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Jonathan Bolzle’s CharityOkie events use “Gong Show”-style karaoke to benefit a local nonprofit.
Known as “Simply Irresistible,” Aaron Moreland is one of many enthusiasts who attend the monthly CharityOkie karaoke nights.
Karaoke used to scare Jonathan Bolzle. Now he loves it — and wants others to join in the fun for a good cause.
Bolzle’s brainstorm came after living in Los Angeles. While there, he visited a karaoke bar but was apprehensive about singing in front of a crowd. After getting his courage up, though, he caught the karaoke fever.
When Bolzle moved back to Tulsa after sustaining an ankle injury, he and some friends searched for a similar establishment here — to no avail.
Soon he and friend Bart Yount began developing ideas for creating a local karaoke event. The talk continued for six to nine months.
“Part of the discussion concerned not wanting to have it be a weekly obligation,” Bolzle says.
The two wanted to produce a monthly karaoke event that was fun and would benefit a community cause. They contacted their friend Wes Alexander, founder and CEO of a nonprofit foundation called Generosity Counts, which partners with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma. Then all they needed was a venue.
Enter Blake Ewing, owner of Joe Momma’s Pizza. His downtown restaurant had a platform, curtain and lighting — the stage was literally set.
Ewing says he was happy to host karaoke at his restaurant, particularly because the events benefit a local charity. On Thursday nights, Joe Momma’s also hosts a weekly trivia event benefiting local nonprofits.
“It lets you be involved in the community,” Ewing says.
At many karaoke venues, audience members can strike a gong to send a performer off the stage. For the first CharityOkie event in January, Bolzle made a gong out of PVC pipe and a steel trashcan lid that he spray-painted gold. He says the sound was like thumping a Coke can with your fingers.
“We lucked out on the very first night,” he says. “I think five or six of the cast of ‘The Biggest Loser,’ including last year’s winner, Danny Cahill, came in and stayed for the whole event. Danny is a great singer.”
Singing for CharityOkie is free, although participants can pay $5 to perform highlighted songs — popular karaoke tunes such as “Sweet Caroline” or a duet of “Summer Lovin’” from “Grease.” For $10, audience members can use the gong to get someone off the stage, and singers can buy $5 gong insurance to stay put.
The audience can also vote with their dollars to determine the evening’s favorite singer.
CharityOkie takes place on the last Wednesday of each month from January through October. Bolzle aims to raise $750 each month so that one child’s wish can be granted at the end of 10 months (a wish costs $7,500 on average). As of May, CharityOkie had raised $4,800.
Watch highlights of the event ...
