The Wonder of Woo!

What makes karaoke at The Charcoal House so popular and exciting? Without a doubt it's got to be the hottest karaoke hostess to ever grace a stage--the incomparable Gerrie Woo!
    Woo (as Gerrie prefers to be called), the gorgeous dark-eyed wonder of Oriental-Mexican descent who has entertained millions around the world with her singing and dancing, now brings her finely tuned sense of professionalism to the karaoke stage.
    Born in Compton, California, Gerrie Woo comes from a family of nine children. Raised a short distance from Hollywood, Woo caught the eye of world famous photographer, Peter Gowland. Just a glimpse of the beautiful teenager was enough for him to ask her to pose for a few pictures and she soon became one of his favorite models.
    It wasn't long after that Woo got her start in show business as a Las Vegas show girl in Marshall Edson's review, Holiday in the Orient. The headliner of that show was the late Sammy Tong, who is best remembered as "Charlie" in the Bachelor Father television series. Later, Woo was selected, from many hopefuls, to open the Hollywood Playboy Club as one of the original Playboy Bunnies.
    Even though Woo thoroughly enjoyed her time with the Hollywood Playboy Club she was soon offered an opportunity to pursue a singing career with popular entertainer "Mr. Bongo," Jack Costanzo. Jack, who at one time performed with the likes of Stan Kenton, Judy Garland and Nat "King" Cole, introduced the conga drum to jazz and rock music. Woo's first singing engagement with Costanzo was at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. With her combination of talent and verve, it was apparent right from the start that Woo was the perfect addition to the Costanzo group. Costanzo and Woo earned raved reviews from the critics in Las Vegas particularly after they introduced a new, fast-rising Latin number "La Bamba" to the Tropicana.
    Upon completion of their engagement in Las Vegas, Costanzo and Woo headed for Puerto Rico. What was originally thought to be a short booking engagement at the El San Juan Hotel turned out to be one of the Hotel's longest gigs, a contract for the entire season! While at the El San Juan, Tico Label signed Woo to do an album with Jack Costanzo called Latin Percussion with Soul." Other albums followed, notably their most popular album, Viva Tirado" on the Crescendo Label.
     The group went on to entertain the American GIs at USO shows in Vietnam, the Philippines and Bangkok. Woo would later reflect, "My greatest experience was when we toured the Far East, especially when we penetrated deep into enemy territory in Vietnam to entertain the troops. What thrilled me years later was when someone in the audience would walk up to the bandstand and say, 'I first saw you and Jack Costanzo in Nam and here I am seeing you again in the USA!'"
    For over 25 years, Costanzo and Woo continued to entertain around the world in their unique and dynamic style with a mixture of Latin music, R&B, jazz, rock and classic ballads; they became particular favorites in San Diego at such notable clubs as the Stardust Hotel and Country Club, the Catamaran, the Hotel Del Coronado and the Copacabana Restaurant. For several of those years Jack was not only the band leader, he was also Woo's husband. Even after they were no longer Mr. and Mrs. Costanzo, they continued to perform together for many years. Woo, who also fronted other groups such as Pitch and Woo and Woo's Folly admitted that the performing chemistry between her and Jack was special.
     We just work well together," said Woo. "We worked with other people, but it's not the same."
     Frank Rhoades of the San Diego Union-Tribune once described Gerrie Woo as one of the "top performing singers in San Diego." Today anyone who has seen her perform at Charcoal House would easily admit she is, indeed, the best. Yet it is Gerrie's sincere philosophy that the karaoke stage at The Charcoal House is not her performance arena, but rather a place for seasoned singers to showcase their abilities, and the perfect platform for up and coming talent to learn and enjoy the art of entertaining.