A perfect day for Toledo

May 20 was not a perfect day; Adam Lambert really should be your American Idol. But at the Main Library Downtown, it was a perfect day for a concert.

Toledo Free Press and FOX Toledo announced the winner of our Song of Toledo contest, "A Good Place to Call Home" by Empire Drift.

After narrowing 60 contest entries to five, plus the Internet-voted People's Choice Award winner "I Am Toledo" by Buck69, the concert channeled much-needed positive emotion and spirit to the warm Downtown afternoon.

Thank you to the 60 musicians who poured their hearts and souls into their entries. You provided a new map to life in Toledo, a new bridge to its musical past and new hope for its cultural future.

Forty-five of the entries - including Empire Drift, Buck69 and finalists Highbinder, Purpose, Wanna Bees and Kyle White - are now available on a 2-CD set at the Lucas County Library, and if you are looking for a couple of hours of testimony to life in Toledo, check them out.

Thank you to the sponsors who flexed muscles and provided an amazing prize package. Columbia Gas of Ohio is one of this region's strongest philanthropic forces.

Michigan International Speedway similarly trusted us with its name and offered the plum of an opening slot for its national act in August. Strawberry Fields recording studio in Swanton is where Empire Drift will record its song in state-of-the-art facilities.

Thank you to our media partners, FOX Toledo and the Toledo-Lucas County Library. Allison Brown reported fun and informative profiles of the top five, and Face of FOX Toledo Julia Johnston served as a judge, helped emcee the May 20 concert and makes Toledo a better place by adorning and adoring it.

Thank you to the elected officials who understood the value of this project.

Councilman Tom Waniewski and Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop served as judges; Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner's office surprised us with wonderful proclamations of support for each individual band, a welcome and appreciated gesture.

In February 2010, we're going to do it again. So start putting pen to paper and break out your guitars and keyboards. Your city is calling, and it needs you.

For FOX Toledo Rant and Rave, this is Michael S. Miller, Editor in Chief, Toledo Free Press.