2007 RAINED OUT
2008 Sun in my Face
2009 singing to tracks after getting over a broken elbow!
2010 – favorite year
From 2007-2011 I was blessed to have been invited to perform each year at the Decatur Celebration in Decatur, Illinois! As they get ready to head into the 30th year anniversary next weekend of the annual street festival, I think back fondly on the experience – even the first year I got rained out!
Regardless of the year, it literally takes a village (my family) to get me up on that stage! I sang on a relatively small stage set up for local performers that was called the Mini Place Stage, later changed to the Street Jam Stage. Between Debbie nervously making sure I didn’t fall and my son-in-law and brother-in-law helping me up and down the 4 stairs on the side of the stage, I could not have done it without my family! Each year friends I’ve known since childhood would take the time to come see and hear me sing – that has meant so much to me!
My song, “My Decatur My Hometown” had gotten some local press that initially brought about my invitation to perform. I had put together a CD of my original songs called “HOME” and our daughter, Meredith, ran the “Merch Table” selling that as well as t-shirts we had made up. 
2007 Rained Out!
Each year was special! In 2007 I was 5 minutes from getting on stage when the clouds opened up and it rained, heavily, for two hours!! Never made it to stage that year!
2008 Sun in my Face
In 2008 the sun was in my face most of the time but I did get interviewed by the Herald & Review newspaper regarding the rained out year and my song about Decatur!
2009 singing to tracks after getting over a broken elbow!
2009 I had just healed from a broken left elbow so I sang most of the songs to the music tracks recorded here in Nashville! I did play two songs on the guitar but didn’t feel I could play the whole show! 2009 ended special as well with my wife Debbie, my sister Judy, her husband Rich, my cousin Bryan and his son Tony joining me on stage as the Colvinnaires to sing “My Decatur My Hometown”!
2009 Colvinnaires
2010 – favorite year
My favorite year was 2010. They had moved the stage from in front of The Arts Council building to over by The Avon Theater. It seemed more wide open – folks could sit on the grass or at the couple of picnic tables. The stage had a little shade roofing it had not had before. The temperature was warm but not hot as it was the other years.
HOT 2011 final performance at the Celebration
After barely getting through the extreme hot temps of 2011 and cutting my performance short by about 10 minutes, I felt it was probably time to call an end to performing. It was getting more difficult getting me up on stage and more difficult getting through a set that I use to be able to perform much longer and more easily! My elbows were swelling more frequently adding to my decision. 
So after a final local performance in Brentwood, TN. (another outdoors- in the heat situation) in August of 2011, I’ve not performed since save for a talent show appearance at our church!
I had surgery on my right elbow in 2012 and just had surgery on the left! Now that both elbows are fixed – maybe we can find some indoor venues where I can more easily share my music?
I will always, however, be grateful and thankful for my years playing at The Decatur Celebration and thankful to my family and friends for helping me do what I love doing!
I have the whole half hour show from my fave year of 2010 here from Youtube for you to watch if you like!
Filmed by Lewis Marien with a little help from his family! 🙂
A Songwriter's Journey 