Lose A Bet, Win A Passion!

Meet our spotlight singer Tony “Sky” Lee, a former Military pilot who discovered a love for singing Karaoke. You can find him most Friday nights at The Junction on Buck Owens Boulevard. How did he get started? Sky and some online buddies got together over a bet. Though he can’t remember what the bet was about, he does know two things: (1) that he thought for sure he knew the answer, and (2) that he was absolutely wrong. To pay up, he either had to buy a drink, sing a song or dance. He says “no way this body was gonna get up and wiggle”, so he chose to sing; and discovered he really liked it.

That was five years ago, and he has been singing ever since. He considers it a way of expressing what he feels. Though he doesn’t have a favorite artist, per se, he specializes in Country music “across the board”. Sky’s criteria for picking a song is simple: the song has to have some meaning or connection for him to want to sing it. One of his favorites is called “One Wing In The Fire” by Trent Tomlinson. The lyrics are about a boy asking God to forgive his not-quite-perfect Dad and allow him into heaven, saying “he’s an angel with no halo, and one wing in the fire”. Sky says it reminds him of his own father.

Though he’s won some contests, performed at police dedications and weddings, and even had some experience with national television and movies, Sky says his karaoke career is not about looking to become a star, just saying what he has to say.

We asked him how local Karaoke could improve. He said he would love to see a place that was just for singers and those that liked to listen to them. A family atmosphere without any indoor smokers or reveling partiers. A place built for performers; complete with a stage, good food, and starting hours about 4:30-5:00 instead of the 9pm norm, a place to stop after work. But regardless of whether that ever comes about, he says “I’ll sing as long as I have a voice”.