Music fans mourn Country Concert co-founder’s death
Condolence messages flooded the Country Concert Facebook page as news that co-founder Mike Barhorst had died Wednesday in Fort Loramie.
The 77-year-old, along with his wife, Mary Jo, started the event — which has grown to draw thousands from all over the world each year — to celebrate both his birthday and their anniversary.
The festival, which is currently run by Barhorst’s sons, Paul, Tony, Brian, Mark and Scott, started out as a 500acre campground built on the family’s farm in 1971.
All five sons were charged with helping maintain and “improve the facilities in Shelby County as they grew up, eventually getting involved in all aspects of organizing Country Concert.
“Dad had a vision and came from a family business,” Paul Barhorst said. “He came from a history of transitioning the family business over to the children over time. That’s what (my parents) were doing, slowly training us.”
The family began hosting local musicians for the annual showcase years later. By 1981, with crowds growing, the Barhorsts asked Louise Mandrell to perform in the show. Based on the success of that concert, the family expanded the event to three days, while constantly making improvements to the facilities. The campground now boasts a 108-foot wide permanent main stage with two additional, smaller, permanent stages, as well as six giant video screens.
The Country Concert is seen as a stop on the road to stardom for many of today’s top country acts, including Rodney Atkins, Justin Moore, Tyler Farr, Craig Campbell, Florida Georgia Line and Chase Rice. However, it’s also a place where some very big names like Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers and Garth Brooks have performed.