San Diego Scene Interviews Tony Giannelli

SDS: Ok, Tony I have to ask this first, how did you ever get the nickname of Cowboy TJ?

TG: I guess I am the perfect poster boy for that old saying, "You can take the boy out of the country but can't take the country out of the boy." While I was born in Los Angeles, at the age of four we moved to a farm in Erie Pennsylvania and lived there until I was twelve. Being both a ranch and farm, my first duty, of course, was learning how to ride and stay on a horse. By the time I was five I had a horse of my own named Judy. It was a sad day when we moved back to Los Angeles; those grocery store 25 cent pony rides just didn't cut it! Today my horse, Cowboy, is stabled just outside of Austin, Texas. He is a stoutly handsome looking three year old that I've had since his birth. He is also ready for breaking; however, it will probably be me having the breaks! Although, there a beautiful young lady in Texas (who's not only a nurse but an excellent horse trainer) and she assures me that the breaking of my horse will be as gentle as riding one of those 25 cent grocery store mustangs! We shall see!

SDS: Since you have horse in Texas, does this mean you plan on moving to Texas sometime soon?

TG: My thoughts are going that way as we speak, however I want to set up my Best Karaoke business here in San Diego first and then go to Texas and start locations there! For now, I do manage to get back there every few weeks or so!

SDS: I understand you are starting a karaoke business called Best Karaoke. How did you get involved with karaoke in the first place?

TG: Being a person who loves to dance and have fun, I found myself in a city where I knew very little about the night life. So, after going from one place to another and finding friends where ever I went, I found a friendly meeting place right under my nose. About five minutes from my house! I also found this place had karaoke which was totally new to me, so along with the fun and the dancing, I was able to listen to the best (and sometimes the worst) San Diego had to offer. Fortunately, it was mostly the best.

SDS: So has music has always been a big part of your life?

TG: Both of my parents had musical talents. My mother played the piano, the accordion, and violin; my father played the guitar and clarinet. I was taught the piano, trumpet, violin, dancing and acting! While in High School I used some of my earlier training in acting and played in several high school plays, such as Arsenic and Old Lace, Oklahoma and a very bad version of Show Boat! Later on in my adult life, I found myself doing parts in Community Theaters, which I shall only conveniently recall the best and that was "Sound Of Music." This was a lot of fun! I had a great time in this musical, but there was one problem -- after a successful one month run, four day a week, it was held over for two extra weeks. To this day I still run for a soundproof room whenever I hear any songs from that musical!

SDS: But you didn't go into show business as a career?

TG: Nope! After high school I started college and ended up in the United States Air Force. This in itself was a tribute to the endurance of training and what the human body can endure while embracing the American tradition of patriotism. I use to go along with the old saying, " If man was meant to fly, God would have provided wings." Well in this case He didn't, however, the Air Force did--one on either side of me--called an F4!

SDS: Sounds like an exciting career to me!

TG: I will have to say this was an exciting period in my life, and one which I'll always remember fondly, even though there was one rather serious crash and burn. Today I wear the scar of that incident. I still, however, embrace being a private pilot ... although it is a very expensive, embracing habit.

The Air Force also provided me with the ability to finish college on a grant. And so, I spent my time learning at UCLA, where I found my earlier dream of being a lawyer was not to be and ended up earning a degree in Marketing & Business Management.

SDS: Ah! So that's how you got into marketing and sales?

TG: Yes, from there I started my early profession working for a major newspaper in Los Angeles in their advertising department and worked my way up to ... the same advertising dept! Obviously no place to grow! So being the adventurous type, I started my own advertising business. From there I found myself doing a advertising for various companies and also eventually landed a job with the "Yellow Pages." I suppose one could say I allowed my fingers to do the walking and I ended up enjoying a long and successful advertising career with the Yellow Pages.

During this time I also helped out at some radio stations... filling in for people on vacation or out ill, doing voiceovers and sometimes performing as a real DJ. Other times I was doing the news, weather etc. "Yep! It's cloudy today" ( looking out the window ) Or (while one pound rain drops were hitting the office window) "We're predicting rain today!"

SDS: You obviously have done a lot! But how in the world did you get involve in writing humor?

TG: Well, I used to write in college. I've always dabbled in writing, just never brought it to a forward point in my life. And I could but never turned down the chance to bring a bit of humor in people's lives. In the LA Yellow Page office, we had a monthly news letter, where I did a small column and added some humor to it. I was also for the advertising director for a sport Skiing magazine and added the humor to the magazine as well!

SDS: Sounds like you had quite a career going in LA! What brought you to San Diego?

TG: In 1992, I transferred to the San Diego Yellow Page office, and immediately took to the area, the people and surroundings. LA was getting a bit too rough and I preferred to be with a lot of my friends who had transferred down to San Diego. That's also when I first discovered karaoke.

SDS: You've been singing karaoke since 1992?

TG: No! It took more than three years of constant urging from my "friends" for me to try my first attempt at public humiliation and the thought of dodging tomatoes. But to my surprise, no tomatoes or any other garden grown vegetables came my way! The KJ was very kind, and knew her stuff; she had the ability to work those controls so your voice sounded better, louder, softer, or even silent if needed. I think she helped me on my first attempt and pushed that silent control. But I surprised her and tried again. And again! Today, I really believe she has the volume set at "normal". At least I'd like to think so!

SDS: What type of music do you sing?

TG: My songs are, for the most part, country. Fast or slow. I find my heart's more into country, but on occasion I'll try something different...sometimes with amazing results! Sometimes not. Good or bad, we always have fun at karaoke -- singing our hearts out, dancing, and having a great time!

SDS: So, besides being the resident humor editorialist for San Diego Scene Karaoke, what else keeps you busy these days?

TG: My greatest joys in life are of course, karaoke, dancing, scuba diving, singing, flying, skiing, motorcycles, horses. And developing my new karaoke business. If there is something that adds fun to someone's life, I strongly suggest that they go for it. I live by an old, tried and true saying, "You only live once." And, to me, the people you meet on the way can only add to it!