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This
is the story of Frank Sinatra and me- “A Swingin’ Affair”
I first heard him sing swing when I was three. What an impact that had.
In our house I’d cry out “put on the man in the hat!”
And that is exactly what happened.
Let’s
look at the facts:
• 1950’s – I seize “A Swingin’ Affair”
by Sinatra on Capitol – heady days!
There was something about that man’s voice and the songs and the
music
which went straight to my young soul.
• As a teenager I fell in love and while browsing though my Dad’s
record collection I discovered romanticism. Singing along with Frank,
my voice matured and the Sinatra footprint started to rub off on me.
• I attend and Graduate from NIDA as an actor but the Sinatra factor
was still there.
In 1990 I wrote my first song “The Man in The Hat” –
about a journey
that started when I was 3.
Things get faster:
• ‘Midday with Ray Martin’ books me to sing the song.
• 1992 - Tina Sinatra sees the tape and I’m off to Hollywood
to sing the voice
of Frank in the Golden Globe award winning mini series ‘Sinatra’.
• The show had its beginnings as ‘A Trbute to Frank Sinatra’
in 1998 at Taronga Park Zoo, Sydney with the Australian Army Band. My
wife Mandy Carnie and friend Keith Hawley choreographed and danced in
the show.
• May 29 1998 we join with Music Director Michael Harrison and the
Sydney All Star Big Band and expand the show to open at Sydney’s
Seymour Centre.
• It’s a hit – season extends from 2 to 5 weeks and
a national tour.
• We return to Sydney – the Capitol Theatre – a sell
out. Then to Perth and a return season in Melbourne swinging to Sinatra’s
tune again.
• 2001 the show was re-mounted for the inaugural Adelaide Cabaret
Festival then back to Sydney and the Capitol Theatre once more.
• In 2004 I put the hat back on for two hit seasons at the Star
City Showroom in Sydney and a final performance at Crown Showroom in Melbourne
•
2006 - the journey continues and I search through the Sinatra Song Book
and prepare a show that encores lots of the hits and also celebrates new
material from the incredible repertoire of Frank Sinatra.
• From Thursday May 11, for 20 performances only, with the Sydney
All Star Big Band, Showroom, at Star City – the man in the hat returns.
• To be continued…
Come fly with me!
Tom Burlinson