Photo by Jim Fausz.
The ‘Pack is Back!
(A Real Clambake with Frank, Dean & Sammy)
7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 3, 2022 (Devou Park) Covington, KY
7:30 p.m. Sunday, September 4, 2022 (Tower Park) Ft. Thomas, KY
7:00 p.m. September 5, 2022 (Woodside Arboretum) Middletown, OH
The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra closes its 2022 Summer Park Series with a tribute to three iconic crooner/ entertainers of the 1950s-80s — Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. Their nostalgic sound still has a universal and multi-generational following due to great songwriters, arrangers and the trio’s suave and confident delivery, combined with superb comedic timing and amazing voices and talent. Scroll through this 1964 performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nboaNyIaccY
In 1953, actress Lauren Bacall returned to her Holmby Hills, CA home to find her husband (Humphrey Bogart) with a drunk and disheveled group of friends including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Cary Grant and others. She dubbed them a “Rat Pack.” After Bogart’s death in 1957, Sinatra became the defacto leader of the gang that would add Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford and others. Though Frank eschewed Bacall’s label, the media kept the Rat Pack monicker alive. The Pack went on to make the original Ocean’s 11 film (1960), and the Vegas glitz and glamor portrayed by these singer, actor / entertainers became synonymous with “The Strip”.
The 1950s and 60s were a heyday for songwriters, arrangers and singers up until the British Invasion, but the swing and swagger of the Rat Pack sustained a loyal following for another decade and more. The KSO’s nouveau Rat Pack features three local singer/entertainers that can be heard with groups around town — Dan Radank (Frank), Mickey James (Dean) and Corey Tucker (Sammy) — backed by a big band with strings playing many of the original recorded arrangements by Nelson Riddle, Marty Paich and Quincy Jones, along with some adaptations of other originals by long-time KSO arranger and orchestrator Terry LaBolt. (See complete playlist attached.)
Join the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and “Rat Pack” stand-ins 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 3, in Devou Park (Covington); 7:30 p.m. Sunday, September 4, at Tower Park (Fort Thomas); and 7 p.m. Monday (Labor Day), September 5 at Woodside Cemetery & Arboretum (Middletown, OH). Bring blankets, picnics or lawn chairs. Concessions and or food trucks are available at the parks. For the Devou Park show TANK offers shuttles from Covington Catholic for $1 each way. For more information, registration (for weather updates and drawing chances) and directions, visit the KSO at www.kyso.org or call (859) 431-6216. A $5 (per person) suggested donation is encouraged. Free parking at all venues. Sunday’s 7:30 p.m. performance will be live-streamed at kyso.org.
Playlist
Song | As performed by: | Words / Music
Bugle Call Rag | Doc Severinsen | Eubie Blake, arr Bill Holman
Come Fly With Me*| Frank Sinatra | Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen
You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You | Dean Martin | Larry Stock, Russ Morgan
The Lady Is a Tramp | Sammy Davis, Jr. | Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
The Way You Look Tonight* Sinatra | Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kerns
Volare | Martin | Franco Migliacci, Domenico Modugno
What Kind of Fool am I* | Davis | Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse
Strangers in the Night | Sinatra | Bert Kaempfert, Eddie Snyder
Ain’t That a Kick in the Head | Martin | Cahn, Van Heusen
Fly Me to the Moon | Sinatra | Bart Howard
Birth of the Blues | Davis | Buddy DeSylva, Ray Henderson
Luck Be A Lady* | Sinatra, Martin, Davis | Frank Loesser
Intermission
Magic Flea | Count Basie | Sammy Nestico
Everybody Loves Somebody* | Martin | Sam Coslow, Ken Lane
Begin the Beguine | Davis | Cole Porter
I’ve Got You Under My Skin | Sinatra | Cole Porter
That’s Life | Sinatra, Martin, Davis | Dean Kay, Kelly Gordon
Airegin | Bill Holman | Sonny Rollins, arr. Holman
Mr. Bojangles | Davis | Jerry Jeff Walker
On the Street Where You Live | Martin | Alan Lerner, Frederick Loewe
Theme from New York, New York* | Sinatra | Fred Ebb, John Kander
*Arrangements adapted by Terry LaBolt
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 