RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
A life-long interest in music that led to writing more than 100 songs throughout his life, resulted in a Department of Defense-level grand prize win for a Randolph Air Force Base electronic warfare officer instructor.
Capt. Steve Wilson of the 563rd Flying Training Squadron, who entered the "Songs From the Soul of Service" original songwriting contest, wrote the winning song -- "Ask Me To" -- about his relationship with his wife, Elizabeth. It took first place in the pop/ rock category and also went on to win the overall grand prize.
"When I got the word, I was really excited," the captain said.
As part of the prize, his song will be included on a compilation CD provided to radio and music industry officials. Additionally, Captain Wilson earned a weekend stay at the Gaylord Texas Hotel in Lake Grapevine, Texas.
He also recently received an e-mail asking him if he was available to come to Dallas on Aug. 30. He's wondering what lies in store for him then -- and he's even heard contest winners will visit Los Angeles to record videos for their winning songs.
The contest, now in its third year, is an effort between the Dallas Songwriter Association and the Defense Department's "America Supports You" program that highlights corporate and grassroots support for American servicemembers and their families.
Judges chose winners and runners-up in 18 categories - including Afghanistan and Iraq, country, hip-hop, inspirational, instrumental and pop/rock. Then they selected three of the category winners for grand prizes.
The annual competition is open only to amateur songwriters serving in the U.S. military and those currently inactive due to injury or disability suffered after the start of the war in Afghanistan.
It was growing up around family members - his brothers, who loved listening to guitar-based classic rock - that sparked Captain Wilson's interest in music as a boy.
There were always old classical guitars around his house. He and his brothers would listen to music from a wide list of rock headliners including Dion and The Belmonts, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Motley Crue, Iron Maiden and Rick Springfield.
"It instilled a desire to write and play music forever. It set me on a path," he said.
When he was 13, he got an electric guitar for Christmas and started writing lyrics and plinking out his music on it. Then, with his only formal musical instruction coming from being in middle school choir, he formed a band called "Red October" in high school.
The son of a retired chief master sergeant then graduated from the University of North Texas, where he was so pulled by his love for music he almost declined an Air Force commission. But he found the call of duty to country was stronger and became a B-52 electronic warfare officer.
Captain Wilson, by this time stationed near Shreveport, La., at Barksdale Air Force Base, continued playing his music on his free time in clubs in Dallas, Waco and Austin.
"I've led kind of a parallel life for the last eight years," he explained, smiling.
He also wrote a lot of music while on deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
"I brought my guitar with me and I'd park myself on a bench under a tree and write lyrics. It was a pretty good way to maintain my sanity," he added.
One of those songs, "Like I Do," which refers to his relationship with his son Connor, 5, also placed third in the same contest he won - in the inspirational songs category.
"I thought it'd place higher than 'Ask Me To' did, but they picked that one," he said.
Last year, the captain formed a band called "The Black Doves." Their CD "Moments of Clarity" is currently being designed. It's due for release in October.
Captain Wilson said a fellow band member jokingly asked him if he'd ever written a song that wasn't about a relationship.
His response was, "you can't help, in the music business, from having your experiences leak into what you write."
Fellow musicians notice the laborious efforts the contest winner puts into writing.
"I met Steve a year ago," said Black Doves drummer Brent Matthews. "From a songwriter's point of view, he's phenomenally strong with storytelling -- with the pictures he paints. It's rare in San Antonio to find a songwriter whose lyrics are that detailed."