A Japanese word literally translated, “empty orchestra,” karaoke originated in 1970’s Japan, when a headlining singer went missing and the club owner needed to calm a group of restless customers. It began growing in popularity across Asia and has since become a worldwide phenomenon.

Patti Whitworth is a self professed KJ/DJ who works two or three nights a week spinning discs and singing at several night spots in Topeka and Scranton.

Patti’s love for karaoke took root when her father brought home a karaoke machine, and he would sing at home or sometimes go out and perform publicly taking his discs and love for singing with him. After he passed away, she inherited her father’s machine and discs. Patti loathed karaoke at first, and “thought it was silly.” But after going out a few times and checking out the scene, love soon won out over hate and Patti became a full blown karaoke junkie.

Patti was satisfied for the most part just going out and singing at various clubs until 2006, when the owner of RC Saloon in Scranton offered her a job doing karaoke. She jumped at the chance and now DJ’s at three different Topeka nightspots, as well as the original gig in Scranton.

Patti has spent a lot of evenings doing karaoke since that first one five years ago, but one of her most memorable events came just recently. A lady, whose nephew had just gotten back from Afghanistan, came up to Patti and asked if she could recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Patti put “America the Beautiful,” sung by the great Ray Charles on in the background.

As she began speaking, putting her hand over her heart, all the people in the audience stood up and “took their hats off their head, put their hands over their heart and said it with her.” Surely an experience like that would be hard to forget.

As far as the local community of musicians is concerned, Patti senses nothing but support. Band members have been known to drop into her shows from time to time, notably DJ Jost of Hammerjunk and Steamroller and Dave Barnes of Simply Driven. Likewise, Patti proclaims she likes to go out and support the bands whenever she isn’t working.

Believing what she does makes a difference in people’s lives, Patti is out there three nights a week spinning discs and offering a microphone to anybody who wants to come up and sing their favorite song. Be it Bon Jovi, REO Speedwagon, Shania Twain or even Barry Manilow, Patti will go out of her way to provide the “songs that make the whole world sing.”

Tuesdays – The Dugout-17th and Fairlawn
Fridays- The Dugout or RC Saloon, Scranton-check the schedule
Wednesdays – Jax, 555 SW 39th behind Wal-Mart
Saturdays- Victoria’s 5011 S. Topeka Ave.

Robin Cremer, still one of the new kids on the seveneightfive block, tried Karaoke once, but was asked to stop singing due to religious reasons. The actual request went something like, “for the love of God, stop singing,” so Robin heeded the call.

[ July 2010 | Robin Cremer | photo contributed ]
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