Mainer makes his mark in country music world

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Many people who grow up in Maine become fans of country music. More than a few even wonder if they might become a country performer some day.

Let’s put Shawn Willette in that category. While growing up in Hudson, Willette, a delivery driver for Pilkington North America, learned to appreciate the classics: Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Willie Nelson.

“I was listening to country in school, and people used to think I was weird,” said Willette, 29, now of Westbrook. “But I can listen to a country singer and realize that he’s going through the same crap I’m going through.”

About 11/2 years ago, Willette, a fledgling singer-songwriter and guitar player, decided to chase his dream.

“I finally decided that I’ve got to get off my [butt] and do this,” he said.

But he found the same thing that many budding singers do: “You run into a million shysters and get discouraged. But I’ve always had my head straight about it, and gone steadily along.”

Then Willette joined a group that’s helped many performers during its 22-year history: the Down East Country Music Association.

According to Jackie Harmon, DECMA’s awards chairwoman, the group’s mission is “the preservation and promotion of country music in all its forms: traditional and new country, traditional and new gospel, bluegrass and folk.”

DECMA holds an annual statewide competition. The winners in that competition take part in the New England Invitational Country Showdown, while the first- and second-place competitors in the state event move on to the North American Country Music Association International competition, held in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

DECMA gave Willette a stage, and he took advantage of that. He won the state competition for Traditional Male Entertainer in September, picking up the award in January. Then in April, at the Louise Mandrell Theater, he earned the Horizon Award, fourth place among the 17 entrants in that category.

Harmon was impressed by Willette’s showing.

“He’s a personable young man, if a little bit shy,” she said. “But by the second number, he seemed to let loose up there. The magic hit him. There was a lot of action in his delivery, and his stage presence came though. He has awesome talent and a great amount of potential.”

Willette admits that he battles with nerves when he’s performing.

“I’m nervous even when I get on the stage in Buxton, Maine,” he said. “Halfway through the first song, I’m OK. I look at my heroes, Waylon [Jennings] and Johnny Cash, and take their attitude up on stage. If you like it, good, if you don’t, too bad.”

All told, the Maine delegation brought home 51 awards. The year before, Mainers earned 53 awards; in 2001, 48.

“We have outstanding talent in Maine,” Harmon said. “We’re one of the top winners in this competition.”

While at the international event, competitors could take part in seminars covering a range of topics to help them promote their careers.

“I got to talk to a lot of people in Tennessee who could help me out both here and there,” Willette said.

He gained an equally important prize: affirmation.

“It’s cool to hear people from Oklahoma or Texas say, ‘Hey, you’re good,’ ” he said. “It gives you the idea that you’re on the right track, that you’re not totally insane.”

DECMA also stages fund-raising showcases, to give its members the opportunity for exposure. Willette has played at several of these events.

Both WERU (89.9, 102.9 FM) of Orland and WRFR (93.3 FM) of Rockland both regularly play music recorded by DECMA-affiliated artists, Harmon added.

Willette has been sitting in with other bands in southern Maine. His biggest problem has been finding the right, like-minded musicians to work with him.

“It’s hard to get a band together, especially if you’re not from the area,” he said.

He has been writing songs for a demo CD he hopes to record in two weeks, which he’ll send around to record labels.

Willette plans to move to Nashville within a year.

“I figure there’s only two ways to make it in country music,” he said. “Make a hubbub where you are, or move to Nashville.”

For more information about the Down East Country Music Association, call Juanita Graves, 278-7077; Dean Brackett, 539-2366; or Tom Salisbury (aka DJ Tommy Dean), 667-0525.