Salmon Arm, BC-based singer-songwriter, Greg Sczebel, was awarded a 2007 John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize in the Session II Gospel category for his song “Homeland”.

“This is a huge honour and I’m still a little in shock since I seriously never saw it coming. So exciting,” write Sczebel in a message to his fans. “It’s funny, this song was one of those that came together so fast. It pretty much just wrote itself. But sometimes those are the ones that connect with people the most. And when that happens, it’s a pretty special thing.”

“Homeland” was written by Sczebel while a close friend and his family shared their last hours together with their father and husband. Despite a long and courageous battle with cancer, he finally reached his “Homeland”. You can hear the song here.

In 2005, Sczebel’s song “Here To Stay” was the Grand Prize winner in the Gospel category and was one of 13 songs competing for Song of the Year. For 2007, each category was divided into two sessions. The Grand Prize Winners of Session I and Session II will now compete head-to-head in an online voting battle to become the Lennon Award Winner in their respective category and will then be considered for Song of the Year. Sczebel’s song will go up against Session I Grand Prize winner Carmen Calhoun’s “Life”.

2007 Session I finalists included Christine Evans whose song “Show Me The Way” was a finalist in the Gospel/Inspirational category. Her collaboration with Tim Langley, “Surrender”, was a finalist in the Pop category.

Sczebel will be rejoining Paul Brandt on the Risk Tour for several dates in Western Canada starting April 1st. Visit www.PaulBrandt.com/touring.htm for more information.

Find out more about Sczebel on his YMZ artist page.