Hello I’m JR LaPorte; I am an Air Force retiree, and a Neil Diamond sound-alike. Signing for thirty years, I learned to play guitar playing Neil Diamond music (his chords were easier to do
). I Started signing Karaoke in 1985 Okinawa Japan where I had to pay 50 yen per song. My Favorite genres are, Pop, Country, Oldies, Standards, Folk, and Irish music. I am also a DJ, Karaoke Host, Master of Ceremonies, and a Wedding Planner/Coordinator. Along with my partner and fiancée Michele Wilcox, we own and operate DieHard Karaoke & Mobile DJ service. While in the service, I won 1st place in the Self-accompanied Male Vocalist category two years in a row at base level talent contests.
Michele Wilcox, an Accounting Assistant, began studying music at the age of 7, and took accordion lessons for six years. Upon entering high school, she began singing in the alto section of her high school chorus. After graduating from high school, she joined a small theater group and performed in three musical comedies. She continued her musical training by taking two years of piano lessons, concentrating her efforts on classical. It wasn’t until 1999, after meeting me that she began singing karaoke. Prior to moving to the Phoenix area, we actively participated and performed in an annual alumni variety show in Springfield, VT for four years running. I addition to our respective performances, Michele coordinated and prepared all of the music for the shows, while I worked as sound engineer. In 2002, Michele’s talent was recognized, where she was invited to join the Cross Country Band in Windsor, VT. She sang harmony on all of the band’s material, as well as singing lead on a dozen or so songs.
I look forward to submitting a few recordings of Michele. Though not a sound-alike, she does many Stevie Nicks and lorrie morgan tunes which I think are quite weel done.