Country singer Drew Baldridge to head entertainment lineup
DECATUR — Over the years, the Decatur Barbecue has drawn some of the top entertainers in country music — names like Hank Thompson, Porter Wagoner, Marty Stuart, Lorrie Morgan and Tommy Cash. While some of these names were well established on the country music scene, others were working their way to the top. This year’s entertainer is one of those who has started his climb to the top of the charts to make a name for himself.
Drew Baldridge will go solo for the 63rd Annual Decatur Barbecue Aug. 6 at Veterans Park in Decatur. The concert is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.
In years past, the Decatur Barbecue has often featured local talent such as Johnny Dale Roberts to open the show. But this year will be a little different, with Baldridge providing over an hour of outstanding country music.
Baldridge was born on July 29, 1991, in Patoka, Ill., a small town of about
600. At the tender age of 12, he and a friend performed the song, “Greased Lightning,” during a car derby near his hometown. At that time, it was a little dicey for a town not much bigger than Decatur was in the late 1950s. But Baldridge and his friend managed to play to an appreciative crowd.
While in high school, Baldridge played basketball and baseball. Unlike most athletes, he possessed a talent that would be the precursor of his career. Before every game, Baldridge performed the National Anthem, one of the hardest songs to perform. He later joined his church quartet, where he sang bass with his father singing tenor. From there, Baldridge knew that he had a God-given talent and decided to use it on the country music scene.
“In 2013, Drew signed with THiS Music, joining the ranks of Nashville’s most prominent and prolific songwriters. He went on to release his debut EP, “All Good,” and his singles, “BYOB” and “She’s Taken,” which became Midwestern radio staples. His new music project, “Crossing County Lines,” was released in three installments throughout 2015. The first volume was released in December and debuted at No. 15 on the iTunes Country Chart. CCL, Vol. II, released April 7,” according to his Facebook Page.
June, 2016, would prove to be one of the most important in his career thus far. On June 10, Baldridge released Cold River Records’ debut album, “Dirt On Us.” Since the release, some of the 13 tracks from the album have hit the charts as singles, including the title track, “Dirt On Us.” Songs like “Drama,” “Trains,” “Tractor Don’t Roll,” “Dance with Us,” “Rebound” and “It is Well ( With My Soul)” are some of the songs that have made a good impression on the country music scene.
These songs, along with others from his earlier albums, will be a few that Barbecue goers can expect when Drew Baldridge hits the stage at Veterans Park in Decatur.