This week will mark the completion of my 5800th Harryoke show, the completion of my 22nd year as Harryoke and the start of my 23rd year serving the area with karaoke hosting and DJ services, full time. There have been obstacles along the way but the good things have always outpaced them. This year has had incredible unforeseeable challenges in the face of a pandemic that made what I do for a living impossible to continue, with no assurance of when I would be able to get back to it. I was not sure I would still be doing this. I have to thank you all for your support and patronage, even when I was on hiatus this year. I appreciate you more than you can know. I am used to a very full schedule, and from March 16, 2020 to August 2020 I only worked about 6 days total! From August 2020 to January 2021 I was working a whopping 2 days a week! I very much appreciate those of you who were instrumental in my return to service, and kept the demand up, and let the venues know that you were ready for karaoke to return as soon as they were. Not only your words, but following through by keeping my shows busy upon my return on the few nights I was able to get out there.
Here is to the future...I could not do it without you, and I just want to say: Thank YOU! - Harry
Milestone Dates for HARRYOKE:
May 15 1999: First karaoke party - birthday party for a family friend,
across the street from the folks I bought my first gear from.
Considered it a training session and demonstration. If the gear worked,
and I knew how to use it, I would buy it. Drove up with an empty
trailer and left with a new business.
May 17 1999 - First Show at Mothers
May 18 1999 - First Show at Finnegan's (Beachside)
June 6 1999 - First Orlando show at Red Baron. Was thinking I wanted
to work in Orlando, so I was learning in Flagler, but looking for
venues in Orlando. Just played there for the month of June, they changed
management, and the building was eventually sold and torn down in the
name of progress.
June 12 1999 - Started at Holly Hill Eagles. Was a twice a month show, which does not catch on, so it did not last long.
June 18 1999 - Started working for Jack Vedder at Glen Abbey in DeBary.
Never really picked up there, and that is where I met Ed who owned
Peggy's Place, soo.....
July 9 1999 - Started at Peggy's Place. Some of the best memories there
ever. Reluctant to start, but hated to leave...stayed until it
closed. It is now JTs Seafood in the Hammock.
Nov 18 1999 - Started working for George at what was then the Damn
Yankee (Now Fisherman's Net). When it was just the bar and restaurant,
they used to stay open till 2 with entertainment, and I played there on
Thursdays. After the remodeling in May of 2000, they stopped having
entertainment. I still work for George doing his employee and private
parties.
Dec 30 1999 - My first wedding!
August 3 2000 - Finnegan's Ladies Night Thursday is Born!
Jan 30, 2000 - Took Super Bowl Sunday off...driving my 66 Galaxie blew a
tire on the Broadway bridge and wiped it out, and put my head thru the
windshield. First example of other KJs coming out to help me until I
got better...but I did not miss a day of work, although I did come to
work with my head wrapped for a few days!
Sept 16 2000 - Working for Jack Vedder again at the hotel on Old Kings
and 95 across from Plantation Bay...called the Duffers Lounge. Bar
closed in Dec.
March 11 2001 - Last show at Peggys..closed.
April 13 2001 - Started long run at Ocean Deck Café, now known as Iron
Boot. Went thru 3 or 4 owners and numerous remodels, and infinite
personnel changes, but I was there every Fri at 8, rain or shine, LOL. I
quit on Jan 16 2004.
June 14 2003 - First ballroom show at Halifax Plantation. Got into the
habit of working there about every other month, selling advance tickets
and serving appetizers the first hour...did this until the bar was
built.
Jan 27 2004 - Started working Finnegan's Daytona.
Sept 9 2004 - Started at Harborside - Henrys at Palm Coast Golf Resort
Sept 23/24 2004 - Life changing accident...broke my neck and unable to work for the rest of the year. Lucky to be alive
July 22 2005 - Harborside closes to begin it's new future as a construction site. LOL.
Sept 11 2005 - Started at Smiles...nuff said...only stayed till Jan 29.
Dec 23 2005 - Halifax Plantation converts the pro shop into sports bar, and I begin my Friday nights there!
Jan 5 2006 - New owners of Finnegan's wonder why Ladies Nights have been
sucking, attendees say because I am not there, and I return to reawaken
my creation, LOL.
Feb 12 2006 - Hello Shark House Sundays!!
Dec 11 2006 - Shark House Burns to ground
Feb 2007 - Black Cloud - First show Super Bowl Sunday.
May 20 2008 - Last Day at Finnegans Daytona - Closed
May-September 2008 - Finnegans Beachside undergoes massive remodel, and changes name to Finns.
June 10 2008 - Started Tuesdays at La Mer
Oct 6 2008 - Switched to Mondays at La Mer, and started Tuesdays at the new remodeled Finns.
Oct 27 2008 - Last Day at La Mer...they cut entertainment in an attempt to stay afloat.
Sept 29 2008 - Last day at Mothers - closed, lost their lease, moved to
the Dog Pound in Bunnell...I did not remain with the organization.
Jan 12, 2009 Started Mondays at White Eagle in Korona
May 17, 2009 MARKS 10th ANNIVERSARY serving Flagler with show #2810
May 18, 2009 10th anniversary of CONTINUOUS employment at Finns with show #2811
Dec 15, 2009 - Show #3000 celebrated at Finns!
Oct 1 2010 - Visited by Harry Smith of CBS News for filming of a segment to air on the CBS Early Show
Nov 8, 2010 - CBS Early Show segment airs.
Nov 11, 2010 - Harryoke appears live on the Early Show in Manhattan.
Apr 18, 2011 - Last Monday Show at White Eagle in Korona
June 14, 2013 SHOW #4000
Jan 13 2014 - First Monday at Grind Gastropub
May 2014 New Owners take over Black Cloud
April 12 2015 No show at BC due to owners status...last official show March 29
April 21 2015 New Owners close Black Cloud with temporary closing until new owner reopens
July 5 2015 Back at Black Cloud with TIM FINNEGAN.
May 6 2016 Finnegan's Black Cloud closes
MAY 15 2016 - 17th anniversary show #4767
NOV 2016: Black Cloud becomes a Moose Lodge, Harryoke returns
JAN 15 2017 Moose Lodge ceases Sunday entertainment, ending my 9 year run at the location
MAY 15 2017 18th Anniversary, start of year 19
MAY 2017 Harryoke passes audit from PEP and becomes a Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified KJ
JUNE 13 2017: SHOW 5000
Oct 31 2017 New Ownership at Halifax Plantation
Dec 31 2017 FINAL show at Halifax Plantation under new ownership
Feb 28 2018 First show at Lulu's Oceanside Grill
July 6 2018 First show at Dimitris
Mar 8 2019 Last show at Dimitris
Mar 22 2019 First show at Pine Lakes GC
May 16 2019 - Marking 20 Years at Finns/Harryoke show #5454
Nov 27 2019 - last show at Lulus - New Owners in DEC
Mar 16 2020: Last show before pandemic closures, #5670
Aug 4 2020: Resumed 2 day a week schedule at Finns, Tu and Th due to pandemic
DEC 31 2020: ending 2020 with show #5726
Jan 15 2021 Started Fridays at Wave Bar and Grill
Feb 10 2021 Started Wednesdays at Wave Bar and Grill
Apr 5 2021: first post pandemic Monday show at Grind
May 7 2021: Show #5800
May 15 2021: 22 year completed anniversary, starting year 23...
