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
