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By Carol Roberts The Tribune - September 21, 1999 " The people who participate say it's therapy," said Doc Thompson, 59, a former Fresno psychologist who specialized in multiple personality disorders. He met Nancy, 50, "who was once painfully shy," when she worked with her mother in a residential treatment program for adolescent girls. "We help make people feel good about themselves." The Thompsons and their staff put on 16 scheduled karaoke shows a week at Bill'S Place in Arroyo Grande, Rose's Landing, Happy Jack's and Otter Rock Cafe in Morro Bay, Harry's in Pismo Beach, the Z Club in San Luis Obispo, the Merrimaker in Los Osos, Wilson's Lounge in Paso Robles and the Old Town Saloon in Clovis. They also do weddings, parties and travel to the Bay Area and Los Angeles with their enthusiasm and equipment. Their foray into karaoke was almost an accident. Stressed out by their day jobs in the late 1980s in Fresno, where both grew up, they decided to move permanently to Cayucos, which up until then had only been a weekend getaway. They opened a video store, lived upstairs and rented out movies for a few years. One day Doc Thompson let a friend put a karaoke machine in the store. Nancy Thompson pooh-poohed its existence and pledged she'd never play with it. She thought it was a useless acquisition at a time when money wasn't all that plentiful. "I was so mad at him," she said recently. Her husband didn't "play with it" either for several months. Then late one night, alone downstairs, he turned it on and was inspired by the background sounds of professional musicians. He sang "Mack the Knife." Nancy heard |
 him from upstairs and stomped on the floor with approval. California Karaoke was born. At first they took their equipment out to bars and restaurants for free to entice would-be singers and convince owners such entertainment would boost coffers. "They were right," said Susie Stephenson, who runs Bill's Place in Arroyo Grande. Her bar is packed on karaoke nights, especially Friday and Saturdays. "Soon the Thompsons started getting paid by the owners. They added staff and equipment because they couldn't be in several places at once putting on the shows. They're scheduled for certain hours, but often end up staying longer. (For specifics, try www. californiakaraoke.com). Doc Thompson admits he isn't much of a singer himself but he enjoys announcing, working the equipment and the camaraderie of the crowds " Nancy, who Doc Thompson describes as "once painfully shy" is the one 'with the great voice who'll put her arm around a newcomer to help carry the tune. She's the heart and soul of the show." Though maybe once shy, Nancy Thompson said music has been a lifetime love. She won a trip to Hawaii in 1975 by appearing on the old national TV show "Name That Tune." She named "My Wild Irish Rose," after hearing only the first note of the melody. The couple, now settled in a spacious mobile home with Nancy's mother right across the street, enjoy reminiscing about the past but prefer to talk about the present. They're leading the good life now, Doc Thompson said. Their son, Jon, 32, a civilian flight chief at Edwards Air Force Base, has added a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren to the family. Their in-house "family" includes Lester, a macaw, and Bob, a silver-crested cockatoo. They're "having a ball" with their job, said Doc Thompson. 'We're providing what everyone needs -- love, fulfillment, variety and change." |