Buddy Holly, a Missing Toe, and a Broadway Surprise: The Path to KWCUSA 2009

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His friend just turned around on her barstool, looked him straight in the eye and slapped him as hard as she could.

Being the gentleman that he always was, Gary Byrd, fifth place finalist in the 2009 Karaoke World Championship-USA asked his dear friend – his face still stinging- “What did I do?” Little did Gary know that this slap would land him into the top five in the national karaoke competition for three consecutive years.

Like Gary, dozens of people descended on Mason, Ohio last weekend for a chance to take their karaoke singing to the next level, from the local bar to a national competition and for a lucky twosome, to the international stage. Jerry Griffin, who placed third, came from Brooklyn, NY only to find that the sun shines much brighter in the middle of the country. By the second day of performances he was as red as a beet. Despite that, he rocked the stage with cool, well-executed rock anthems like “Desperado” and “Wanted: Dead or Alive.” He was quite possibly the most comfortable with the stage and his act was clean and polished, a true professional.

On the other hand it was very difficult for second place finalist Freddie Gallman to be completely professional since he had just underwent surgery on his toe just days before. Imagine his surprise when he came out of surgery only to find out that his toe had to be amputated unexpectedly due to infection.  With a missing toe, a cast on his foot, confined to a wheelchair, and intermittently under the influence of strong painkillers, it would have been understandable if Freddie decided to take a pass on this year’s competition.  But as Freddie tells it while he rested under the shade during a much needed break between performances;” I made my decision not to let my toe – or lack thereof- stop me.”

With the kind of tender smile that you might find greeting you as you walk up to a friend’s porch, perhaps to share a glass of lemonade -on any summer day in the south, Freddie explained that when he came home from the hospital he turned on the t.v. and saw an Iraq war veteran who had three limbs amputated. Despite the soldier’s predicament, he was busy showing the t.v. camera what he could do. Freddie says that’s when it dawned on him, “If this guy could be happy and upbeat, I certainly can.” So, with the love, support, and assistance of his family and friends from Laura Jeans Backstage Karaoke Bar in Rock Hill, South Carolina, he made the road trip.

His next feat was even more amazing; he continually wowed the crowd with his infectious smile and charm. And Freddie did not let the wheelchair take away from his stage presence, as everyone in the audience could attest, you just could not take your eyes off of him. Freddie showered good vibes each day of the competition singing songs like “Mustang Sally” and Bob Seger’s “I Wanna Get Lost in Your Rock n Roll.”

It seems that everyone had a story about how they made it to Ohio this year. There was wheelchair bound Don Six of Colorado, who drove 2,141 miles to get to the competition. Then there is Myriah Cross, who placed second. At 22 years old she surprised and dazzled the crowd in the finals with a big Broadway number. She tells KaraokeTraveler that she was fresh off of an audition for American Idol’s upcoming season where she received encouraging advice from producers who, while they did not choose her to move on, suggested that she definitely return again. Something tells me, she will.

As for Gary Byrd, his story began in that karaoke bar where he had just been slapped by a very good friend. You see, Gary was practically born singing. His mother, Mildred Byrd was active in the church choir and by the time he could walk, he was singing there too. With a deep booming voice, Gary took every cue from his mom who was his mentor.

It is no surprise that as Gary grew older, and his mother more infirm, he would tell his friends that the thought of his mother leaving him would be just like that Don McLean song, “The Day the Music Died,” which laments that tragic day on February 3, 1959 when Buddy Holly died in a snowy plane crash. Sure enough, when his mother did pass, he never sung a note. Many years had passed when he found himself on that barstool. His friend had been begging him to go up and sing something, but he declined, just like he always did. But that day, she was not having it and she slapped Gary. The way Gary tells it, when she told him why she had slapped him, he asked what did he have to do to not get slapped again, and she said “sing!” And sing is what Gary did. He never stopped after that rather painful night at a local Ohio karaoke bar.

The winners of the 2009 karaoke championship; Rebecca Armstrong of Knoxville, TN and Brian Scott of Ruidoso, NM, are profiled here (including video).

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Watch Myriah Cross's Broadway Number