Ballad about autism takes top spot in Don Gibson competition

For five of the last six years Ray Hudson has been one of the most consistent entrants in the annual Singer Songwriter Symposium hosted by the Don Gibson Theatre. He's come within spitting distance of the contest's top prize more than once. But this year was a bit different.

Standing in front of a drive-in audience at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, Hudson walked off stage to a chorus of car horns, flashing lights and shouts of approval for his song, "Look at Me."

A short while later, he was back on stage to hoist the first-place trophy from this year's contest.

"To win with any song I'd created would have been fantastic, but to win with 'Look at Me' was really a godsend, and I'm really blessed to have written it," said Hudson.

With lyrics like, "I walk around on a crutch, but it's not under my arm. It's in the middle of my brain; where it can do more harm," the song details the struggles of a person living with autism.

The song was inspired by Hudson's stepson, Nathan McKee, who was diagnosed with autism at a young age. As a parent Hudson has watched his son grow into a young man with an affinity for woodworking and the musical chops to rival his old man. But around others he has over the years struggled with social interactions, making new friends and finding acceptance among his peers.

"As we all know children and adults alike can be a little tough on people who are different, and he and I always have a lot of conversations about it," said Hudson.

It was after one of those conversations, a particularly difficult one regarding an incident at school, Hudson squirreled himself away with his guitar and wrote "Look at Me."

"I don't mean it in a conceited way, but I feel like it came from God. I feel like a lot people needed to hear that song, not just my son," he said.

Over the last year Hudson has been performing the song at gigs around the region and received positive feedback on it wherever he goes. When it came time to submit it for the Singer Songwriter Symposium, he didn't have to think hard about what song to perform.

"I knew the song had merit, and I knew the majority of people I'd played it for would tell me it's a great song. But I told God I'd honor him either way win or lose. Just let me go out here and play well and deliver this message," Hudson said.

The message was well received. Hudson bested more than 30 other artists in the initial round of performances and walked away from the contest with a $1,000 cash prize, a trophy and his song was added to the musical library at WNCW.

"It really touched a lot of folks, and I think it was from the heart and (Hudson) did a very good job performing that song," said Stan Lowery, executive director at Don Gibson Theatre.

Dustin George can be reached at 704-669-3337 or Dustin.George@ShelbyStar.com. Find him on Twitter @DustinatTheStar.

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