Michael Feinstein returns to the Music Center at Strathmore Friday with his Sinatra Centennial celebrating the musical legacy’s 100th birthday.
Since his appearance on this stage six years ago, Mr. Feinstein has released “The Sinatra Project” and taped “Michael Feinstein — The Sinatra Legacy” live at his Palladium Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, Indiana, as a TV special. The Friday program utilizes many of the songs the late American crooner made famous.
“I’m forever grateful for the kindnesses Frank showed me early in my career,” Mr. Feinstein told The Washington Times of Ol’ Blue Eyes. “The fact that he paid attention to me at all was tremendously affirmative because I was an unknown. Being invited to dinner at his house surrounded by others in the business seemed like a dream.”
Mr. Feinstein’s own life story parallel’s the improbable plot of a Hollywood musical. Soon after arriving in California from Ohio, where he had played at piano bars, he met Ira Gershwin, who invited him to become his assistant. The job involved archiving the music of Gershwin’s brother, George. During those years, he discovered a number of the composer’s unpublished songs, which he later performed and recorded.
“It was amazing to touch precious manuscripts that had been in Gershwin’s hands,” Mr. Feinstein said. “My instinctive reaction to his songs and those of contemporaries Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Harry Warren, Johnny Mercer and Duke Ellington propelled me to work for their preservation.”
Heralded as one of the finest performers and interpreters of American standards, Mr. Feinstein also serves on the Library of Congress National Recording Preservation Board, composes, arranges and is the author of “The Gershwins and Me.”
As an archivist, Mr. Feinstein cherishes such finds as Peggy Lee’s orchestrations, which were given to him by her granddaughter, and vintage big band charts from Tony Martin, Andy Williams and, of course, Sinatra.
“I’ve been lucky to be able to draw on original orchestrations and share this wonderful music,” he said. “The thing that matters most to me is creating a program that galvanizes my audience. I’m especially grateful for the ability to sustain a career for so many years. It has not been without tremendous work, but every minute has been a gift.”
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Michael Feinstein Sinatra Centennial with Big Band
WHERE: Music Center at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, Maryland, 20852
WHEN: Friday, 8 p.m.
INFO: Tickets $55 to $125 by calling 301/581-5100 or visiting Strathmore.org.
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