Kelly Terry had no formal experience when he volunteered to operate the DJ booth for karaoke night at Asia Garden Restaurant in 1994. After more than 20 years in the position, he is now a local legend around Anchorage, known for his welcoming presence at the eccentric karaoke lounge. Asia Garden is one of the only places in town that hosts karaoke seven nights a week, year-round; and this gives residents something warm to do during the long, dark Alaska winters. It also creates a diverse, supportive environment for people to express themselves and have some fun.
Video and Story by Valerie Kern
Music by FirstCom
Originally from the Central Coast of California, Valerie joined Alaska Public Media in July 2017. She creates original video content for the station's TV and digital platforms while also overseeing the Production Department. Before moving to Alaska, Valerie worked as an ENG Editor at WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina. She also served in the U.S. Air Force as a TV and Radio Broadcast Journalist where she traveled around Europe, Africa, The Baltics, Australia, and the Southern United States reporting on military events, exercises, and missions. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, backcountry skiing, backpacking, yoga, and traveling.
