P.E.I.'s Dennis Ellsworth co-writes Pan Am Games medal song

P.E.I. singer-songwriter Dennis Ellsworth co-wrote the song Shine As One that's played during each medal ceremony at the Pan Am Games in Toronto.

Ellsworth was invited to a three-day Songwriter's Association of Canada camp in Toronto last summer. Its goal was to create works that would be presented to the Pan Am Games committee to be used during the games.

The song, written by Ellsworth, Karen Kosowski and Sophia D'Aragon Krim, was selected by the committee to play when athletes receive their medal.

"For every medal ceremony they blare this song in the stadium," said Ellsworth.

He said the opportunity has allowed him to justify and validate his songwriting.

"But what I really hope is that it creates a new revenue stream for me," said Ellsworth, who is now working with the company that published Shine As One.

"I hope that they find some homes for some of the songs I've written over the years."

Ellsworth takes the stage Saturday night at the Watermark Theatre in North Rustico, performing 1960's Rat Pack music as part of the Classic Music Reignited series.

He also plans to launch his new album Romantic As It Gets this fall with a tour around the Atlantic region before heading off to Europe.