Jason Crabb[/caption]
On Saturday, a hometown native, gone Grammy award-winning artist, is coming home to perform a set of gospel music at the Beaver Dam Amphitheater.
Jason Crabb, who was born and raised in the small 3,000-plus populace town, said his family, early on, instilled into his life that anything worth having was worth working hard toward.
“Growing up in Beaver Dam, Ky., and Ohio County, you learn quickly that work is required! My grandparents always taught me, if you have anything in life, you've got to work for it!” Crabb said.
So, he took those values of hard work and dedication to the road with him at the age of 14 when he began touring with his family as part of The Crabb Family.
And there were other influences who helped shape the person he is today.
“My family and all my teachers helped me - every person encouraged me. I think that's very important to encourage one another. God gives us dreams to follow and it always helps when others encourage you,” he said.
The Crabb Family continued on the touring circuit and amassed 16 number one songs, three Grammy nominations, and 10 GMA Dove awards throughout their career, according to SouthernGospel.com, and ended it with a year-long farewell tour that finished in August 2007.
With each of the family members pursuing their own paths, Crabb continued to stay in the music industry. There, he produced his first self-titled solo album in 2009, which netted him a 2010 Grammy for the best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album.
But before his nomination had turned into a win, there were a lot of emotions running through him when he first arrived at the event.
“Ya know, here I am, a country boy from Beaver Dam, Ky., and I was worried! When you get to the Grammy's, the car pulls up to the red carpet. Immediately you see hundreds of people - reporters, TV stations, photographers and more. It's a bit overwhelming. I told my wife, Shellye, that we were going to stick out on the red carpet and then I saw something silver from the side of my eye. I turned around and here comes something that resembled a satellite dish holding a scepter. It was Lady Gaga. I looked at Shellye and said, ‘Baby, we're not gonna stick out enough,’” Crabb said.
But the wins didn’t stop after that. During 2010-2013, Crabb accumulated nine Dove awards, two of which included Artist and Male Vocalist of the Year in 2012.
Even though his journey took him from being a small town boy to an award-winning success, Crabb has never forgotten where he came from and is always proud to hear his hometown being announced wherever he’s performing.
“It lets more people know about the wonderful town of Beaver Dam, Ky. Every single night, they introduce me and announce that I'm from Beaver Dam, Ky., and Ohio County, and I am proud of being from a place that instilled hard work, love of family and, most importantly, the love of God into me,” he said.
As for the future, “it would be nice to find a farm in Ohio County somewhere and come back with the family. This is my town, my place; it built so much of who I am! It's great to be back home sometimes,” Crabb said.
For now, he is working on a new project titled “Whatever the Road,” which is set for release on Sept. 18.
For more information on the project, you may visit Crabb’s official website at jasoncrabb.com.
Tickets to the Jason Crabb with Mark Bishop and the Talleys concert are $25 and can be ordered through the Beaver Dam Tourism’s website at beaverdamtourism.org. The event is scheduled for July 18 from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Beaver Dam Amphitheater.