Two Tea Friends

Two Tea Friends

By Gary E. Grissom

Being an accomplished acoustic guitarist and singer, I never took karaoke singing seriously. I realized, though, that it was probably a fun way for non-musicians to at least have the experience of singing in front of a live audience. However, I had decided that I would never try it because I had developed my own style of performing and I didn’t want to break away from it. But after meeting a friendly English couple who lived in my senior community of Stoneridge, I accepted their invitation to go with them to a karaoke club called Stagecoach. My new friend, Lou, wanted me to hear him sing karaoke versions of Sinatra songs. His wife Janice kept insisting that Lou sounded a great deal like Sinatra. I hoped she was right.

When Lou drove into the parking lot of Stagecoach, I thought it looked like a rough and tumble club where there would certainly be fistfights before the night was over. ‘What have I let myself get into?’ I thought. I hadn’t had a fistfight since I’d been the army back in the sixties, so I became apprehensive. My doubts changed, though, once we entered the bar area and saw that Lou and Janice were greeted with enthusiastic hellos, handshakes and hugs. Lou introduced me to the crowd which included a giant named Tiny whom Lou informed me was the bouncer. I sighed with relief.

After being escorted by a waitress to a small table in the dining area, Lou asked what I was drinking and I said a Coors on tap.  Lou ordered one for me and then ordered two Stella Artois for Janice and himself.

“Stella Artois?” What’s that I asked.

“Oh! You’ve never had it? Well it’s a Belgian pilsner beer and it’s very good. Would you like to try one?

“Maybe later. For now, I’ll just stick to my Coors.”

“You Americans. You need to branch out Gary and try new things.”

“I am. I’ve entered a karaoke club for the first time in my life.”

“Well said. Yes, you have certainly done that.”

After we were served our drinks, Janice poured her Stella into a frosted glass as Lou did the same. Then Janice raised her glass and said “Let’s have a toast.”

I raised my bottle of Coors and we clinked our drinks as Lou said “Here’s to another great night of fun and singing.”

As we sat and relaxed with small talk, a tall, lanky man wearing a cowboy hat, walked into the room carrying a karaoke machine. He was followed by a couple of other men carrying speakers and microphones and stands. As they began setting up, I asked Janice if she and Lou drank a lot of tea.

“Of course we do Gary. After all, we’re English. Now I suppose you prefer coffee like most Americans?”

“Well, I do love my coffee. But it’s been so long since I’ve had a cup of hot tea that I can barely remember how it tastes.”

“Well, my dear, when you come over to our house, we’ll make a hot tea drinker out of you.” Janice said with a sweet smile.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Good evening everyone! Welcome to another exciting night of karaoke here in Stagecoach!” the tall man said. “I’m Mark Huston and I’m gonna sing a couple of western songs to start us off.”

The opening bars of the old classic “El Paso” filled the room as Mark started singing along in an excellent country and western voice. I was very impressed and felt as if he sang as well as Marty Robbins who had a giant hit with that song. When he finished, he was greeted with an explosion of applause and then he started singing another country classic, “Kiss an Angel Good Morning.” 

Afterwards, he looked out at Lou and said “Get up here Lou and sing a Sinatra song for us!”

Lou rose from his chair and confidently walked up to the stage and positioned himself in front of a microphone stand and adjusted it to his height.

“Which song have you chosen for us Lou?” Mark asked.

“Let me start with “Luck Be A Lady Tonight.”

Mark quickly pressed a few numbers on his karaoke machine and the opening notes of the song began. I was instantly thrilled as I heard that Lou actually did sound quite a bit like Sinatra; but he also added some inflections to the lyrics that were uniquely his own. He was wonderful!

When Lou brought the song to a close and received a very well deserved round of applause, I saw him say something to Mark. Then, as Lou returned to his seat, I was horrified to hear Mark say “Okay everyone, now it’s time to welcome to the stage a first timer here to sing a song for us. His name is Gary Grissom!”

“Oh my God! Lou what have you done? I don’t even know what to sing!”

“Oh you’ll be great Gary! Sing that Donovan song you played for us in the clubhouse.”

“You mean “Sunshine Superman?”

“Yeah…that’s the one.”

When I got up to the stage, I explained to Mark that I’d never sang to a karaoke machine before.

“No problem Gary. All you gotta do is look at the lyrics on the little screen next to the microphone and the cursor will go above each lyric as you sing it. Don’t worry, you’ll catch on. And if you make a mistake it’s okay. This is all for fun anyway.”

As Mark pressed some numbers to bring up the song, I looked sheepishly out at the audience and felt as if I was going to barf. But then, when the great opening lead guitar notes filled the room, I took a deep breath and started singing as the lyrics came on the screen. As I heard myself through the monitor I realized I sounded okay and I enjoyed singing the rest of that great Donovan classic.

“Okay! Let’s give Gary a big hand everyone. That was a great job!”

“Whew!” I said as I sat back down on my chair. “You really put me on the spot Lou. But…I’m glad you did.”

“You were great Gary!” Janice said.

For the next couple of years, I visited Lou and Janice often and they introduced me to many fine types of hot tea. We went to the Stagecoach almost every Thursday night as I grew an appreciation for singing karaoke. I especially enjoyed singing to the exact soundtracks of popular early rock songs such as “Traveling Man”, “Wake Up Little Susie” and “Maybe Baby.” I also wrote a song for Lou and the lyrics are as follows:

Life Is Good!

“Life is good!” Lou loves to say.

“Life is good!” He says it every day.

“Life is good! Life is good! Life is good!”

Lou loves to sing Sinatra songs.

He sings them very well.

And when Lou sings Sinatra songs

He gets you under his spell.

“Life is good!” Lou loves to say.

“Life is good!” He says it every day.

“Life is good! Life is good! Life is good!”

Lou has a wife named Janice.

And Janice is very nice.

They have a wonderful marriage,

Just like sugar and spice.

“Life is good!” Lou loves to say.

“Life is good!” He says it every day.

“Life is good! Life is good! Life is good!”

My wonderful friend, Lou, passed away a few years ago. I had to inform everyone at Stagecoach the next week and a deep sadness filled the club. But Mark Huston had the excellent idea of having all of us singers pick a Sinatra song and sing it. It went amazingly well. I chose “Stranger In The Night” and had to fight back the tears.

I’m now going to brew a hot cup of tea in memory of a great friend and his lovely wife.