SOLANA BEACH, Calif. — A Carlsbad father is promoting humor for a good cause with his coronavirus song. In this Zevely Zone, I went to the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach to meet the man who is calling himself the Crisis Crooner.
This all started with a YouTube clip Chris Maddox emailed me. I clicked on the link and was instantly smiling. Chris composed his song and sentiments from the closet in his Carlsbad home.
"Alright baby as we are stuck here at home I express myself the only way I know how," said Chris. The Telematics Exec stuck at home gave himself a new job as a crisis crooner. The husband, father and musician created a parody song of Frank Sinatra's 'My Way' called 'Hand Spray' that has a message that sticks.
It goes like this, "And now the end is near, I touch my face, my fate is certain, my friends they are nowhere near, I live in fear of COVID's 19th version. I want to live a life that's full. I got to prepare but not in a shy way, the only plan is Costco man to get all of the hand spray."
Chris asked to meet at the Belly Up where he has performed 20 times to shine a light on the restaurant and entertainment industry that is going through tough times.
He told me the meaning behind his online song, "Be practical, be safe, stay inside. San Diego, we got this. I mean we are the fictional home of Ron Burgundy - we are San Diego - let's be a light. Let's be an example for California and the rest of the United States," he said, "There is so much we don't know, it's probably going to get worse. More things are going to shut down and we deliver the news in a way that can be overwhelming so I just wanted to be one ray of light one place where people can come and laugh and have fun."
Chris Goldsmith, the Belly Up's President of Entertainment, says they've canceled dozens of shows and will stay closed through at least April 16, 2020. A crisis crooner gave the Belly Up a much-needed belly laugh.
"I thought it was hilarious. Chris has been playing here for years and he is just so funny and he brings so much joy to people," said Goldsmith.
Chris Maddox added, "There is a lot of serious stuff out there, I am not your guy for the serious news." But if you're looking for a laugh, Maddox says you can visit his closet on Instagram any day. His song goes like this, "My wife has gone mad, kids drove her crazy, can't go to work it's all over TV."
If you do leave home, don't forget your hand spray. "Hang in there San Diego, we got this!" said Maddox.
Chris is trying to raise funds for the San Diego Food Bank. If you'd like a link to his Instagram page go to https://www.instagram.com/gracebandlives/