Secret Singer

I am one of the millions, maybe billions of secret singers on planet Earth. Which for me is all the more subtle because as an actor I don't have singing listed on my resume. We sing in the car. In the shower. In a parking garage when you don't think anyone is listening. And you get embarrassed when you are caught.

I would be blackmailed at Kareoke years ago when dragged there by my friend Terry. "We don't leave until you sing." He would say. "Get me more alcohol," would be my reply. It wasn't like I could leave. I was in Colorado or Vegas or some such. Can't really walk or catch a cab home. So I would drink a bit and get an Elvis song out.

I love Elvis. I know 90% of his songs by heart. But I only sang them in the car. And for Kareoke purposes, they are brilliant. Most are under 3 minutes long. Have a few beers or tequilas, and you get to go home after a rendition of Blue Suede Shoes.

I got over my fear of singing in public because I was doing a play. My friend Di called up, and knowing I was a big Elvis geek, and asked me to play Elvis. YES! was my answer. But all the lines were from his songs and had to be sung. Oh crap. So to purge the fear I dragged a bunch of people to kareoke bars in Burbank and sang. Wasn't going to go alone.

For my last 2 birthdays I have had kareoke parties. The best places to go are in Koreatown. They have private rooms. So you only have to hear the bad singing from you and your drunken friends, not complete strangers in between when we get to sing.

Now I like to sing. I have a list of songs in my car. When I hear something on the radio that might be cool to try, I write it down. Journey, The Who, The Doors, Nine Inch Nails... It's along way from where Ii used to be as a secret singer...

So this summer I'm going to audition for my first musical at the Knightsbridge. I'm told I would be a great sadistic dentist for Little Shop of Horrors. I'll keep you posted.