Elizabeth resident Larry Hahn is thoroughly enjoying his 15
minutes of fame. Hahn, a fixture on the local karaoke scene, was
inducted into the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame Aug. 28 when
he took first place honors for male vocal at the seventh annual
event.

“It was a rush getting up on that stage,” Hahn said. “I
absolutely enjoyed that, I was so comfortable up there. I can’t
speak in front of people but I can sing.”

Indeed he can. Hahn, 54, is a carpenter by trade but has been
singing since he was in high school. He took state honors two years
in a row back in the days but the third time was not a charm for
Hahn.

“My voice changed and cracked during competition,” he said with
a laugh. “I went from a high tenor to a baritone on the spot. I
think it messed up my chances a little bit.”

Hahn’s smooth baritone had all the right stuff at the hall of
fame competition. The weeklong event took place at the American
Legion Post 193 in Thornton and included competitions in band,
comedy, dance, instrumental, under 18 singers and female and male
singers.

Hahn competed against 11 other vocalists, some of whom brought
their own music and performed as lead singers.

While Hahn did not attend the other competitions throughout the
week, the final awards banquet included every competitor in every
category. No one knows who the winners are until the night of the
event.

“There were a lot of disappointments and a lot of smiles that
night,” Hahn said.

Hahn’s first place honor places him in good company at the hall
of fame. Former inductees to the Colorado chapter include John
Denver, Michael Martin Murphy and one special person for Hahn, Wade
Boger.

Boger is Hahn’s late brother-in-law and his induction came as a
surprise to Hahn and his wife, who knew nothing of his
award.

“My wife was looking through the list and said ‘look who’s on
here’,” Hahn said. “We knew about his music and had heard it but it
was just a coincidence she noticed him in there. He had never told
us about it.”

Hahn was equally as secretive about his entry into the
competition. He was invited by a karaoke acquaintance just a few
weeks before the event. He attended alone and kept it quiet until
just before the award dinner.

As first place winner Hahn received a trophy, recording time at
a studio to make a demonstration tape and the opportunity to
perform on behalf of the hall of fame at its public events
throughout the year.

His first official performance is a 9/11 commemoration event.
Next year he will enter the competition again for the chance to
hold his title.

“I don’t know where they’ll send me,” he said. “I just love
music. It was a lot of fun.”

Contact Rhonda Moore at rmoore@ccnewspapers.net.