New York — Gaby Moreno, Ari Shine and Victor Indrizzo of Los Angeles became the first Latin category winners to take home the “Maxell Song of the Year” award as part of the 10th Annual John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
The trio’s original song, “Escondidos,” won the $20,000 grand prize in the contest. Three-time Grammy Award winner Fergie presented the award and check before her concert yesterday at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan as part of her Verizon VIP tour.
Besides winning the contest, Moreno, Shine and Indrizzo were given the opportunity to be the opening act at the concert.
The Maxell Song of the Year was selected from the Lennon Award winners in 12 musical categories, by the John Lennon Songwriting Contest executive committee of performers and songwriters that includes The Black Eyed Peas, Elton John, Wyclef Jean, Carlos Santana, Tim McGraw, Carole Bayer Sager, Enrique Iglesias, Bacon Brothers, John Legend and Macy Gray, among others.
A total of over $330,000 in cash and prizes will be distributed this year by the year-round Lennon Contest to amateur and professional songwriters. This year’s presentation event marks the 10th anniversary of the contest.
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is made possible by an agreement with Yoko Ono Lennon, who said, “I hope this contest will encourage, inspire and help the songwriters of the world to share their dreams with us.”
Sponsors of the Contest include Maxell, Apple and Audio-Technica.
