DECATUR — Music fans from around the Decatur area were treated to a taste of homegrown talent during the 64th Annual Decatur Barbecue concert at Veterans Park in Decatur Aug. 5.
Since 1973 the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, under the guidance of Pat Austin, turned to Nashville for some of the biggest names in country music entertainment. With the backing of Lloyd Peterson, the chamber was able to book county music legends such as Hank Thompson, Porter Wagoner and Marty Stuart to perform at the barbecue.
This year the chamber decided to showcase performers with ties to the Decatur area. Kim Wilkins, Decatur city clerk, was tasked with finding local talent. Her first choice was Carter Beggs, Wilkins' son. Through Beggs, Wilkins was able to sign another group that hailed from Gravette, Matt and Cole Reeves. The Reeves Brothers band went west to Las Vegas to reform the band and get a fresh start.
Cole Reeves and Beggs, along with another Decatur teenager, Bobby Shaw, formed the Bobbycolecarter band in 2009. One year later they performed for the 2010 Decatur Barbecue at Veterans Park, the very same stage they took Aug. 5. This performance marked both Cole Reeves' and Beggs' return to the Decatur Barbecue venue.
The third performer, like Cole Reeves and Beggs, was no stranger to the Decatur Barbecue. Johnny Dale Roberts first played in 2013 as a featured entertainer. His popularity brought him to the stage in 2015 as the opening act to Jesse Whitley. Since his parents were from Decatur, Roberts fit the locally-grown criteria. Now the 2017 Decatur Barbecue concert was complete.
With his old friend by his side, Beggs opened the performance with a combination of classic rock hits from the '70s and '80s. Included in his performance was a piece the duo first played seven years earlier, Tom Petty's "American Women," a crowd favorite.
Roberts' unique blend of classic country and light rock made it easy to see why he is a fan favorite at the Barbecue. His songs included Don Williams' 1978 release, "Tulsa Time," and the 1969 Rolling Stone hit, "Honky Tonk Women." The one song that stood out during the concert was Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues." Roberts sounded similar to Cash in style. Roberts' performances prepared the crowd for the featured artists of the Barbecue, The Reeves Brothers.
For 90 minutes, the Decatur Barbecue rocked with the fast-paced, honky-tonk style of Matt and Cole Reeves. They performed several songs from their new CD, "King of Country Music," which the crowd loved.
The mix of musical styles that defined Beggs, Roberts and The Reeves Brothers capped off an enjoyable and memorable Decatur Barbecue. From the opening drum beat to the final chord, fans were glued to their seats soaking up every note, every word.
General News on 08/09/2017