Spencerport musician wins regional showdown

Johnny Bauer and his band "Great Escape" won first place in the Colgate Country Showdown regional competition for Western New York. The event was held at the Apple Orchard Inn in Medina on July 30 and was sponsored in part by WUUF "Big Dog Country" radio.

Bauer is a Spencerport musician whose repertoire features original material of crossover-country, inspirational music and good-time rock and roll. His song, "For Heaven's Sake," dedicated to his newborn son, was the clincher for the event, as one audience member came up after the show and said to him, "That song touched my heart."

Johnny and the band now move on to the state finals for the "Colgate Country Showdown," to be held at the Dansville Balloon Fest on September 3. Johnny and Great Escape will also be performing at the Spencerport gazebo on Sunday, August 7. More information can be found at www.johnnybauer.com.