We’ve been big fans of the Channel 101 show Yacht Rock for years now, and watching all of those episodes reignited our long-dormant, often-closeted love affair with smooth music.  Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins,  Christopher Cross, Captain & Tennille, Chicago, Toto; they all came flooding back into my heart.  Now that we have our own karaoke stage, we feel the need to let these songs pour from our hearts and wash onto an audience of like-minded beach-combers.

We cordially invite you to the first in a monthly series called Birth of the Smooth: An Evening of Yacht Rock Karaoke.  The Highball karaoke book has been stripped of anything heavy or dissonant and purged of old-fashioned standards as well as the cacophony “music” that has been invading our airwaves since the 90s.  At “Birth of the Smooth,” you can choose from only the most melodic of harmonies as we invite you to invoke with us a Caribbean sailing adventure inside the Highball ballroom.  Henri Mazza and I will be captaining this adventure and will serve as your guides through the gently rippling waters of America’s most important contribution to music history: smooth music.

We’ll have fruity rum and coconut cocktails on special, and dare I say, EVERY cocktail and island cerveza will be served with little paper umbrellas.  Halfway through the night, expect a giant, twisting conga line through the entirety of the Highball and we’ll finish the night with a teary-eyed group sing-along to the Beach Boys Kokomo.

The maiden voyage of Birth of the Smooth will be on Friday, November 20, singing begins at 11:00 PM sharp and admission is absolutely free.  Look for more themed karaoke nights on Fridays only at the Highball (Tim League, founder, the Highball).