Love of music, fun, inspired 'Good Times Karaoke' By Barb Ludlow For The News-Chronicle Willie and Tammie Albert, farmers in rural Kewaunee, have a special love for all types of music. That, and a desire to help people have a good time, was the motivation behind Willie and Tammie's Good Times Karaoke, a popular area entertainment group. Both grew up in rural southern Wisconsin, near the Hartford-Oconomowoc area. Willie was raised on a dairy farm and Tammie on a horse farm. Plus, both have an appreciation of music and like to sing. Willie's dad played the accordion and Tammie's sister did, too. Too, Tammie's dad has relatives in a musical group in Tennessee. You might say they grew up with music. "I used to sing my heart out with the radio in my bedroom, and Willie always sang to the cows," said Tammie with a big smile. When karaoke machines first came out, the young couple bought one and began their second career. "We started doing house parties for nothing," said Tammie. "We just enjoyed doing it and helping people have a good time." When urban sprawl began overlapping into the farm country near their home, the Alberts began looking for a farm in a less-congested area. The search led them to Northeastern Wisconsin, where they bought the former Marvin and Carol Krueger farm, south of Kewaunee. It was 1992 when they packed up their four children, their Jersey cows, their love of music and karaoke and moved lock, stock and barrel to Kewaunee County. After moving north, Tammie said Willie wanted to invest in a bigger karaoke system. "Don't farmers always want to go bigger?" Tammie said with a hearty laugh. "I really didn't want it and told Willie it wouldn't be fun anymore. Guess I was wrong." Since moving here, their four children have grown into young adults. The girls, Stephanie and Jennifer, have a farm, close to their parents, and both work full-time jobs besides. Stephanie works for the Bank of Luxemburg and Jennifer at Krohn Dairy. Their son, Joshua, graduated last June from Kewaunee High School and works on the family farm, and so does Luke, a junior in high school. "Luke is the main milker at night," said Willie. "He may do a bit of grumbling, but he really knows and cares about those cows, and Josh helps me with whatever needs doing. It is really nice working so closely with my sons." The entire family is involved in the karaoke business. They do a lot of weddings, many private parties and can be found at one of the local establishments on any given night. Both Tammie and Willie like to sing country music, but are not limited to that. Their inventory of discs includes all types of music from country to classics, to the latest rock, rap or hip-hop. "Now we have two systems," said Tammie. "When we can't do something, the kids will take over." When they play at one of the local taverns, she said they always find a singing bartender. "Whether they know how to sing or not, we always find a singing bartender," said Tammie. "I just take the wireless mike behind the bar and they usually sing along." Both Nascar fans, Willie and Tammie enjoy taking in the races at Bristol, Tenn., in spring and late summer. They don't make the trip without their karaoke equipment. "It sounds great to hear the karaoke up in the mountains," she said. With the children involved in the farm, life is a little easier than it used to be for the Alberts. "We used to get home from karaoke and milk cows, before going to bed," she said. Both Willie and Tammie agree that the best thing about the karaoke business is all the wonderful people they have met. "We have met most of our friends through karaoke," said Tammie. "Also, we couldn't do karaoke without the kids who also sing and play the guitar." To contact Tammie or Willie at Good Times Karaoke, call 920-388-4761. If no one answers, leave a message. They will call back.