Nothing could have been done to keep Vince Vance's home from being washed away by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but with a hint of sadness in his voice, he said, "I tried."

"I tried to get home before the hurricane hit, but I didn't make it," he said in a phone interview from his home in Dallas, "so I just let it go."

With no choice but to leave the loss behind him, Vance continued to do what he does best: entertain his audiences with showmanship, eccentricity and hilarity.

"I never stopped for an instant," said Vance, who performs two shows with his band, the Valiants, following the opening ceremonies at Decatur Celebration on Aug. 1.

"Every one of my days is filled with interviews, performances," he said. "My main living is live performances. What I do in Decatur is what Vince Vance and the Valiants and the Valiantettes are all about."

Vance last rock 'n' rolled at Decatur Celebration in 2005, and he was inducted to the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame the same year. He's also been writing more, he said, with proof in the release of his "Country Classics" album and a reissue of his patriotic album "We Don't Run."

He's currently finishing a comedy album titled "Put a Helmet on the Soldier."

Vance, who has been performing for 37 years, is no stranger to Central Illinois. He has given numerous performances at area festivals. He is performing for the fourth time at Celebration.

"I've been looking forward to (another) show ever since the moment I walked off stage at the 2005 Decatur Celebration," he said. "For everybody else (around the nation), I don't do what I do for you guys."

Between his wild costumes and his even wilder hair, which stands at 18 inches, Vance promises each of his performances at the Celebration to be "equally good, but different."

He will be joined on stage by his band and three young women, whom he calls his "vivacious Valiantettes," as his backup singers.

Vance said he remembers his last Decatur Celebration show as an "excitedly great time" with new friends he made. He hopes festival-goers will stop by to say hello while he's at this year's event.

"You can never go back anymore," he said of the past, "but with Vince Vance and the Valiants, you can.

"People can create memories by coming to see us," he said.

"My shows stay with you. They stay with you like a good meal. And not like Chinese food. They stay with you for a long time."

WHO: Vince Vance and the Valiants and Valiantettes.

WHEN: 6:15 and 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1.

WHERE: Show Stage, Decatur Celebration.

ON THE WEB: www.vincevance.biz

Alicia Spates can be reached at aspates@herald-review.com or 421-6986.