Teens Invited to Submit Original Songs to Statewide Contest; Prizes Include Recording Opportunity and Cash; Contest Fast Becoming Popular With Teachers

Business Wire, Nov 18, 2002

Lifestyle & News Editors/Education Writers

ALBANY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 2002

Do you know a teen who dreams of music stardom? A California traffic safety program is offering them a chance to showcase their talents!

The Chief Operator Teen Driver Program is currently recruiting California middle school and high school students to submit original songs or rap compositions that promote responsible driving. Themes may range from drinking and driving to peer pressures, preventable car accidents, and the importance of buckling up. This project is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the Business Transportation and Housing Agency.

The contest provides cash prizes for the top four entries. Judges come from MTV Network, Spirit Wind Studio and California Superior Court (San Francisco). Travel and lodging for the students and a chaperone is also provided. In the past, many teachers have developed class projects and chaperoned their selected students to the recording studios.

Selected songs will be professionally recorded in a studio for a CD that will be distributed to schools, law enforcement, youth groups, and the media, as well as to the public at community events.

No musical instruments or background music is needed. Songs are judged on the impact of the lyrics and the appeal to a large audience. Entries are to be recorded on audio cassette tape, and mailed by January 3, 2003 to: The Chief Operator Program, Albany Police Department, 1000 San Pablo Avenue, Albany, CA 94706.

The Chief Operator Teen Driver Program also provides musical traffic safety presentations by police officers known as Elvis & The Lawmen, who are available for school assemblies and community events at no cost. The program's spokesman, Police Lieutenant Bill "Elvis" Palmini, has conducted over 500 traffic safety school and community events across 15 states and in Canada. He and Police Sergeant Clemons received an honorary Gold Record from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Since the program first piloted in 1992, officers from numerous California police departments have participated by writing and singing additional original traffic safety songs. Many of these songs are now recorded on CD and are used across the country in traffic safety education.