From the time I was four years old, music has been part of my soul. I can still remember sitting in a dark room beside a stack of vinyl records, rehearsing with a seriousness far beyond my years.
Life, however, had other plans. When my younger brother became terminally ill recently, it was a reminder on how precious and fleeting time can be. His struggles became a wake-up call for me to pursue what I love, no matter what.
During that same time, my daughter gifted me a simple karaoke machine she found through our local Buy Nothing group. The first moment I heard my voice through that microphone, my love for singing was instantly rekindled.
Not long after, I attended a Karaoke Meetup where I met two men—both named Jimmy—whose voices filled the room with Elvis and other classics. I asked if they were professionals. They laughed and said no, they were just part of the karaoke circuit. When I admitted I wanted to sing but didn’t have the nerve, they encouraged me: “Honey, times have changed. Just practice karaoke songs on YouTube, and when you’re ready, step up to the mic.”
So I did.
One night, while out to dinner with a friend at a Mexican restaurant, I heard karaoke singing in the next room. It felt like fate. I started practicing seriously, building up a few songs I felt ready to sing. When I finally invited close friends to my debut, the KJ welcomed me warmly and reminded me that karaoke is a “no judgment zone.”
He let me sing every song I wanted, and from that moment on—my singing journey truly began.
I then became highly focused on creating the best sound possible for my voice.
That meant training so I could reach my potential.
Luckily, I met my amazing vocal coach, Mayona Smith with Great Victory Music and the next leg of this adventure began. Together we focus on techniques, performance, and song selection to create a dynamic experience for the listener.
I now sing professionally and still keep my skills honed by attending karaoke events.
