UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, August 19, 1992
7C
Their dream: To sing on stage
1
At bars throughout Lawrence, Karaoke gives them a chance
By James Baucom Special to the Kansan
For those who like to sing in the shower, Karaoke is probably an ideal pastime.
Karaoke, which means "empty orchestra" in Japanese, has been a tradition in Japan for more than 20 years. Invented by the Japanese, Karaoke is gaining popularity all over the United States, said Tom Conroy, owner of Karaoke Entertainment Inc.
Conroy and his sister, Rita, were responsible for bringing the first Karaoke machine to the area. They and other owners of Karaoke equipment operate sing-alongs in Lawrence bars seven nights a week.
The Japanese even have Karaoke in taxcabs, Conroy said. "I don't know how you do Karaoke in a cab, but they have it," he said.
do Karaoke perform some type of stage show while singing, Conroy said.
Karaoke has been in Lawrence a little more than a year and a half, and it's still a popular activity. Crowds vary from place to place and night to night, but most bars that have tried it continue to have at least one Karaoke night a week.
Andrea Albright, Lawrence junior,
who likes singing disco songs, said
she enjoyed the attention she
received from doing Karaoke.
The Karaoke machine is an electronic device similar to a jauke box, except that all the songs are played without vocals. Instead, the participant sings the song while looking at a television screen displaying the words to the song. Many people who
"It's just fun to laugh and be laughed at," she said.
"It's beyond me why so many people like Karnake, but we're doing at lot of business," Conroy said. "Most everybody fantasizes about singing, and some people come just to see others do it."
Wendi Coleman of Lawrence said that when she began doing Karaoke she went every chance she got.
Justin Knupp / KANSAN
"I was experiencing my moments of stardom," she said. Coleman's favorite songs to perform are "Don't Be Cruel" by Bobby Brown and "Dancing in the Streets" by Martha and the Vandellas.
Andy Tinnmons of Lawrence, a bartender at The Crossing, said he wasn't a dramatic Karaoke performer.
"I like the cheesy songs, like Neil Sedaka and Barry Manilow," he said. Timmons doesn't like some of the Karaoke songs. "There's always some first-time Karaoke person who gets up there and screams some Guns 'n' Roses song."
For Tom Conroy, Karaoke is a booming business. As the owner of several Karaoke machines, Conroy travels around Lawrence putting on Karaoke shows for bars and private parties. Conroy, often the emcee of the shows, does three to five shows a week in the Lawrence area ___
Karaoke machines have a wide range of music selections, from country to oldies to pop. Conroy said.
Conroy plans to continue renting his Karaoke equipment to places in town as long as the demand is there.
"I think Karaoke will be here a while because this is something people get to actively participate in," he said.
"The two most popular tunes I get, and I get them requested a lot, are 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling' by the Righteous Brothers and 'Crazy' by Patsy Kine," he said.
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