SINGING has always been a passion for longtime King Islander Leon Barnes.
His repertoire of cover songs is bigger than the content of your average Wurlitzer jukebox.
“I have about 500 songs on my playlist now. From easy listening to good old rock,” says Barnes.
For a long time, his artist’s name was Karaoke Jack, but recently he changed it to Hollywood Barnes.
“ The new name was the idea from Pizza Mike Fraser and Corey Brazendale at the King Island Brewhouse,” says Barnes. “Although most people on the island call me Jack.”
Hollywood Barnes spends a lot of time practising his repertoire. Some songs are dropped off the playlist after a while, and new songs are added regularly.
During the last two years, Barnes has been spending time on his singing and performing at the King Island Brewhouse and several small events on the island.
“I was in a band for a while, but that didn’t work out,” he said. “After I left the band, I thought, well, I still want to keep singing, but how am I gonna do it?
“So, I thought the only way I can do it was to sing to backing tracks. I like to sing different songs at every gig. I don’t like singing the same playlist all the time. I like to mix it up a bit. You know, songs that people know, like Eagle Rock and stuff like that. Songs that people can join in with.”
Barnes chooses his songs carefully. They blend with his vocal range.
“I don’t like singing any downbeat songs and nothing with negative lyrics.
“So, it has to be upbeat with positive lyrics. Music is there to make people happy.”
In the meantime, Hollywood Barnes is one of the local performers preparing for the big gig – the Festival of King Island 2024.
The stage is all his on the early afternoon of Saturday, February 3.
“I have chosen my setlist carefully and will perform a variety of songs,” the entertainer said.
He would also like to see the younger generation on the island get on stage and do what he is doing.
“Just get a computer, bring up the soundtracks on YouTube, get a Bluetooth speaker and a separate amplifier and microphone.
“You sing through the microphone and the amplifier and it’s playing through the Bluetooth speaker from YouTube, and you can sing any song you want to sing.
“I wish more people would be doing it because there are some brilliant voices out there.”