RANGELY | Rangely local Steve Osborne wants the world to know that karaoke is more than just drunk people singing in a bar, it’s talented individuals who, in the case of the Rangely Karaoke Club, occasionally achieve the opportunity to sing in national competitions.
Osborne started the club in January of this year after relocating to Rangely from Greeley where he owned a bar. The club, which currently has around 33 members, has found success locally and will be sending four competitors to the World Karaoke Singing Championship in Las Vegas next month. Participants will compete either individually or as duets in songs they have chosen ahead of time in the bracket style competition.
The buildup to qualifying for the Vegas event involved a combination of online and live events including one hosted at ElksPark in Rangely earlier this fall.
Osborne first got involved in music like many people: as an elementary student. By middle school he was enjoying choir class saying it allowed him grow. “I was a quiet nerdy kid. Choir really opened me up. It was an outlet for me,” he said. As he aged Osborne received satisfaction from the emotional expression karaoke singing brought it. Eventually he found himself getting increasingly involved in the World Tour, traveling around the country. Osborne thinks karaoke gives people a sense of camaraderie, bringing people together with a fun, musical atmosphere and a place to be unified.
For now, the world championship contestants are seeking sponsors for their Vegas trip to help cover travel expenses and entry fees. They have set up a GoFundMe page which can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/65td9bk or by searching the group’s Facebook page, Rangely Karaoke Club.
They are also looking for new venues to practice and perform and always happy to find opportunities to sing their favorite jams.
By Jen Hill | [email protected]
