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Feature Stories (Vol. 109 No. 10--3/07/2007)

Karaoke singer wins chance to open for Sawyer Brown

By Caroline Downs

Joe Ethen has perfected his karaoke act over the past few years by performing for small venues like the Baptist Home, the city park, or one of the area bars.

On Friday night, though, Ethen will sing to his largest audience ever when he performs as part of the opening act for Sawyer Brown at the North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City.

"There will be 10 singers, and we all get to meet Sawyer Brown," Ethen said. "Then we’ll sing before he goes on."

He spoke calmly of his plans, then grinned as he revealed his excitement. "So far, it’s blown me away!" he said. "I remember watching Sawyer Brown in 1984. They had just gone through ‘Star Search.’ We were just married, and it’s been a band we’ve always liked."

Ethen earned the opportunity to join other top karaoke singers in Valley City by winning a contest held at the Lonesome Dove in Mandan on February 12th. He has performed at several establishments around the state this winter, trying to qualify for the North Dakota state finals and then grand finals of the WE Fest Karaoke Roundup.

Last year, Ethen won first place at The Rockin’ Horse Saloon in Minot, which gave him the right to compete in the North Dakota State Finals in Fargo, where he finished 32nd or 33rd, just out of the top 30 contestants called back to sing a second song.

He also received two tickets to the WE Fest at Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, the upper Midwest’s biggest outdoor country music festival and camp-out. He and his wife Avis enjoyed the experience so much they want to return, preferably with Ethen as a contestant.

So far in 2007, Ethen has finished third at the Midway Junction in Williston, second at the Dockside Lounge in Bottineau, and third back at the Rockin’ Horse. "These all get me a chance to get into the finals," he explained. "I’m trying as many as I can."

Local performer
Ethen, who works in maintenance at the Baptist Home of Kenmare, started singing karaoke about 10 years ago. "I went with a couple of friends into a bar and sang two songs," he said. "I was hooked. I went out and bought my own equipment."

He performed locally, including city events, then invested in larger speakers and amplifiers. "I started doing a karaoke business out on the road with Avis," he said, speaking of J and A’s Karaoke, "and we just went over to computer this year. It’s not big money, but it can be spare money."

Ethen hasn’t had formal training in singing, but he does refer back to his days at Tolley High School where he earned his "T" in music activities rather than sports. He also enjoys the aspect of audience participation that karaoke inspires.

"Most people say they can’t sing worth a hoot," he said, shaking his head, "but music is an enjoyment. I just love to sing."

He communicates that feeling to his audiences as much as possible by using tactics like looking directly into individuals’ eyes as he sings, moving around the room with a cordless microphone, and taking requests. "You always watch their feet," he said. "If you see a foot tapping, or a finger tapping on the table, then you know they’re responding to the music, even if they’re talking."

He also knows his crowds. "I can sing pretty much everything. I do Elvis," he said. "If I want to get the college kids out on the floor, I do ‘Angel’ by Shaggy. There’s some songs I’ll do in the bars, but I will not play at school proms. I’m careful when there are kids present. Some of that language doesn’t belong there."

Ethen performs every month with residents at the Baptist Home and is a regular at City Limits and Beer Bob’s in Kenmare, as well as establishments in Northgate, Columbus and Palermo. He has also served as the deejay for a few local weddings, and entertains at outdoor community events during the summer and fall. "I’m used to being a karaoke jockey," he said with a grin.

"I can be foolish, I can be the jokester, I can be the one handing out baloney to everybody."

One of Ethen’s favorite moments singing karaoke came after a recent performance when a woman in the audience told him he sang through his heart. "When you hear comments like that, then you know you’ve touched them," he said.

Surprising win
His win in Mandan last month came as a surprise. "There were seven singers, and all good singers," he said. "I didn’t figure I had much of a chance. It’s tough to beat the hometown favorites. But I sang my song, and I knew I did a good job."

February 12th happened to be Wild Card Night at the bar, where the karaoke winner earned a spot onstage at the Winter Show concert. Ethen and his nine competitors will be judged before Sawyer Brown appears, and the winner bypasses the North Dakota finals to go straight to the grand finals in Hinckley, Minnesota, on June 2nd.

Ethen would love to sing his way into the top three places at the grand finals, all of whom perform on the WE Fest main stage for 45,000 or more people as they compete for thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, including recording studio access. "That’s all I’ve ever said I wanted to do, to sing in front of 40,000 or 50,000 people!" Ethen said, with a grin.

He has the WE Fest dates, August 2nd, 3rd and 4th, as a goal in mind. This year marks the 25th anniversary of WE Fest, headlined by country music stars like Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood, Sawyer Brown and more, and the 7th annual Karaoke Roundup.

Ethen’s sights are focused first, however, on the Valley City competition, where he will dress in his trademark black Western shirt and jeans and sing his trustworthy tune. "I’m a George Strait man," he said. "I’ve been sticking with ‘The Fireman.’"

His second-choice song is "Some Beach" by Blake Sheldon. He normally foregoes any practice at home and sings only at karaoke venues, but he decided a few extra rehearsals with the two numbers might be in order before he goes to Valley City.

"I just pray my throat holds up and everything goes good," he said.