As the Midwest temperatures start to cool and we all begin thinking about hunkering down for the winter, Decatur Celebration is thinking about three very special hot summer nights in 2012 – August 3, 4 & 5!
Finding the right mix of “something for everyone” is as much a balancing act as any performed by our favorite street performers. Add to that our internal persistence not to repeat headliners and you get quite a challenge each year.
So, with that said, it’s pretty safe to say who (most likely) WILL NOT be a Decatur Celebration headliner in 2012:
A History of Decatur Celebration Headliners
1986 – Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows, Dan Peek (ex-America lead singer), Ronnie McDowell, The Association
1987 – Regency, John Conlee, Kingston Trio, Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band, Cadillac Cowboys, The Benchmarks
1988 – 1964 as the Beatles, B.J. Thomas, Lonnie Brooks, Grass Roots, Charlie Brown and the Coasters, Bertie Higgins
1989 – The Platters, The Kendalls, The Buckinghams, Henny Youngman, Tom Chapin, The Lettermen, Gary Morris
1990 – Chi-Lites, The Guess Who, Rare Earth, David Frizzell, Queen Ida, T. Graham Brown, 1964 as the Beatles, Jerry Butler, Vince Vance and the Valiants
1991 – Don M Daryle Singletary cLean, Exile, Dr. Hook, The Byrds, Rare Earth, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Vince Vance and the Valiants
1992 – Lassie, John Anderson, 1964 as the Beatles, Buckwheat Zydeco, Micky Dolenz of the Monkees, The Shirelles, Herman’s Hermits
1993 – Johnny Paycheck, Tiny Tim, The Blenders, Mickey Thomas’ Starship, Mamas and the Papas, The Jets
1994 – The Crystals, Arrow, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Eddie Rabbitt, C.J. Chenier, The Grass Roots
1995 – The Supremes, Electric Light Orchestra Part II, Earl Thomas Conley, Ray, Goodman and Brown, Zachard Richard, Irma Thomas
1996 – Commodores, Survivor, Ronnie McDowell, Bobby “Boris” Pickett, Sheb Wooley
1997 – Air Supply, The Turtles, Three Dog Night, Daryle Singletary, Sam Moore, Brewer and Shipley, Moxy Fruvous
1998 – Rick Springfield, The Manhattans, 10,000 Maniacs, Spyro Gyra, BeauSoliel
1999 – Kansas, Christopher Cross, All-4-One, The Del-Vikings, Gene Chandler, Paul Brandt, Terrance Simien
2000 – The Tokens, Gene Chandler, Savoy Brown, BR5-49, P.M. Dawn, Eddie Money, Taylor Dayne, Richie Havens
2001 – Little River Band, Lisa Lisa, Mark Schultz, Con Funk Shun, Darryl Worley, Blessed Union of Souls
2002 – The Nelsons, The Fixx, Jerry Reed, Loverboy, Dave Mason
2003 – Ray Parker Jr., The Outfield, Mark Farner, Terrance Simien, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Asleep at the Wheel
2004 – Presidents of the United States of America, Gin Blossoms, David Lee Murphy/Lee Roy Parnell, Big Nazo, Rondo’s Blues Deluxe
2005 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Boyz II Men, Jars of Clay, Village People, Nappy Roots, Terrance Simien, Cledus T. Judd
2006 – Avalon, BoDeans, Marshall Tucker Band, Jim and Dan Seals, Three Tenors of Pop, Bryan Lee, Young Turks (Rod Stewart tribute show), ABBA Gold, Catfight
2007 – Sheena Easton, Dennis DeYoung, The Tubes, Jeff Bates, Sugarhill Gang, WAR, Point of Grace, American English, Incendio
2008 – Vince Vance and The Valiants, The Smithereens, Plain White T’s, Band on the Run (Wings tribute show), Caedmon’s Call, Melvin Taylor, The Contours, Otis Day and the Knights, Bay City Rollers, Junior Walker’s All Star Band, Edgar Winter
2009 – Romantics, Richard Marx, Joe Diffie, Natalie Grant, The Miracles, The Spinners, ABBA Gold, Lil’ Brian and The Travelers, Larry Chance and The Earls, Dennis Jones Band
2010 – Charlie Daniels Band, Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Tone Loc, Young MC, Exposé, Francesca Battistelli, Georgia Satellites, Ryan Cabrera, Phil Stacey
2011 – Night Ranger, Steel Magnolia, Patty Smyth and Scandal, Tiffany, Digital Underground, Rob Base, Fastball, Downhere, Rose Royce, Here Come The Mummies, Backyard Tire Fire, Space Capone, 33 Miles, Tizer
Special credit to Tim Cain, Entertainment Editor, Herald & Review for publishing this list in 2010.
