RED WIND CASINO; OLYMPIA, WA
Star Tribute at Red Wind

By Sue Sawyer

Red Wind's Coho Cabaret was packed to capacity on Saturday, February 18th to see and hear Karaoke Tribute winners take over the stage as a "warm up show" to the evening's main feature, Chris Ward, "the voice" from Nashville and his band. Part of the monthly Karaoke Tribute Contest prize package is a chance to perform three songs before a mainliner event.

Those chosen to sing one or two songs for the show were picked by management and the winners' singing three were a result of audience voting.

The karaoke show opened with John Glynn, known to all his fans as "Pop," was dressed in a tux bringing the audience back to the glamour days of Frank Sinatra on stage with "All The Way." John has been singing for more than a half century and also plays the piano, sax and clarinet. He is also an accomplished chord writer. For many years his Thompson Blues Band was a big hit overseas. The second performer featured Fred Ryma as Elvis in black spangled costume, hair and glasses singing "One Night." Fred, by day, is a "sky cowboy" a term given to iron workers that build sky scrapers and bridges. Singing is Fred's hobby and has been at it for 25 years. He's very well grounded performing on stage.

Nobody had to announce Greg Sheehan as Willie Nelson. He looked like his double and sounded just like Willie. The guitar was with him and he wore the signature braids and trademark bandana too as he sang "Always On My Mind" and "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain." Greg is one of the karaoke pioneers in Seattle. He's been hosting for almost 20 years. Art Selhorn, who loves to sing Tom Jones' material and admits he's an "imitator of everyone" and who likes to croon, donned an Elvis suit for the occasion to perform "All Shook Up" and "It's Now Or Never." He showed off his crooning with "My Way," his way! Now that his kids are grown up he admits he's into the fun things now for himself. "Karaoke, it's a thrill!", he exclaims.

The stars were definitely draped around Amanda Werner as she replicated her three Faith Hill's "Wild One, It Matters To Me and There You'll Be," in a full, evenly pitched powerful voice. It's hard to believe that this beautiful, young woman known to all as just "Amanda" hasn't been snatched up by talent scouts. Her love of singing really shines through. She's definitely the "whole enchilada!"

Latawn Kimbers, wearing her signature cowgirl hat, started singing on the Coho stage about eight months ago, never having sung karaoke in public before. Now, karaoke has given her the power to stand her ground on stage matching her voice to Gretchen Wilson when she sings the popular "I'm Here For The Party, What Happened and Red Neck Woman." Latawn went on to win another local talent show during the summer as well as one of Red Wind's Tribute Contest and she admits she's hooked on performing in public... "Way to go karaoke!", doing a high five. No karaoke show would be complete without karaoke hosts Kris and Al going through their zany antics, kicking up "Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy" ending the first Red Wind Tribute Show.

For those who have never sung on the Coho stage, it's as close to a Las Vegas experience as it gets in the Northwest. The Casino is committed to showcasing local karaoke talent along with local and national professional entertainers. Karaoke is featured Wednesdays and Fridays. On Friday it begins at 7pm and Wednesday at 8pm.

Red Wind management says to look for future Tribute shows. Watch for upcoming details on Red Wind's website and the Karaoke & Live Entertainment Guide.

Red Wind Casino is at 12819 Yelm Highway, Olympia 360-412-3641.

John Glynn	Art Selhorn	Amanda Werner	Latawn Kimbers
Greg Sheehan	Fred Ryma