Press Releases/ PSAs	Modified: Nov 10, 2009 05:59 PM

ST. PETERSBURG SONG CONTEST WINNER SELECTED

St. Petersburg, Fla. (Nov. 10, 2009) – The votes are in and "Carry Me Back to St. Petersburg" has been selected as the number one choice in the St. Petersburg Song Contest.  The song, written by Charlie Souza and the New Tropics, was the winner with almost 13 thousand votes cast in the week-long poll.

Souza, who wrote the song 15 years ago after returning to St. Petersburg from Hollywood, feels he made the right choice by entering the contest.  "Just my passion and love for this area, winning the contest and knowing people like the song is like winning a million dollars. This is just so special. It's unbelievable."

Souza and the New Tropics will perform the song at Ribfest this Saturday at 3:30 p.m., on the Transitions stage in Vinoy Park, the same venue where Souza performed in 2005 with Mayor Rick Baker. "That was like the gift I received for coming home-meeting the mayor," Souza said. He's hopeful the mayor will join him again for his performance this weekend. 

Bob and Bruce Jacobs' song, "I'm Off to St. Pete," came in second, followed by "Life's Sunny & Sweet in St. Pete" by Jeff Arthur.

Similar to the Florida Legislature adopting the state song, St. Petersburg City Council will need to formally adopt "Carry Me Back to St. Petersburg" at a future meeting in order for it to become the official city song.