Song Of Arkansas Finalist Matt Knoble

The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism’s Song of Arkansas contest began earlier this year. It called for any and all musicians to submit an original song about The Natural State and its many diverse qualities and features. Ultimately, this public relations campaign is an effort to generate interest in and goodwill for the state. Online voting opened up on Arkansas.com once the seven finalists were identified, asking the general public to cast their vote for the winner.

Matt Knoble, one of the top seven contest finalists, is a native of Haskel, and attended school at Harmony Grove. His love of music began early in his life, specifically at church, where his mom played piano and his dad ran the soundboard every week.

He grew up with musical instruments in his house, and decided to join the marching band in sixth grade. Matt says that’s where he really grew in his love and understanding of music. He recalls, “I always loved when notes and melodies came together, but being in the band taught me the more technical aspects of music.”

Matt played the trumpet in the band all through junior high and high school and continued playing the instrument through college as a member of the University of Arkansas Razorback Band.

During Matt’s junior year of high school, he was sitting around a campfire with friends when someone broke out a guitar, and after that he knew he wanted to learn the instrument and how to write songs. He received a guitar for Christmas that year, and has been playing and writing ever since.

Matt is currently a fifth grade social studies teacher and lives in the Bentonville area with his wife and children. He laughs when he recounts just how he learned about the “Song of Arkansas” contest. A co-worker was visiting Arkansas.com looking for information on an upcoming vacation and stumbled upon the contest page, just ten days before the official contest submission deadline.

She emailed Matt the link and recommended he submit a song. As Matt thought about what song to enter, he remembered one he wrote several years ago, but it didn’t fit the criteria outlined by the Department
of Parks and Tourism.

According to Matt, “I sat down one Sunday afternoon a day or two before the submission deadline and wrote ‘Right Here in Arkansas’ in a few hours. The song is a reflection of things I love about the state, and is my personal approach to the contest. I sat down in front of my computer and recorded it that afternoon.”

When asked how his status of contest finalist has impacted him, Matt’s answer gives a clear glimpse into his humble spirit. “I was really surprised I made it. There are other entries that are much more polished productions than mine. I’ve been blown away by the competition and talent in the different genres and how everyone’s love for the state shines through in each song. This whole experience has been a blessing for me and it’s also been very humbling. I’m really surprised my simple song made the cut. All of the support I’ve felt has been unbelievable and mind-boggling in a way—it’s been so humbling.”

Listeners of “Right Here In Arkansas” are quickly drawn in to the gentle, easy tempo of the song. The lyrics are simple, heartfelt and recount specific locations and activities that Arkansas natives know and love. Matt’s gentle approach lets the words shine, and these lyrics sum up what so many of us think of our home state:

This place just feels right,
Best times of my life,
Right here in Arkansas

On March 3rd, a panel of celebrity judges including rock and roll pioneer Sonny Burgess, Broadway performer Lawrence Hamilton, award-winning director Jason Moore, Jimmy Buffet Coral Reefer Band member Mike Utley and The Wolf 105.1-FM morning show team Bob Robbins and Jennifer Trafford chose the winner. That title went to finalist Barrett Baber. Baber performed his winning song at the Governor’s Annual Conference on Tourism on March 10, and also won a recording session and taping of a video of their entry along with $2,000 in prize money. And lastly, Baber and his original song will be prominently featured on Arkansas.com, the state’s official tourism website that receives over 500,000 visits per month from visitors all over the world.