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THE MUSIC MAN A little bit country, a little bit rock 'n' roll Larry Willis has been spinning (and singing) tunes at the Whiskey River for 20 years Comment By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 14, 2014 at 5:22 PM Updated Nov 17, 2014 at 4:17 PM By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 14, 2014 at 5:22 PM Updated Nov 17, 2014 at 4:17 PM » Social News It’s not an easy job being a deejay and karaoke singer at a hopping rural tavern, but on Saturday night — after 20 years on the job — Larry Willis will log his 1,000th shift at Whiskey River Lounge on Table Rock Road in Central Point. “Larry is one of the few people who can play for whoever is here, whether they need to dance or sit and be entertained,” says bartender Brandy Russell. “When he does Elvis, he sounds like Elvis.” Willis, 50, caught the karaoke bug when the craze broke on the scene at the Jackson County Fair in 1989, then began the deejay-singing gig at Central Point’s Pioneer Bar the next year. He started crooning and spinning disks (now iTunes) at Whiskey River in 1994. A baritone and all-state choir champ at Crater High School (Class of 1982), Willis has the uncanny ability to sing just about any song — classic rock, country, pop, 40s, hip-hop — and make it sound just about exactly as you remember it. “They come up to me and watch my lips to make sure I’m not lip-synching it,” he says, with a big laugh. “I say ‘boo’ and that’s when they’re convinced.” Though Whiskey River has two competent bouncers, Willis has learned to direct the mood and behavior of the Saturday-night crowd, putting on a slow heartbreaker when he notices an up-tempo tune is bringing out too much rowdiness. “You see people under the influence. They can get a little crazy, having a good time. I try to keep it all under control,” he says. “If you see a scuffle, well, you change the dynamic with a slow one and soothe the savage beast. You break their state.” Willis, married with a grown son and many grandchildren, loves his work, noting he was drawing more people than live bands, so he was given their shifts years ago and now works Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday evenings. Lyrics to karaoke playlists appear on a big screen, but Willis has the lyrics for thousands of songs in his head and, of course, lets patrons voice some of the tunes — that is, if they can sing. A surprising number can sing very well, he adds. “You have to mix it up. You can’t just do one kind of music,” he says, after belting out "Abilene." “Mixing classic rock and country works well. Some hate country. Some can’t stand rock. I’ve never pleased everyone, but if I see the place fill up with rednecks, I go to country for a while, then young girls come in and they want '50s and '60s rock. Some in their 20s don’t know anything about the old rock. A crowd can change over completely in 20 minutes.” He estimates he’s had 11,000 singers, played 90,000 different songs, served 150 bachelor or bachelorette parties and presided over the meetings of at least four couples who are now happily married. To do his job as a pro, he says, “you have to look like everything is easy, when it might be going to hell. Someone is singing, you’re trying to run the board, all kinds of people are talking at you, drunk and wanting something else and they want it now. I’ve been lucky that I’m a big guy and a nice person, but I don’t take any (guff). They don’t want to mess with me.” Willis and many regulars consider Whiskey River their “hang out” and have been coming for decades. Jerry Green of Central Point has been coming for four decades, he says, adding that Willis “is an excellent singer and an OK guy, the best around.” One long-time regular, who calls himself “Rabbitt,” says, “His music is amazing. He’s very adaptive to most voices. You’d think he was playing the original CD, but it’s Larry. He’s got a lot of energy and likes to help people through their sorrows, a lot of it with his music. He relates to all people. He’s a shaman who projects an awesome energy over us all.” John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Email him at [email protected]. By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 14, 2014 at 5:22 PM Updated Nov 17, 2014 at 4:17 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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