FOX 45 Theme Contest Presents Local Talent

FAIRBORN, OH - Fairborn resident James Karns has been an entertainer since his school days. But now his first endeavor as a solo songwriter has earned him a spot as one of 12 preliminary competitors in FOX 45 Television's "It's Where You Live" theme contest.

Each week on the FOX 45 news program "It's Where You Live" spotlights a different town or region in the Miami Valley. Several weeks ago the station announced a contest to find a talented songwriter from the local area to create a theme song for the segment.

According to FOX 45 Television's website, since making the announcement, the station received hundreds of entries for the contest. Karns song was one of only 12 musical artists chosen to be voted on by the viewing audience. Viewers can listen to each of the entries online and vote for their favorite from now until January 22^nd.

Karns grew up in Kettering and starting his entertainment career as a singer in high school musicals. Over the years he has taken the stage as an actor, magician, voiceover artist and announcer. He said his pride in the region helped motivate him to take his first steps as a solo artist.

"I've away been the patriotic type, but listening to the commercial (for the contest) I hadn't given it much thought for the first couple of weeks," Karns said. "Soon a melody began to rattle around in my brain, so much so I couldn't stop humming it. In a couple of days I had lyrics and in another week the inspiration had been completed on paper and recorded."

Currently, Karns is the bass guitar player and vocalist with a local musical variety group called, "The Brothers & Co. Entertainers." He has performed with the quartet for six years but the contest entry is the singer's first original lyrical work.

Karns loves living in the Dayton region and he is thankful that his song was chosen for the contest out of so many others. "While I have visited many parts of this great country, Ohio is the only place I long for," he said. "The Miami Valley is home."

Only six of the artists will make it to the semi-final round. Semi-finalists will be announced during the FOX 45 Dayton's News Source broadcast at 10 p.m. on Wednesday February 3^rd.

The station will also be announcing where viewers can see and hear the artists perform their songs live. To listen to the entries and cast your vote, go online to http://abc.daytonsnewssource.com/sections/contests/theme_song .