PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Arts Commission has honored two karaoke artists for their contributions to the local cultural landscape.
Louie and Selena Espinoza, whose “Louie’s World” karaoke has a high profile in Port Townsend nightlife, will be recognized as Angels of the Arts for their volunteer work that encourages the public to pursue their creative impulses.
“We offer this honor for people who are doing a lot of good in the community, giving their time and energy,” said Lisa Wentworth, an arts commission board member.
“It was a unanimous decision once we all realized how much work they do.”
The Angel of the Arts award, begun in 1999, honors a Port Townsend citizen volunteer who has made sustained and noteworthy contributions to the arts in the community.
A ceremony honoring the Espinozas — along with Patrons of the Arts winners Polly Lyle and Gail Rogers of the Northwind Arts Center and Carla Caldwell, the retiring executive director of the Jefferson County Community Foundation — is set to take place at 5 p.m. Friday at the Cotton Building, 607 Water St.
Lyle and Rogers are being honored for their “tireless fundraising” in support of the Northwind Arts Center, the nonprofit art gallery and performance space in downtown Port Townsend, Wentworth said.
“The patron award is more about supporting businesses, while the angel award recognizes those on the ground doing the grunt work,” Wentworth said.
Both awards are selected by the arts commission’s seven member board of directors.
Friday’s gathering will include a proclamation read by Mayor Deb Stinson, remarks from the honorees and a reception for them to meet and greet the public.
“We are honored and humbled to receive this award, we want to make the world a better place for everybody,” Louie Espinoza said.
“It’s amazing to be recognized for what we are doing anyway. We are just trying to do the best we can.”
He said it’s difficult to gauge the impact of volunteering and sometimes he feels he might be wasting his time, but the award “is motivating me to want to do more.”
The Espinozas have made most of their living from karaoke starting 25 years ago. Their current “day jobs” are regular performances at the Cellar Door on Wednesdays and Sirens on Thursdays.
In their spare time, they donate their musical, organizational and sound management talents to Relay for Life, the Rhododendron Festival, the Kinetic Skulpture Race and other events.
Both Espinozas are accomplished singers, with Selena, 52, singing the Star Spangled Banner at American Legion-sponsored events such as ceremonies for Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
It is their vocal talents that prime the pump for karaoke, and they often take the microphone to warm up the audience.
On rare occasions, they need to sing the whole night as there are no volunteers, but that doesn’t happen much anymore, Louie Espinoza, 46, said.
Karaoke has come a long way since Louie’s World was created.
They have a 60,000 song digital library of instrumental backings to popular and obscure songs, and can call up almost any request on a moment’s notice.
Once the song is selected, Louie can digitally change the tempo or the key to accommodate the performer’s talents or lack thereof.
“My job is to listen to and improve your natural voice,” he said.
There are karaoke regulars, he said, but many people come to the show reluctant to participate or embarrass themselves.
Some have a few drinks and watch a performance saying “I can do that.” Or they go onstage with friends because there is safety in numbers.
Louie’s World occasionally spins out of town but attracts people from Sequim and Port Angeles “who know that Port Townsend is the place to be for karaoke,” he said.
“We love the way it looks, the way it feels,” he said of Port Townsend.
“It’s an artistic community where people are always willing to help. There is room for creative expression which the human spirit needs.”
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz contributed to this report.
