Published: October 15, 2008 08:47 am      

Local man competing in karaoke contest

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

WOODLAWN — When Marc Patterson was 12-years-old, he started singing at church.

Today, the 24-year-old is in the semi-finals for Harrah’s Lucky Break karaoke contest.

“They had 32 weeks, with 15 people competing,” Patterson said. “Now they’re down to 16 people for the semi-finals on Oct. 22. They’re going to cut that down to eight people for the finals. The first prize is to go to Nashville or Las Vegas to audition for several music labels.”

Patterson said when he started singing for Christmas plays and events at Woodlawn Christian Church as a child, it wasn’t always because he wanted to do it.

“The great response, and people kept telling me I had a good voice hooked me in,” said Patterson, who still sings at West Long Prairie Christian Church. Patterson said he started singing karaoke, and that’s where he found out about the many contests out there.

“A lot of my friends kept telling me about what contests they were entering,” Patterson said. “I entered a few and didn’t win, and I was going to quit, but my parents kept telling me to keep trying, and eventually, I started winning.”

Patterson’s parents, Allen and Melissa Patterson, are still supporting their son in obtaining his dream.

“Hopefully, somebody important will see or hear me so I can get my foot in the door,” Patterson said. “That’s the dream.”

Patterson has won money and other prizes in the karaoke contests, and now participates in one to two each month throughout the region. He took first place at the Prime Time Opry in Stanford, and made the top five at a radio contest, “Froggyland Idol” in Nashville, Tenn. He was nominated as the 2008 Illinois Country Music Association Gospel Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year. In March, Patterson will be going to Pigeon Forge, Tenn., to compete at the national level for the North American Country Music Association International compeittions.

Patterson has also recorded some of his original songs on CD for local fans, and describes his voice as tenor, and his style as “just about anything.”

“I’ll sing just about anything from rock and roll, country, Christian, contemporary Christian and gospel,” Patterson said. “I just love music.”