Helen Reddy and Paul Williams are co-hosts at the finals of the first annual American Song Festival, held Sept. 2 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Winning entries are performed by Jose Feliciano, Richie Havens, Sarah Vaughan, Molly Bee, the Lettermen, the Limeliters, Al Wilson, Etta James, the Hagers, the Oak Ridge Boys, and the Rev. James Cleveland and the Cleveland Singers. Also: interviews with competing songwriters Kenny Loggins, Alex Harvey and Tim Moore.  

NOTE:

   September 2, 1974: (Monday) The finals of the American Song Festival was held in Saratoga Springs, New York on this date. The finals started 45 minutes late and ended at almost 6:00 the following morning. (September 3rd) Woodstock's Tim Moore's "Charmer" was declared the winner by Skitch Henderson of the judge's panel. He was awarded $30,500 and a Yamaha grand piano. Etta James performed "Charmer" during the finals. Her performance was issued on an LP WINNERS! - Live At America's First International Songwriting Competition on Buddah BDS 5624 along with performances of other festival winners.  The finals were taped by ABC - TV to be aired on October 18, 1974. The festival opened on Friday, August 30th with the semi-finals which lasted for three days before the finals. 

October 18, 1974: (Friday) The finals of The American Song Festival aired as a 90 minute ABC Wide World Special starting at 11:30 p. m.  Etta James' performance of "Charmer" was featured in the broadcast. 

This broadcast was re-run on January 2, 1975.
#6785: WIDE WORLD EVENT
1975-01-02, ABC, 90 min.