HE'S THE REAL THING
THE EXCITEMENT OF THE COASTERS, DRIFTERS AND DUKE ELLINGTON;
PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER AND YOU GET
RON ELLINGTON SHY
Kurt Grunnan, producer for Reach for the Stars Entertainment Group and the elegant, world renowned La Costa Resort and Spa team up this August to present a sensational show featuring the one and only, RON ELLINGTON SHY, an original member of the Coasters and Drifters and the nephew of Duke Ellington. San Diego's own Reggie Smith, Lance McKay and the Dueling Elvises will also be featured. On August 31, the effervescent, energetic, multi-talented, singer-songwriter Ron Ellington Shy will draw you into a nostalgic musical experience of the 50's, 60's and 70's. A living legend of rock 'n roll, Mr. Shy is a genius in writing songs that are timeless: Under the Boardwalk, Leavin' It All Up to You, Farmer John, Big Boy Pete, Mammer Jammer, Jelly Bean, Koko Joe and Justine are but a few of his classic sounds. Shy's voice embraces you, his dance moves and mastery of the piano, saxophone, trombone, keyboard, bass, and drums will mesmerize you. "A top-notch professional who loves to interact with his audience taking them to heights of ecstasy in a musical fantasy you will not forget" said Mr. Ken Berry, Agency Director of Reach for the Stars Entertainment Group. Ron Ellington Shy has performed in live concerts at the Playboy Club, Hollywood Bowl, The Copa, The Apollo Theater, Peppermint Lounge, Tropicana Hotel, Sahara Hotel, Frontier Hotel, and more. He has appeared in Knotts Landing, Falcon Crest, Hot Stuff, Barringer and Dallas. Shy is an entertainment machine in motion.

Also performing on August 31, San Diego's own Reggie Smith playing his exquisite soulful sounds on the saxophone. His lips should be insured because the music you'll hear is a breath of life that will touch your heart. Close your eyes and be sensuously drawn into this soulful music. Smith performs at the Coyote Bar and Grill and various notable San Diego nightclubs.

The opening act will be Lance Atkins McKay, the 1997 Country Enter-tainer of the Year in San Diego, also voted the Top Male Traditional Vocalist for the Cali-fornia Country Music Association. He will be performing his original songs: Zero to Love in Nothing Flat, Another Second Chance and That Used to be Me, inspired by George Strait and Toby Keith. McKay expressed,"I sing with my heart and soul from my head to my toes. I don't just go through the motions, I sing with emotion."

On August 16, as a tribute to Elvis on the 20th Anniversary of his death, the popular San Diegan Dueling Elvises, Mark Thieriot and Jim Holthus will rock the house down and make you stand up and shout "Elvis is Alive!" Their elaborate costumes and fantastic harmonies will have you dancing in your seats. They have been performing in nightclubs, casinos, and parties throughout San Diego. Next stop Las Vegas!

Ron Ellington Shy at La Costa Resort and Spa Don't miss this one! Mark your calendar now for Sunday, August 31, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The cost is $15.00 per person.

Mr. Shy and Mr. Smith will be introducing their latest CD's which will be available for purchase at the concert.

For further information, please contact:
Reach for the Stars Entertainment Group
Mr. Ken Berry, Agency Director.

DIRKS 10, 000.00 CONTEST
Shown on page six are some of the contestants involved with DIRK'S $10,000.00 PIONEER KARAOKE STAR SEARCH.

The judges at Sunday's regional Karaoke contest were a distinguished group: Mayor, Mary Sessom, her husband, Steve Baker, Sheriff's Deputy Al Aviles, and Randy "Ran Man" Dewitt from 93.3KHTS-FM.

Eddy Current took third, Hard rockin' Joe took Second and Gina Williams took the Honors.

Dirk and Paul (Baby Huey) were the only game in town for this particular competition. You might say they cornered the market. The event was a tremendous success. Only goes to prove that contests can help bring in the singers.

The Miramar
Air Show
Back for one final encore flight,
and it's bigger and better than ever.

Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar will host it's 43rd and final Navy Air Show, August 16 and 17, 1997. The event which has been dubbed "Fightertown's Final Flight," will feature the Blue Angels Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron and the world's finest military and civilian pilots.

Admission, parking and blanket seating for all performances are free. Special preferred seating in the Grandstands, Box Seats, the Flightdeck Chalet and the Admiral's Club Chalet is available through mail order, by phone and through Ticketmaster. Adult ticket prices range from $6 to $50 when purchased in advance, day of show prices are higher and many areas will sell out in advance. For safety reasons, coolers, alcohol and glass are prohibited on the flight line.

The 1996 NAS Miramar Air Show was planned to be the final Navy air show due to the pending transition of the base to a Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS). However, then-Commanding Officer Captain Bryan Rollins made the decision to host one more Air Show as Fightertown;s final. Upon announcing that decision last August, Captain Rollins noted, "Community leaders and countless others have requested another air show at Naval Air Station Miramar, before it becomes MCAS Miramar." Forty-five days after the 1997 Air Show, the Naval Air Station will transition to a(MCAS).

The last Navy Air Show at NAS Miramar will provide a fitting finale to the aviation extravaganza that has become world famous. Earth-shaking explosions, thundering fly-bys and daredevil aerobatics will provide hours of thrills at the daytime air shows on Saturday and Sunday and the Twilight Show on Saturday night. The day shows will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday And Sunday, August 16 and 17, with gates opening at 7:30 a.m. Featured performers are the Blue Angels Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, which will thrill the audience with their wing-to-wing precision flight exhibition and the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) assault demonstration, which features Hornets, Harriers and helicopters screaming over the flight line in an explosive demonstration. A World War II Air Power demonstration will provide additional excitement as aircraft from the era, including the B-25 Bomber, F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat, P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang, reenact an attack on the flight line.

Additional military performers scheduled at this time include the AV-8B Harrier, the F-14 Tomcat, the F-15 Eagle, the U.S. Army Flarecopter and an aerial combat demonstration by TOPGUN, the Navy Fighter Weapons School that has recently relocated from NAS Miramar to NAS Fallon in Nevada. The F-117 Stealth Fighter and the B-2 Stealth Bomber will also perform fly bys.

Civilian acts include wingwalking by pilot Gene Soucy and wingwalker Teresa Stokes, the Red Baron Stearman Squadron, the Shock Wave jet truck, Bill Reesman in the MiG-17F and Patty Wagstaff flying her German Extra 300. The incredible Barnstormer's Flying Circus, which involves multiple civilian performers flying interactive aerobatics, will also be featured at the Air Show.

The Twilight Show on Saturday, August 16, is a completely different Air Show experience than the day shows. The evening show begins a 6 p.m., as the summer air begins to cool, and ends at approximately 10 p.m. Aircraft specially equipped with pyrotechnics on their wingtips allow the pilots to sculpt magnificent patters in the night sky. From the U.S. Army Flarecopter, which will fire nearly 500 flares into the night sky, to Bill Reesman's amazing nighttime performance featuring 40-foot flames shooting out of his MiG-17F, the Twilight Show is unlike anything you've ever seen before. To complement the aviation performances, the world's fastest jet truck, ShockWave, will blast down the runway at 300 mile per hour, and rockets will be launched from the runway. The show ends in a blaze of fireworks, punctuated by the intense inferno of the Great Wall of Fire.

In addition to the action in the air, over 100 static display aircraft and vehicles will line the grounds, inviting visitors to take a closer look, Flight simulation rides will beckon the adventurous to step into the cockpit and gifts and souvenirs will be available for purchase at hundreds of booths on the flight line. Additionally, Air Show attendees can take a break from the sunshine and explore the Consumer Fair, a showcase of local businesses and services.

Plan now to attend the biggest and best Navy Air Show in the world, the SAS Miramar Air Show. For recorded Air Show information 24 hours a day, call (619) 537-NAVY. For seating information, dial (619) 537-6373. To reach Ticketmaster, call (619) 220-TIXS.

The NAS Miramar Air Show is sponsored by the American Air Show Network, San Diego County Chevrolet, NBC 7/39, Red Baron Frozen Pizza, Anheuser-Busch, Long's Drugs, News Radio 600 KOGO, San Diego Union-Tribune, Sea World, Gavin Fine Art & Design, Frito-Lay, Ray-Ban, Nabisco, Kodak, LCI International, Coppertone, Met Life, Dannon Water, Nestle's Ice Cream, Luigi's Italian Ice., Otis Spunkmeyer and Maxwell House Coffee.

Local Talent Shows What
Country Music's All About
by Erin Marie Payne

California Country Music Association , San Diego Regional Awards Show was held on July 23 at the Beaver Creek Saloon in Escondido. Tension was high, the contestants from San Diego and Los Angeles had waited since May when the 14th Annual Country Music Competition was held in Ramona. The show was hosted by KSON radio personality Kimo Jenson of "Kimo's Cafe". Kimo's just as fabulous and funny in person as he is on the air! The entire place was buzzing as entertainers awaited the presentation of awards and the chance to attend the upcoming State Finals in Sacramento, to be held in September.

Performers active in the karaoke scene were among the chosen to demonstrate their talent! Among these gifted artists was Jason T. Race. Race, who has been performing for four years, says "there are a lot of losses a person has to deal with before they get a really meaningful victory, but it's worth it." The victorious Jason managed to take the honors of both Male Vocalist and Male Entertainer. Jason, who attributes most of his motivation to a teacher by the name of Bruce Moore, plans on putting on his best show ever when he represents San Diego County in the finals.

Marylin Bernstone, up for eight awards, performed "Crazy" just prior to the presentation of the Traditional Country Awards. Marylin admitted to me that she has taken a break from Karaoke to pursue other avenues of the music and entertainment industry. But if you were lucky enough to watch her in action while she was a karaoke'n, you'll agree that Marylin is quite an energetic performer!
Other winners of the event included: Maggie Stiles - Female Entertainer, Female Vocalist; Phoenix - Band, Vocal Group; Rockin'' Horse - Traditional Band; Southern Edge - Original Band; Charly Ott - Traditional Female Entertainer, Traditional Female Vocalist, Instrumentalist; Lance McKay - Traditional Male Entertainer; Jack Johnson - Rhythm Guitar; Andy Lee - Video; New West - Album; Carlene Peterson - Song, Songwriter; and PJ's Country Connection Dancers - Dance Team.

Congratulations to not only all of the winners of the CCMA Awards, but also to each and every person that participated in the event - keeping the heart of Country Music beating in full force and soon to make San Diego County stand out!

Erin Marie Payne can be found hosting Karaoke at the Saddlerock Saloon in El Cajon every Wednesday night beginning at 9:00 pm.

WHY SHOULD KJ'S
BE INVOLVED IN CHARITABLE FUND RAISING?

KJ's around the country share
FIVE GREAT REASONS for getting involved!

Read this article and change your attitude about fund raising. Not only will you become a leader in the community, you'll also be promoting yourself through free advertising and networking.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT
The impetus for this discussion area is that I am familiar with a show in the Des Moines, IA area that uses a "showcase" format to raise money for MDA. They have been successful in raising $2000+ for the charity. The way they have structured it is that if a singer wishes to do a showcase (2 songs in a row), they must donate at least $5 to the MDA fund. On the Labor Day weekend they host a 24 hour "karaokeathon" to raise additional funds, and then take the money to the local TV station for donation to MDA.

I personally believe that this is a valid way to show community spirit and also add visibility to your show...what do YOU think?

Tom Donaldson
Force 10 Entertainment

FREE PUBLIC RELATIONS/ADVERTISING
I have two free shows that I'm putting on in the near future; 1. The Boy Scouts are having a dance, they need a DJ. and 2. I am going to a Senior Center to do a 2 hour show. Why? Is it my warm heart, or my loving nature, or maybe my way of making the earth a safe place to live in......Or it could be because they are going to write an article in the local paper about how High Velocity Entertainment is a local business that cares about the young and old in our community. Can we all say PR!

Terry Hensley
Kenny Nichols

FOR THE WARM FUZZY FEELING
We all approach freebies differently. For example, I refuse to do a freebie for a club. When they ask (usually when you are farming for a new account) I always tell them "I ain't no Avon lady, I don't give no free samples. Want to talk small discount?" But twice a year I am willing to do a freebie. One is a show I do for a metal health facility. Actually I do it for myself. It's kind of an annual mental health checkup. They keep letting me go after the show, so I guess I'm all right. I always have a good time and find some great singers.
The other is a community show where I provide the equipment and the library and several other Karaoke companies contribute talent. We do a 13-hour karaoke marathon. In order to sing you must bring a food item for distribution to the needy. Last time we raised over three tons of food. To my delight, non-singers got involved and brought in as much as the singers. The bar had a great day. The owner buys $500.00 worth of Turkeys. We always try to do this just before Thanksgiving. Everyone wins. The Club and the participating Karaoke Companies get great coverage as a news item. We get one story when we announce the project. Another article about the event. We delay distribution a couple of days and get additional coverage when we turn the food stuff (non-perishable) to the organizations who actually distribute the food stuff. We do it for the warm fussy feeling that kicks off the Christmas Season. Works great for us.

Break a leg
Papa Dee
Donald Thompson

BOOKING A GIG
As luck would have it, my husband and I belong to our local Elks Lodge. I was booked there and everyone had so much fun, I've stayed booked on Fridays nights. The Florida Elks own and support with donations a hospital for crippled children. Every year they have a charity ball to raise funds for their children. I chose to donate a show to kick-off the fund raising season. This event had such a turn out I will do it again this year. Our lodge sent over $5000 to the hospital. Knowing that I helped makes me feel great and I also stayed booked as the KJ with a Heart of gold. I was told that I was the only entertainer they have ever had that came back to do the benefit show the following year. My heart broke for all the people who need our help. For those of you who don't know that you're missing, yes sometimes you do get those people who call and ask. You can pick and choose the charitable organizations that you want to help. I for one recommend that you do at least one a year. The people you do it for really appreciate it. You will enjoy and benefit from it and you never know, "but for the grace of god..."

ROBIN
R&R ENTERTAINMENT, FLORIDA

NETWORKING
Club owners are active participants in the community. That's how they network, exchange ideas and develop business relationships. Involvement in a well known local charity benefit is a great way to showcase YOU! This isn't just a freebie, this benefit promotes you.

WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE?
Karaoke has all kinds of options for community involvement I am involved
in a local BBS system here in the Twin Cities that is almost like a family. Last year about this time one of our members had their house burn down. Insurance covered most of the damage, but approximately $1500 worth of items
were not covered. I ran a benefit karaoke show for her. My boss with 12 String Entertainment (Doug Davis) put up the system free for me to use that night for the show and the place where we (Top City) tended to hang out on Tuesday nights together provided their party room in the basement free of charge. We raised a total of $500 that night and then the bar owner (who had bartended for us that night himself) even donated all his tips for the evening.

Karaoke can be used in a lot of ways to promote the community or special interest groups. I guess the important question is where do we draw the line? And how many times do you donate your time and give up your fee for a benefit? Don't you think that they could raise enough money to pay the KJ for his time? And you know what happens when you do one freebie? The word gets around and pretty soon your not getting paid for anything. It can be a real catch 22 situation.

I think if you want to donate to a worthy cause, do it. If you don't, be willing to work the benefit, but get paid something for your effort.

Rockin' Rebecca

Doing good works for others is wonderful, promoting yourself is just good business sense. Gear up for the event. Make sure your library is up to date, your equipment in good working order and plan your promotions ahead of time. Use your "GOLD NUGGET", a refreshing promotions idea to send your press releases straight into the hands of a reporter, not the trash bin. Create several angles to use so each press release is different. Then fax them to all the news media in your area. If you can include a picture all the better. Make sure you follow the APA format and that your picture is good quality.
If your not sure what the APA format is, you can find it in your local library.

JADE TOWN
By: Mystikka Jade

'Jade Town' is a place that exists... within the imagination. It's simply a state of mind that embraces peace, creativity, and love. It is my intention to bring this column into the lives of the readers of 'San Diego Scene' in order to uplift and inspire you. If it triggers within you a smile or a thought, my purpose has been accomplished. And I will always encourage you out of anything I say, to take what you want and leave the rest.
Jade Town is a utopian atmosphere of creative energy that can be expressed through a diverse array of outlets (karaoke included). I have decided to reflect this through labeling this feature as a 'creative living column.' I plan to approach this from angles diverse enough to surprise you in every issue.

One of the most common questions I am asked by people who know of my profession is "I'm a Leo (or Taurus, or Cancer, etc.).....What does that mean?"
The next most common question is, "What signs am I compatible with?"
In order to move beyond general 'sunsign astrology;' and into the realm of specifics... it is mandatory to do the math required to put together a complete astrology chart (unless you're in possession of a computer program that can do it for you). Even after a chart is erected, it must be interpreted by someone who understands the bigger picture of astrology.
In this edition, I am keeping it simple by sticking to the basics. Here is some general sunsign information to quench your curiosity.

ARIES: March 21, - April 20 A forward, aggressive fire sign ruled by the planet Mars. People of this sun sign tend to be fast-paced, dynamic, quick-tempered and energetic. They may tend to jump into projects and relationships without pausing to weigh the pros and cons, for spontaneity is a marking Arian trait.
Compatible with: Leo, Sagittarius, Libra, Aquarius, Gemini

TAURUS: April 21 - May 21 A stable, compassionate earth sign ruled by Venus. Taurians are trustworthy folks who hold a tremendous amount of 'staying power' in the lives of their friends, in their jobs, and in other organizations they commit themselves to in some way. Like their animal archetype, they can be quite 'bull-headed' and determined when their mind is made up. Traditionally, they shudder at the idea of making changes.
Compatible with: Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus, Scorpio, Pisces

GEMINI: May 22 - June 21 An intelligent, dualistic air sign ruled by Mercury. Gemini is the sign of the twins. They tend to have somewhat of a split in their personality. They may be geniuses, walking on the edge of insanity. They have the ability to break down abstract concepts and make sense out of them, making them excellent teachers and communicators.
Compatible with: Aquarius, Gemini, Libra, Leo, Sagittarius, Aries

CANCER: June 22 - July 22 A nurturing, emotional, water sign ruled by the Moon. The moon is the fastest moving planet, and Cancer is the reflection of this motion. They tend to have an abundance of mood swings, especially when the moon is full, or in the case of a woman... at certain times of the month (It takes 28 days for the moon to complete its own cycle from full to full, mirroring the feminine cycle exactly). They put a lot of love and energy their home and are quite loving in general. They are also finely tuned in their ability to intuit people and situations.
Compatible with: Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio, Virgo, Taurus, Capricorn

LEO: July 23 - Aug. 22 A bold, dramatic fire sign ruled by the Sun. Leos have the kind of presence that causes them to be noticed as soon as they enter a room. They love attention, and they usually get a lot of it. They have a big heart and can be quite creative. Though when they're feeling depressed or low in energy, they will lay low until they recoup. They only like to show others their strongest side.
Compatible with: Aries, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Gemini, Libra

VIRGO: Aug. 23 - Sept. 21 An intelligent, detail oriented earth sign ruled by Mercury. Virgos are quite the perfectionists, yet they have a great talent for finishing the projects that they start. They make great friends because of their loyalty, and many people admire their ability to stay organized. Since Virgo is symbolized by the virgin, they seem to carry a pure, wholesome quality with them as well.
Compatible with: Virgo, Taurus, Capricorn, Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

LIBRA: Sept. 22 - Oct. 22 An artsy, beauty-loving air sign ruled by Venus. Librans love peace and balance, and will go to any lengths to preserve those qualities in their lives, even to the point where they try to change things (and people) that are best left alone. They appreciate creativity and are quite romantic at heart.
Compatible with: Aquarius, Libra, Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Aries

SCORPIO: Oct. 23 - Nov. 21 An intense, psychic water sign ruled by Pluto. Scorpions will see into the depths of you and sting you where you are most vulnerable if you cross them. They dislike superficial people and can be quite vengeful. When they learn to transmute their powerful energy, they become great councilors; for they tend to be naturally skilled at helping others transform on many levels. They are also quite passionate and extremely loyal.
Compatible with: Pisces, Scorpio, Cancer, Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo

SAGITTARIUS: Nov 22 - Dec 21 A friendly, motivated fire sign ruled by Jupiter. Sagittarians are quite outgoing and talkative. They love to travel and they set high personal goals for themselves. However, they get distracted easily, and usually have a short attention span, causing hardship on the path to achievement. They also tend to be better talkers than listeners.
Compatible with: Sagittarius, Aries, Leo, Aquarius, Gemini, Libra
CAPRICORN: Dec. 22 - Jan. 19 A practical, materialistic earth sign ruled by Saturn. Capricorns have a difficult time leaving their comfort zones. They fear risk, and prefer to walk a steady, stable path. Like their fellow sister earth sign Taurus, they are quite stubborn, yet they have good minds and organized thinking. Because they keep their whims and spontaneous longings suppressed, they can become cold and rigid if they do not allow themselves to confront the unknown.
Compatible with: Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo, Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio

AQUARIUS: Jan. 20 - Feb. 8 An eccentric, electric, revolutionary air sign ruled by Uranus. Although Aquarius is an air sign, it is represented by the water bearer, giving it qualities of both elements. Notice it contains both the words 'aqua' and 'air' in its pronunciation. This makes it the Universal sign... allowing it to get along with all other signs. Aquarians are progressive and ahead of their time, giving them the opportunity to be greatly misunderstood. They are rebellious, and do not work well within set structures like the government, schools, and religions... until they learn to broaden their horizons and accept the circumstances around them.
Compatible with: Libra, Aquarius, Gemini, Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

PISCES: Feb. 19 - March 20 A sensitive, dreamy water sign ruled by Neptune. Pisceans are romantic, creative, and gentle. Their imagination is their greatest strength and weakness, since they are prone to falling into the trap of believing their own fantasies. They may also possess a difficulty dealing with time. They can show this by being consistently late to scheduled events. Their elusiveness and lucidity can cause them at times to slip through your fingers when you try to confront them. They may chose to swim or sail as a way to 'get away from it all.'
Compatible with: Pisces, Cancer Scorpio, Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

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PLUG PULLED ON DUET
Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow will not be staring together in the new movie "Duets".

According to the Hollywood Reporter, director Bruce Paltrow, Gwyneth's dad, has decided to pull the plug on; "Duets" the film which was to team Brad Pitt with his daughter.

Bruce Paltrow told Columbia pictures that he will not ask the studio to go forward with the $16 million film, in the best interests of his daughter and Pitt. Filming on the picture, in which the beautiful former couple would have starred as a pair of karaoke singers, was scheduled to begin September 15. Columbia exec's were disappointed by the decision to end the high-profile project, but understood that Paltrow wanted to put his daughter's feelings first. "Everybody loves their children", Bruce said, "and I think that whatever each of them is going through, they need to not have this hanging over them". "When we talked about doing this together, we were at a different place and a different time"; Echoing Gwyneth's recent comments, Paltrow called Brad, "one of the most remarkably honorable, decent, thoughtful, and fair people, and he would never bail out on me having made a commitment". But I felt it was not fair for him to do this at this time, and it wasn't fair for Gwyneth. Paltrow hopes to set the picture up at another studio with other leads.