Frank Sinatra Jr. pays homage to his father and the music that defined the Sinatra legend in two performances at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California, on Friday and Saturday, February 29 and March 1, at 8:00pm. Using the same arrangements and instrumentation, Frank Sinatra Jr. sings the songs that made his father an American singing icon.
With the unique combination of a superb voice and a talent for enduring storytelling, it is only fitting that he inherited the honor of paying tribute to his father.
Frank Sinatra Jr. originally planned to be a pianist and conductor but show promoters had different ideas. On September 8, 1963, the Royal Box of the Americana Hotel in Manhattan re-opened for the season presenting a newcomer backed by the Tommy Dorsey Band. At 21, Frank Sinatra Jr. made his debut into the big time. Throughout the 1960s, and into the mid-1980s, Frank Jr. appeared in Las Vegas, opening for many stars in the main rooms and headlining in his own right in the lounges. In 1985, Frank Jr. opened at the Four Queens Hotel in Las Vegas. Backed by a 17-piece orchestra, he re-introduced the big band sound to lounge patrons and his show was booked regularly at the resort during the next eight years. In 1988, Frank Jr. joined his father's staff as musical director and conductor. In April 1994, he conducted for his father at Radio City Music Hall and then moved on to Tavern on the Green to perform his own late night show. Frank Jr.'s big band played to sell-out audiences, prompting a return engagement planned for the spring of 1995, to be followed by a first-ever date in Atlantic City's Trump Plaza.
In 1996, As I Remember It, a CD tribute to his father's talents, was released to an enthusiastic response by Sinatra purists. Also in 1996, in celebration of George and Ira Gershwins' Centennial anniversary, Frank Jr. launched his 10-city "Gershwins' America" tour serving as singer, pianist and conductor. He went back to the 20 piece band, and, from the fall of 1997 through the summer of 1998, he focused on the nostalgic melodies of the big band era, appearing in theaters and showrooms nationwide. After his father's death, audiences honored Frank, Jr. with numerous standing ovations during all three of his sold-out shows at the Sands Hotel Casino in October of 1998. 1999 kicked off with Frank Jr. wowing a sold-out audience at Miami Beach's Fontainebleau Hotel on New Year's Eve. From there, he packed dance floors with swing dancers from at Disney's Atlantic Palace/Boardwalk Club as well as Merv Griffin's Coconut Club in Los Angeles.
Sponsored by LPC Landscape Management, Frank Sinatra Jr., with Terry Woodson, Musical Director and Conductor, will appear in two performances at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California, on Friday and Saturday, February 29 and March 1, at 8:00pm. Tickets are priced at $100, $85, $75 and $55. -- www.mccallumtheatre.com
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