A soul-baring songwriter captured the hearts of radio listeners to win a major country music award.


Wayne Jacobs from Erith bagged top prize at the UK Country Radio 2012 Listeners Club Awards with his original song Kentucky Whiskey.


The live finals of the nationwide contest took place on September 1 to celebrate the radio station’s fifth birthday.


Each partygoer voted for their favourite of four listener-selected finalists to crown Wayne country music champion.


He said: “I want to thank fans who voted for me from the bottom of my heart.


“I’m over the moon.


“I love you guys.”


The 50-year-old civil servant has been singing and song-writing for six years, and so far has only made 22p in royalties for his work.


He previously told News Shopper: “Kentucky Whiskey is a true story, I wrote it from my heart.


“Normally country music is written about men who have a problem with alcohol but I turned it around and wrote this about a woman with the problem.


“It’s about someone close to me and my observations of coming home and seeing half empty bottles and take-out food.


“People loved it.”


The passionate musician had his song professionally recorded by an American singer in Nashville, Tennessee.


He added: “One person said I was the Buddy Holly of the UK – I felt quite honoured, that’s an amazing compliment.


“There’s been a lot of interest in the song on Country Radio UK.


“It got hundreds of votes in the competition.”


A mixed CD is set to be released, featuring all of finalists’ songs.


“I’m hoping there will be famous artists listening who want to sing the song.” Wayne added.


“That’s the idea.


“Alan Jackson is my favourite country singer – he keeps traditional country going.


“I’d love for him to sing it.”


Wayne has spent around £6,000 having 19 songs professionally recorded by singers in America over the last few years, always hoping they will be sold for use in adverts or become hits on the radio.


He continued: “Last year I had a fantastic opportunity.


“Someone offered me a £1 million contract after hearing my song on Facebook.


“But I had to come clean and say ‘it’s not me singing’.


“I can sing the songs but it’s not the same - I don’t have that twang American country singers have.


“I do put the accent on though.”


The charming writer, who also creates reggae music, hopes Kentucky Whiskey could be his big break.


He said: “I’m known around the world.


“I’ve got 2,000 fans on Reverb Nation [a website for musicians to promote their material] but I’ve never made it.


“One DJ told me my performances are better than anyone in Nashville.


“I’ve never been there but I’d love to live there if a manager out there decided to sign me.”


Search for Wayne Jacobs in YouTube to listen to his songs, and search for him on ukcountryradio.co.uk