RINCON — Luke Lander needs a large band of Effingham County supporters to back him up.
A Rincon resident, Lander is one of 21 finalists in a contest set up by country music superstar Alan Jackson. Jackson is allowing his fans to choose two performers to open select shows for him during his 2019 tour.
Lander’s father, Gary, said his son, a 31-year-old South Effingham graduate, is worthy of local support.
“I’m trying to be as objective as I can when I say this to you. He’s a hell of a good kid. He just happens to be my son,” the proud dad said. “If he was anybody else’s kid, I would be pulling for him just as hard as I am now.”
Luke, a singer and songwriter, has been a musical staple in southeast Georgia for more than a decade. He has served as a headliner at many Savannah establishments.
“He’s played in venues all over this area,” his father said.
Jackson has picked three regular performers at his AJ’s Good Time Bar to joining him on 2019 tour, which starts Friday in Louisville, Ky., and end Sept. 21 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Voting for Jackson’s Wild Card Contest is underway and will conclude Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. Clips of the finalists performing are available at his AJ’s Good Time Bar website — www.ajsgoodtimebar.com/vote. Luke Lander is shown singing the Garth Brooks tune “Much Too Young.”
The contest ballot is at the bottom of the page featuring the contestants.
“It would be a shame for a local homegrown kid to be so close to reaching that objective and not get it,” Luke’s father said.