3 Review(s)

This is a scintillating social, cultural and personal history of the worldwide phenomenon of karaoke.In this first extensive history, Brian Raftery explores the liberating and potentially life-transforming effect of karaoke. Taking us back to its roots in the early '70s, he introduces us to such figures as Daisouke Inoue, the Japanese musician who first had the idea of selling pre-recorded backing cassettes, and Sal Ferraro, the globe-hopping LA businessman who opened the first US karaoke bar in 1982.We also hit the competition circuit, encountering unique would-be stars, from a Michigan judge who loves early '80s pop to an Elvis-obsessed medical consultant from Alabama. Speaking with karaoke's many devotees and tracing its presence in clubs nationwide, Raftery takes us on a fascinating journey through both a vibrant subculture and one of the last forms of entertainment to have a truly mass appeal.