something in the Water, chronicling the making of the record. His latest, My Mississippi Reunion, winner of the 2021 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters award for best contemporary album, features a collection of past and new songs inspiredby Azar’s roots including the song “One Mississippi” which became the new official state song of Mississippi 2022. Azar is the author of the "One Mississippi Children's Book”. He is the recipient of the 2018 prestigious Mississippi Arts Commission “Governor's Choice Award” and 2023 Mississippi Music Awards Lifetime Achievement award.

Steve and his wife Gwen founded the Steve Azar St. Cecilia Foundation in 2006 which produces the annual Delta Soul Celebrity Golf & Charity Event raising fundsfor arts and educational organizations. An accomplished golfer, Steve has been ranked one of the top five musicians that play golf by Golf Digest Magazine numerous times, and he is a frequent guest at charity golf tournaments acrossthe country.Azaris the official Music & Culture Ambassador of Mississippi and is an
in-demand keynote speaker. He hosts his own radio show and podcast titled In a Mississippi Minute with Steve Azar, available on SuperTalk Mississippi radioand all podcast platforms. He serves as brand ambassador for the award-winning Dancing Rabbit Golf courses and Pearl River Resorts in the rolling hills of Choctaw, Mississippi as well as Mississippi based food company Sherin Foods."Steve Azar's Mississippi", Azar's resident show in his hometown ofGreenville, is Viking Cruise line's number one rated show and event on the Mississippi.