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Ricky sings along as someone else sings during karaoke night.
Ricky Ayala, 10, is a regular at karaoke night Tuesdays at Hard Times Cafe in Spotsylvania County.
Singer Ricky Ayala is often surrounded by adopted grandmothers and assorted family friends, including Debbie Jenkins. |
KARAOKE NIGHT.
Ten-year-old Ricky Ayala mounts the wooden stage set up at the rear of rows of pool tables. His smile is warm. He takes the microphone and waits for his cue from the music.
Seated at tables near the stage are the people who believe in him--Kathy, his mother; Kay Cheek, who calls herself an adopted grandmother; Patrick, his 6-year-old brother; Marlon and Nyesha Wilson, his managers; and various family friends. Rick, his dad, isn't there because he had to work.
"Little Ricky" isn't a pro--yet. But he's working at it.
The southern Stafford resident won top child vocalist honors at the May 2005 Talent Rock Festival in Orlando, Fla. Last year, he won the Chicago-area Sing from the Heart talent contest in the age-18-and-younger category. Ricky performed at the Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair this year and at a benefit event last month.
Ricky, who lives in the Park Ridge subdivision, keeps his performance fresh by participating in karaoke shows throughout the region. He performs alone or sometimes with friend Paula Jenkins, 14, who lives in the Massaponax area.
"Usually I want an upbeat song to get the crowd into it," said Ricky.
On Tuesday night, he started with a Jackson Five favorite, "I Want You Back."
Ricky was 5 years old when his family purchased a karaoke system and he began to memorize the words to the songs.
He was about about 2 years old when his mother noticed how music affected him.
"He could have a fever and an ear infection and be crying and he would stop and just listen and focus on the stereo," Kathy Ayala said.
The first song Ricky learned was "My Heart Will Go On," by Celine Dion. He still enjoys singing it. But his taste in music varies from pop to jazz.
Although Ricky enjoys performing other artists' songs, he wants to write and perform his own. He is composing "Are We Almost There?" a song based on his concerns about world events such as the war in Iraq.
Ricky doesn't have any formal musical training, except for some piano lessons. But the passion for musical performance runs in his blood.
His mother used to sing in a rock band in South Dakota, and his maternal grandfather was a jazz drummer.
In addition to having a career as a musical professional, Ricky would like to attend Notre Dame and major in music. He also wants to meet Brett Favre, the Green Bay Packers' quarterback.
"I've always wanted to meet him," he said.
Football is a big part of Ricky's life. He plays for the Chargers in the Stafford County Football League.
Ricky is in fifth grade at Park Ridge Elementary School. Last year, he was on the honor roll.
On Saturday nights, Ricky is a regular karaoke performer at King Street Blues on U.S. 1 in Aquia Towne Center. He also sings at BT's Restaurant on U.S. 1 in Massaponax and Hard Times Cafe in Four-Mile Fork Shopping Center in Spotsylvania on Tuesday nights with his mom carefully watching the time, because she knows her son has to get up for school in the morning.
"Usually I crack the whip after a couple songs."
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