24-year-old Jessica Starnes, an MSU graduate and full-time medical assistant, has been hosting Thursday night karaoke at Crunchy’s for the past three years ever since she was offered the job after regularly performing at karaoke nights during the end of her Junior Year. She loves how karaoke nights at Crunchy’s inspire self-expression. 

“When I see someone just being themselves authentically, I feel like I get to be part of it which is really exciting,” Starnes said. “It's like sharing a happy moment with strangers, and I really like that aspect.”

Often spotted at the end of the bar, Foreback enjoys connecting with the East Lansing community, sharing conversations, and making memories with both familiar faces and newcomers each week he attends. 

“I like the cheers and applause,” Foreback said, “I’ve met a lot of nice people over the years” 

Over the years Dennis has built long-lasting connections within the Crunchy’s community, especially with karaoke host Jessica Starnes. One of their favorite shared memories is performing 'Suddenly, Seymour' together an experience both recall fondly.

“Every time we sing ‘Suddenly, Seymour,’ it’s really fun it’s definitely a crowd-pleaser,” Starnes said. “I actually learned that song from him. I didn’t know it until he asked me to sing it a year ago, and ever since then, I’ve fallen in love with the song and the musical.”

Madi Maxson, a senior at MSU and longtime Crunchy’s server, always looks forward to watching Dennis’s performances during her shifts on karaoke night. 

“I think he’s so popular because he’s a regular he comes every single week for karaoke,” Maxson said. “He’s also just a sweet old man you wouldn’t suspect to come up and do karaoke, so it’s kind of a shocker when he does it.” 

Dennis has always had a love for music, but his karaoke journey didn’t begin until much later. A Lansing native, he was born in 1947 and raised in Old Town, where he grew up in a farmhouse on 47 acres alongside his four brothers, parents, and grandmother. 

His first performance was at a bar on the west side of Lansing, where he quickly fell in love with the spotlight and the joy of sharing music with others. 

“I love it, I like the attention,” he says. “I’ve been doing it since 1993. I started at a bar on the west side. I left in the late 90’s and I came back about 2010, and I’ve been here ever since.” 

Today, Dennis lives in an apartment in East Lansing, just a short drive from Crunchy’s. It’s become more than just his go-to karaoke spot, it’s his second home, a place where he’s built friendships, inspired fellow performers, and kept his passion for music alive week after week.

Over the years, Dennis has become a local celebrity in the East Lansing community thanks to his unforgettable performances at Crunchy’s. He’s been interviewed by The State News, The Lansing State Journal, and even appeared on television in an episode proudly played at Crunchy’s the night it aired.

As a beloved regular, he’s been treated with kindness and appreciation by staff and patrons alike. Mike Krueger, the owner of Crunchy’s, has invited Dennis to staff Christmas parties and even treated him to a few Tigers games. 

“It’s been quite a nice run,” Dennis said. “Things have happened to me here that have never happened at any other karaoke place like being interviewed and cheered. I get cheered a lot here.” 

Beyond being a Crunchy’s karaoke legend, Dennis is a devoted family man. He’s the proud father of two children and has five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His love for performing is equally matched by the joy he finds in his growing family who he frequently visits. 

“Something I hope for?” he said with a smile. “I guess… more great-grandkids. I have four of them now.” 

Stories like Foreback’s and Starne’s show how karaoke is more than just entertainment, it’s a celebration of self-expression and human connection. At Crunchy’s, karaoke night is a cherished third space for the East Lansing community where people from all walks of life gather not just to sing, but to find community. 

“I like the community that it brings there's a lot of people I recognize,” said Starnes. “I ran into one of my regulars from 2 years back at Meijer the other day and it was exciting.” 

After decades behind the mic, Foreback offers simple but heartfelt advice for anyone thinking of stepping on stage themselves. 

“Go for it don’t worry about what people are thinking out in the audience because Crunchy’s is a mixture of good singers and not so good singers,” Foreback said. “It’s all for fun I do it every week.”