All or Nothing: The Frank Sinatra Tribute Show, hosted by Rich B., is hoping to help local Lancaster PA Charities in a big way.
Rich B., has been singing along, or playing along with Frank Sinatra most of his life. “I can recall singing Sinatra at home and listening to my Mom sing it since I was a boy. She told me she’d sit at the radio and try to emulate Sinatra’s unique phrasing on his ballads. She’d take the time to study the pauses, his vibrato and how he’d approach a song. I learned so much of him through her.”
Playing trombone in high school and having this music around the house, gave Rich a unique respect and appreciation for Frank Sinatra and his life, and music.
Some 40 years later, driving for DoorDash, Rich found himself tired of the radio and the popular songs that were available, so he began tuning around the dial and came across Seriously Sinatra one Friday during their all-day Sinatra playlist. The memories came flooding back.
“I was trying to think about what I wanted my next hobby to be. The more I thought, the more I sang Sinatra. The memories just came flooding back of my Mom and her singing these songs. I didn’t want to go back to radio, or TV. I thought this music was highly underrepresented in the Lancaster, PA area restaurants, and with a little practice, I could sing these songs, and turn my love for this music into something magical.”
So Rich set off to practice the songs. None of them proved easy or breezy. The Lady Is A Tramp, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Pennies From Heaven. All The Frank Sinatra songs he thought would get people up and jumping. Before long he had a short list of about 20, using his Mom’s techniques, that he thought would be entertaining to Lancaster, PA audiences. But he just wanted it to be perfect.
“It’s a tribute and done with great respect and a way to keep the music going. It’s not an impersonation. Yes Frank comes thru in the music, but as Sinatra said, ‘I would like someone to learn how to do this so the music doesn’t fade away.”
After dialing around on the internet one day, Rich came across a unique bit of technology. He recalls, “It was a unique bit of technology that removed the vocal part from any song. So that way, instead of singing to only Karaoke tracks, which change the instrumentation and keys, I could sing Frank’s songs, in his original keys, WITH the original arrangements he used in concert.” Rich prefers to use the live versions of Frank Sinatra’s songs in concert as he says they add more spice and life to the music. So now if you hear Rich B song these songs it’s as close as you can get to hearing Frank sing them.
At the same time, Rich began collecting stories from such highly-revered programs as Ramsey Mazda Sundays With Sinatra with Joe Piscopo, and several Sinatra-related books.
“There were all these stories and jokes and I thought, I’ve gotta tell these in public to accompany the songs since Sinatra loved telling the stories, and how the music was created. I combined the jokes and stories and music and that’s how All Or Nothing:The Frank Sinatra Tribute Show was born.”
Rich B performed the show initially at The Lebanon Farmer’s Market in Lebanon PA. Then went onto other Hershey venues such as: The Hershey Public Library and The Allen Theater among others.
Rich B. Sings Where Or When
“What I really want though is to do some good in this world and use my talents, not only to make a great dining experience in Lancaster PA restaurants, but to make some difference with Sinatra’s music as well. I can do the singing part but Frank gave over a billion dollars to charity. I should do that as well, not that I have a billion. But what I have I can give.”
So in order to do that good Rich is looking for some Lancaster PA charities with which to partner for a concert event.
“I’d like to help female victims of domestic violence, as my Mom was a victim of that, and during it I was too young to help and it affected me greatly. I’d like to help homeless vets in some meaningful fashion. Something where we have a ticketed event and a dinner, and I perform the show, and a majority of the proceeds go to that charity. I just love to sing Sinatra and to help others.”
If you happen to know of a Lancaster PA charity that would be interested in booking All Or Nothing: The Frank Sinatra Tribute Show for an event, please contact Rich B at the Contact Page of his website.
June 14, 2024