Richard King
The Quintessential King of Karaoke
By Sandra Miller-Long

Cher. Tony Bennett. The Spice Girls. Garth Brooks. Alanis Morissette. What do all these performers have in common? Anyone who has frequented the Charcoal House over the past couple of years will quickly tell you the answer -- Richard King. Not only does Richard perform renditions of songs made famous by those various artists, but with a vocal range of nearly six octaves, and a voice a mixture of smooth molasses with just enough grit to make it interesting, he does them all extremely well. Add to that a score of tunes such as Black Magic, Do You Believe, When Joanna Loved me, For No One, Who Do You Think You Are, Somewhere in My Broken Heart and the ever popular Tub Thumping! to his credit and Richard easily rates as the quintessential king of the karaoke stage.
    On any given Friday and Saturday (and several nights in between) you'll not only find Richard King singing to please the crowd with his solo performances but also sharing the stage with many friends and new comers to the karaoke adventure. Whether at home in his studio or on stage, he is always available to give encouragement and assistance to anyone who has a sincere desire to sing and become a better performer.
    Richard started his own singing career very early. At the tender age of five, he was performing musical numbers with his brothers and sisters. His stepmother had taught them the basics of music, harmony in particular. They would entertain often as a group for family and friends and Richard recalls it was great fun and a good training experience. He went on to study music formally and would perform all throughout his school days in various choirs and glee clubs. By the time he entered his sophomore year in high school he also joined his first R&R band, The Fickled Five. Even though they were all very fine young musicians, not one of them sang. All it took was one time listening to Richard's vocal talents and he was invited to be their lead singer.
    During the next ten years Richard would continue to perform with four other bands. However, he soon found that as other areas of his life grew more fulfilling such as family and work, he had to put his singing career on hold. Other hobbies and interests also developed over the years; and it wasn't long before Richard found himself adding an instrument rating to his pilot's license and earning a black belt in Kung Fu.
    But it wasn't until Richard started to sing karaoke that the performer in him began to reawaken. In 1994, a curious Richard King sang his first karaoke song at The Charcoal House and was immediately caught up in what he calls "the magic" of the place.
    "There may be places with bigger stages or fancier equipment, but they don't have the magic. And they don't have Gerrie Woo." He adds, "If it wasn't for Gerrie Woo, I'd probably have quit singing karaoke a long time ago. I've tried other karaoke clubs but there is no place like the Charcoal House and no one like Woo. She's creates a professional show and gives it everything she has. She's the best."
    And it was Gerrie Woo who requested Richard sing a favorite song of hers that now has become his signature song, "When Joanna Loved Me." Richard tells us that the first night he performed the song, he barely could remember the tune at all. But as a favor to Woo, he "faked" his way through it and the audience loved it. It has since become one of his most requested numbers. And for good reason. Like all good singers, Richard knows the points of emphasis to give songs their shape and portrays an understanding about the human condition that comes only with the passage of time. You can feel the heartbreak in the air as he recalls the girl who got away, practically whispering "When Joanna loved me, every town was Paris, every day was Sunday, every month was May" with an ache in his voice that, in this writer's opinion, equals Tony Bennett original recording.
    Yet, as emotionally moving as his ballads are, and even with a repertoire of nearly 400 karaoke songs, there is no one tune more requested these days than his rendition of Tub Thumping (better known as "I get knocked down, but I get up again") made famous by Chubawumba. Not a weekend at The Charcoal House goes by that you can't hear the place rock to Tub Thumping lead by Richard and joined by practically every member of the audience both in song and on the dance floor!
    When asked about what he thinks creates a good karaoke performance Richard is quick to respond, "It does NOT matter if you can't carry a tune." He maintains that the four essential elements to becoming a better singer are: 1) Breath control, 2) Vocal projection and dynamics, 3) Diction, and 4) Emotion. He also adds, "Believe in your feelings and try to convey that to the audience. If you pick the right material and then give it all you have, people will always appreciate seeing you on stage."
    These days when Richard is not singing on a karaoke stage he keeps busy with his construction business, his four children and two grandchildren. It is not at all surprising to learn that all four of his children sing. Tim (30) and Chris (27) both are fine singers in their own right. His youngest son Justin, who is now 17, plays base guitar in a local rock and roll band. His daughter Bree, though, is the one Richard believes has the makings of a superstar. At the age of 12 she is already a multi-talented young lady who has delighted everyone at The Charcoal House every time she performs. In his spare time Richard has taken up the game of golf but humbly adds that Tiger Woods needn't worry about him as any competition. At least not for a while.
    They say music is about seeing in sound, and my, oh my, Richard King, certainly knows how to create compelling pictures with his music. His repertory is indeed unique, but perhaps more important is his ability to convey a sense of joy, of utter satisfaction, in what he is doing. Whether wistful or wooing or swinging with the sheer joy of it, the man with the impish smile always sings from his heart. "I go where the song takes me," admits Richard. "Singing is like a religion to me, it is the closest we can get to touching the universe."