DECATUR BARBECUE -- When Leon McAuliffe took the stage at Decatur City Park in 1953, he had no idea that he and his band would become the first in a long line of entertainers to perform during the 64 years of the Decatur Barbecue.
This year's Decatur Barbecue, Saturday, August 5, will feature three local performers, Carter Beggs, Johnny Dale Roberts and this year's headliners, The Reeves Brothers with Matt and Cole Reeves.
McAuliffe and his band headlined the Barbecue until 1972, when the Decatur Chamber of Commerce formed a Barbecue entertainment committee headed by longtime Decatur resident Pat Austin. With Lloyd Peterson backing the project, Austin flew to Nashville, Tenn., to negotiate a contract with legendary country singer Hank Thompson, the first of a long line of Nashville headliners.
Over the years, such legendary country singers as Porter Wagoner, Marty Stuart, Daryl Singletary, Ricochet and Sammie Kershaw graced the stage at both City Park and later at Veterans Park. But a change was in store for this year's entertainment.
The Decatur Chamber of Commerce decided to take a break from the Nashville scene and showcase locally-grown talent.
Back by popular demand is local country star Johnny Dale Roberts. Roberts was the headliner for the 2013 Decatur Barbecue and returned again in 2015 to open for Jesse Whitley. He will be the second performer on this year's concert schedule.
Roberts was born and raised in Noel, Mo., but his roots lie in Decatur with both his parents born here.
His diverse knowledge of different types of songs helped to propel his career forward, opening for notable entertainer David Allen Cole in July of 2013, just prior to his appearance at the Decatur Barbecue.
Roberts worked his way into the concert scene slowly, playing a few bars for tips. A short time later, he began booking shows on a full-time basis. He continues to play at different venues around Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.
Johnny Dale Roberts and his ability to bridge the generation gap with his musicical styles are sure to please both young and old alike. His unique talent promises to once again make this year's Decatur Barbecue a huge success. Roberts will perform from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Opening the concert is a singer who was born and raised in Decatur. In 2009, Carter Beggs, along with friends Bobby Shaw, also from Decatur, and Cole Reeves, from Gravette, formed a banded called the Bobbycolecarter Band. This band featured a combination of classic and Southern rock, coupled with a little bit of country from the '70s.
The Bobbycolecarter Band got its start during the 2010 Decatur Barbecue when it appeared on stage at Veterans Park for two afternoon performances. This band's music featured songs like "American Woman" and others from such legendary performers as Tom Petty and Lynrd Skynyrd.
In the years that followed, the band broke up and each went separate ways. Beggs still performs on the solo scene and on occasion with his old friend, Cole Reeves. The two friends will have a chance to sing together on stage during the Barbecue's encore performance at the end of the show.
On Dec. 31, 2013, a few years after the members of the Bobbycolecarter Band went their separate ways, Cole Reeves decided to join forces with his brother Matt to form The Reeves Brothers. With the help of Kelly Bishop and Nate Wong, the group toured the Mid-South.
"We must've burnt up five guitars, and smashed another five or six," said Matt Reeves. "We were not your average country music show."
After a short break, Matt and Cole left their Arkansas roots behind and moved to Las Vegas, Nev., to refine their musical style.
"It was all about going to a bigger market to make great music that not a lot of people are making," said Cole.
According to reevesbrothers.com, "A Honky-Tonk powerhouse band is what you would call it! Slinging out hit after hit, from 1950 to 1990. The band follows a road paved by the original Honky-Tonk Heroes. 'You know Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and a lot of those Southern California cats fought the Nashville Sound,' said Matt Reeves. 'It was too polished and overproduced! We're doing the same thing. If you can't sing, you can't sing! You don't need to try and fool the world by using autotune, or have so many instruments and so much computer processing that you can't play the music live!'"
The Reeves Brother band will take the Veterans Park stage at 7 p.m. for two hours of music reminiscent of Barbecues from the '70s, '80s and '90s.
According to a press release, "The Reeves Brothers are on tour right now, pushing their last release, 'Home Sweet Honky-Tonk'; and their new album, 'King Of Country Music,' will be released October 21. After the Barbecue, they will be at The Cherokee Casino, with Confederate Railroad, in West Siloam Springs, Okla., on August 11. Then they go to South Dakota, to finish up the tour."
General News on 08/02/2017