There really is a
fast track to fame

  The lights were set and the
cameras were ready, working two
angles in preparation for the Fast
Track to Fame Showcase at
Nickelby's on June 23rd. The
sound, selection and singers were
ready to wail.
  To warm up the mic for the
showcase was Jose Perez, the
video photographer and more.
Jose Perez has been a subcontrac-
tor with Fast Track to Fame for
two years as well as a mobile D.J.
(JP Entertainment) since 1997,
traveling as far as Arizona and
Oregon. He also owns Nextwave
Karaoke in Ellensburg.
  First up at entry leyel 2 was
Eric Turnbow of E.T.'s Cosmic
Karaoke, who also provided sound
and selection at this event. His
first song was, "Chasing Rainbows
With You" and the second, "Radio
Man", he dedicated to Steve Slaton
of KZOK. E.T. wrote both songs,
and provided his own accompani-
ment with his acoustic guitar.
  Next up was Siovhan "Sissy"
Odem, Nickelby's hostess Tues-
day-Saturday, at entry-level 1,
singing the Ace Of Base version
of "Cruel Summer". Level 1 en-
trant, Jennifer Dunn from
Chehalis, sang last performing
"Silver Spring" by Fleetwood Mac.
  All entries did a fine job and
after the showcase, regular sing-
ers at Nickelby's were able to buy
videos of themselves singing for
$15 per song, which made it ex-
tra special for average singers
who may want gifts for family.
  The next showcase will be
held August 7th at Mehfil's in
Lacey, hosted by Miss Marcella






Jose Perez, photographer and so much more.




Jennifer Dunn

and ET's Cosmic Karaoke. For info
on entry levels, here's the run-
down:
  Level 1: $50 Perform one
song and receive a professional,
broadcast-quality videotape of
your performance, placement on
the Fast Track to Fame.TV
webcast and audition for Sonic
Records via the videotape.

  Level 2: $100 — Perform two
songs in the showcase and receive
all features from level 1. Level 3
$200 — Video-On-Demand Pack:
age, 3 songs, a 1 page website
where your fans can click and see
your very own Video-On-De-
mand, plus Level 1 features. Ad-
ditional songs can be added to
your web page for $50 each. Con-
tact (336) 760-1380.
  Level 4: $300 — Guaranteed
WB Appearance, 4 songs, all Level
3 features plus a guaranteed ap-
pearance on the Fast Track to
Fame infotainment show called
TheCDStore.US on the WB Net-
 You will be featured in ‘The
TalentSearch" portion of that
show.
  Level 5: $500 — CD Release
Package, 5 songs, all features plus
a CD single release to iRadioLA
and placement for re-sale on
TheCDStore.US. Includes origi-
naf song search, recording your
vocals and 25 percent royalty for
online sales.
  Level 6: $800 — CD Release!
WB Package, all level features plus
your original music video in the
Featured Recording Artists section
of ThG CDStore.US National Tele-
vision Show.

ET's cosmic Karaoke is out of this world

large blackboard to get in the rota-
tion to sing. Your place in the rota-
tion remains the same throughout
the evening as each new singer is
added to the list. The slips from
singing regulars are stored in col-
orful envelopes and left in the front
of the room for pickup.

  E.T.'s passion is his guitar
and if you request, he will plug the
guitar into the amp and accom-
pany you. He encourages duets
with his singers, too.

  In 1998, Extraterrestrial
E.T. Music produced the CD, "I'm
Alive", — songs composed and per-
formed by Eric with his guitar and
background singers. Some of his
songs have been karaoke-formatted
and sung by his many long-term
friends. One such friend and host-
in-training is Toren Valimir, aka
"Starwing", who begins the show by
singing "Chasing Rainbows", one of
E.T.'s formatted songs, with Eric
accompanying on the guitar.
 Eric claims that he is "the best
Karaoke DJ there is," and "the
original internet advertiser for
karaoke shows." Eric's area in the
sports bar, made up of pool tables,
dance floor and large bar, is deco-
rated like a cosmic experience.
"We're out of this world," he yells
as he starts his show.

Toren Valimir also hosts at Mehfil's



  There just may be something
to his claims, because iast March,
E.T. hosted the Washington portion
of The Karaoke World Champions
contest at Mehfil's.

  Check out the authentic food,
and plenty of laughs and fun, good
sound a A warm welcome at
Mehfil's, 810 Sleater Kinney Rd.,
Lacey, 360-436-0676, every Fri. &
Sat. 9 pm till closing.

US finalists selected for
Karaoke World Champions

TLACEY WA
he Washington
State portion of
the Karaoke World
Champions con-
test ended Friday,
March 26th at
Mehfil's in Lacey. E.T.'s Cosmic
Karaoke and N hosted the event,
and Miss Marcella was acting host-
ess for KWCUSA (Karaoke World
Champions, USA.national team.)
	Washington's remale final-
ists are: Denise Lane, Milissa
Kinnaird and Wendy Donaldson.
Wash-ington's male finalists are:
Lucas Clevenger, John Trendall
and Eli Greene.
	Denise Lane, who traveled all
the way from Pullman, and Lucas
Clevenger of Olympia, practiced first
in the KWOUSA Washington State
Finals. They were each given a
"Certificate to Advance" and four
hours of recording time with
Randy Under in his ‘project stu-
dio'. They were greatly applauded
by the small crowd and everyone
mingled together as if old friends.
	These six finalists now ad-
vance to the USA Finals, sched-
uled for Mehfil's on May 28. Win-
ners of the USA finals will be
awarded the KWCUSA Prize
-Fund (112 of the total KWCUSA
entry fees) to assist them in their
quest to sing in the World finals
in Finland this July.
	KWCUSA is a grass roots
movement to network karaoke
hosts and venues across the coun-

try to participate in KWC in Fin-
land with other nations each July.
Currently, 17 nations participate.
The goal of KWCUSA remains to
help with contestants travel and
lodging requirements; KWCUSA
is neither a karaoke hosting firm
nor venue. Contestants provide
the funds, so KWCUSA is run to
serve them, as their contest.
	KWCUSA hosts own their
own shows and all production
rights. They are all volunteers,
providing the venues, judges and
hosting across America in all ten
USA contest regions. The events
are their shows, from hosts con-
ducting entry-level contests
through Miss Marcella' s coming
USA finals in May.
	Large or small, all of those
hosts are providing a service.., not
just to their local karaoke commu-
nity, but (with the contestants) to
all of America. The goal of reach-
ing Finland may still be a little
out of reach this year, but the mo-
mentum is gaimng.
	When KWCtJSA finalists do
reach Finland in the years to
come, singers such as Denise or
Lucas, and hosts such as E.T.'s
and Miss Marcella, will have pro-
vided the initial faith and support,
and America will be well repre-
sented by talented singers.
	For more information or to
find out how you can participate
in future KWCUSA events, email
fjdavies@yahoo.com, or visit their
website http://wcusa.com