Ocean Lakes

Bradley Walker remembers music always playing in the Athens, Alabama house where he grew up. Pop, rock, country – didn’t matter; his parents played it all on the radio. And it didn’t take long for the songs – especially the country tunes by the likes of Merle Haggard and George Jones - to inspire young Bradley. When he was just 3 or 4 years old, he wasn’t just listening to the music – he was belting out the tunes in a sweet voice that would later bring him so much success and land him a spot on the coveted Grand Ole Opry stage. “Growing up, the radio was just always on around my house. My parents were big music fans,” Walker said. “I just gravitated toward it really early. “It just grew from there.” Boy, did it ever. The 39-year-old has graced the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, performed with legends such as Ricky Skaggs and Alison Krauss and won the 2007 Male Vocalist of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association. He’s also released three al...

You know the kindness rocks that have become so popular spreading love around Ocean Lakes? We’re kicking it up a notch – bluegrass style. Three special rocks – inspired by bluegrass band Balsam Range’s hit “Stacking up the Rocks” – will be hidden in the campground Friday, the first day of our 19th Annual Premier Bluegrass Weekend. Balsam Range is set to hit the stage in our Recreation Center on Saturday. In addition to spreading the love by channeling the band’s song, these special rocks – with praying hands, crosses or the song name on one side and Balsam Range on the other – come with prizes for the lucky ones who find them. n   Guests who snag the rocks should bring them to our Recreation Center to claim Balsam Range merchandise and a special gift from Ocean Lakes. n   Post a pic of them on the Ocean Lakes and Balsam Range social media pages with #stackinguptherocks “We are just trying to send a positive message,” said Mandy Terney, Balsam Range’s t...