PLEASE NOTE: Due to heavy rain prediction for Thursday, June 13^th the Sinatra Idol Contest has been rescheduled for Friday, June 14^th. Same location (Sinatra Park), same time (begins at 6:30pm).

HOBOKEN TO HOST 7^TH ANNUAL SINATRA IDOL CONTEST

Friday , June 13, 2013 (raindate) 6:30pm to 9:00pm

 Sinatra Park on Sinatra Drive between 4th & 5th Streets

 featuring hosts: Gary Simpson & Geri Fallo

 Prizes awarded to the best Sinatra Style Singers – Admission is free

After party will take place at Little Town NJ, 310 Sinatra Drive, Hoboken, NJ, just steps from Sinatra Park. Begins at 9:15pm, immediately after the contest. All are invited to attend.

With a panel of judges featuring:

• The beloved Manzo Brothers, Chris & Albie from Real Housewives of New Jersey
• Cristina Fontanelli – award-winning singer/PBS-TV host
• Jennifer Lampert – vocalist and organizer of the monthly jam at the Pilsener Haus
• Fran Azzarto – lead vocalist of the band Skanatra, has also performed with Sinatra family members, Nancy Sinatra and A.J. Lambert. Currently, is a teacher of music at Connors Elementary School andHoboken High School
• Jimmy Farina – Hoboken City Clerk

Hoboken Sinatra Idol Contestants for 2013:

• George Chartofillis, West Caldwell, NJ; NJ State Government Worker/Intake Investigator with the Division On Civil Rights, Office Of The Attorney General. A lifelong Sinatra fan and admirer, George has sung all of Sinatra’s songs in restaurants and clubs in New Jersey. As part of Newark’s Downtown District summer activities, George sings every Wednesday, on his lunch hour. “I love singing and intend to pursue my dream until I die. I know it takes hard work, going from place to place, having ups and downs, but I’m ready, and I’ve always wanted the challenge and opportunity to let the world know who I am.”

• Mario Cruz, Guttenberg, NJ; Teacher of English as a second language. After a student asked Mario for the lyrics to “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” he played the song many times.  The more he listened to it, the more he liked it.  He started buying Sinatra music and eventually started to perform Sinatra songs at restaurants, outdoor festivals and weddings.

• Joseph De Sarle, Staten Island, NY; retired after 40 years in the pharmaceutical industry.  Joe’s passion for Sinatra’s music came from his mother who was a Bobby-Soxer at New York’s Paramount Theater.  According to Joe, “She played his…records all the time. When she bought Mr. Sinatra’s “Swing Easy” album, I was hooked.” Joe has been singing all his life and has written over 200 songs.  He sings Sinatra songs from every decade of his recording career from the 40′s to the 90′s. Joe performs throughout the New York tri-state area and recently sang at The 6th Annual Sinatra Birthday Bash at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ.

• Larry Dubin, Port Washington, NY; Substance Abuse Counselor.  Larry grew up listening to Sinatra songs with his parents. Seven years ago, he started singing Sinatra tunes at karaoke bars. He sang “That’s Life” in a Senior Idol contest and auditioned for The Voice, performing “The Way You Look Tonight.” Larry sings a few times a year with the Long Island cover band, Mystic.

• Donnie Farraro, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, Retired truck driver.  Donnie sang a little bit when he was in the army, but then life and family obligations kept him busy. Seven years ago, he was diagnosed with stage four cancer of the tongue and told he might not talk again, maybe not even live, much less sing . . . But with the help of modern medicine and faith in God, he made a full recovery. Hackensack University Hospital asked him to give a speech about his fight with cancer at their annual dinner. Instead, he performed a few Sinatra’s songs. The response was overwhelming and Donnie has been singing Sinatra ever since. Donnie feels blessed to be alive, loves Sinatra’s music and strives to keep singing.

• Bill Gagliardi, Lakewood, NJ; Retired jewelry sales and marketing executive. Since retiring in 2006, Bill has been doing a Frank Sinatra Tribute Act and was one of eleven singers featured at the 2008 Count Basie Theater, Sinatra Birthday Bash. He was also the Senior Idol winner at a competition held at the Strand Theater in Lakewood, NJ. Bill has been a background actor for TV shows such as The Soprano’s, Law and Order, 30 Rock, Rescue Me and The Good Wife, as well as for movies, Spider Man 3, City Island, Wall Street 2, and The Answer Man.

• Joe Harkins, Jersey City, NJ; Active in historic preservation in Jersey City. Joe was 10 years old when he first saw Frank Sinatra perform live during a War Bond tour in 1943.  The following year, Joe competed in his summer camp’s weekly talent contest, singing Sinatra songs such as “Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week” and “Stardust.” He says, “I won every week for the first 5 weeks, at which point, I was banned from the contest because no one else wanted to compete.”  The last time Joe saw Sinatra perform live was in the late 80′s in Las Vegas.

• Peggy Alee, Yorktown, Virginia; Professional Entertainer. Peggy began singing Frank Sinatra songs in 1994, performing at nursing and senior centers at lunch time.  She has received many awards in the past several years, all related to her performance of Sinatra songs. Peggy has worked with renowned Big Band leader, Artie Shaw.  Peggy says Sinatra’s “style of music is my addiction. I simply can’t help it.”

• Billy Nanni, Binghamton, NY; Sales Supervisor for an Anheuser-Busch wholesaler. Billy started singing Sinatra songs as a child, winning second prize in a talent show at age 15 after singing “Don’t worry ’bout me.” As he puts it, “when my friends were listening to the Beatles I was singing Sinatra.” Billy has been singing in the Binghamton area for almost 20 years, mostly singing the music of Frank Sinatra.

• Norman Roy, Rossland, British Columbia; Business Owner/Building Contractor. Norman has been singing for many years, entertaining in pubs, wine festivals, charity functions and special events.  Ten years ago, someone suggested he sing Sinatra tunes. Norman took their advice and has been singing Sinatra songs ever since.  He also performs a country western act and is an Elvis tribute artist, performing at Elvis festivals sanctioned by Graceland.  “My passions is singing the standards I have entertained audiences with throughout the years – I love to sing.”

• Joseph Settineri, also known as “Danny Satin”, Staten Island, NY; Worked in finance and accounting for the last thirty-five years. About seven years ago, he started writing a novel about a down-on-his-luck singer, who almost made it to the top during the 40s & 50s. While writing his novel, in order to truly understand his main character, he wanted to experience what it felt like to sing in front of an audience & found that he loved doing it!  “I’ve accomplished a lot in the last five years: writing the book, creating and performing a show, and self-producing a CD.”

• Dennis Teza, New Jersey-based Professional Entertainer. Dennis has been singing Sinatra tunes for over 40 years, at parties, weddings, local restaurants and clubs.  Since childhood, Dennis sang and studied the vocals of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. More recently, he trained with Lori Blois at the Blois Vocal Studio.  He performs over 35 Sinatra songs while incorporating the unique phrasing of different arrangements (Riddle, Jenkins, Basie & Jones). Dennis and his singing partner, Alisa Cornwell, have been performing in NJ restaurants and clubs over the past 9 years.

• James Young, Columbia, PA. Retired police detective. James began singing Sinatra tunes on a dare at a club in 1997, having never sung a note before.  After he sang “New York, New York,” people ran up to him, saying, “You sound great!”  Although he said they were crazy, he kept with it and became a Sinatra style singer.  He has been performing his Sinatra tribute show since 2004.

• Miguel Angel Vallejo Vizcarra, Veracruz, Mexico. Professor, Language Department, University of Veracruz and a freelance translator. Miguel loves singing and is a lifelong Sinatra fan.  He performs vocals in a small band called BlueStation made up of young talented students from his university.  Their first performance was a Sinatra tribute.

• Rick Valiant, Vancouver, BC; Sales Consultant and Professional entertainer. Rick has been paying tribute to Frank Sinatra for the past five years, performing at corporate conventions, seniors’ homes, charity functions, as well as Casinos in Vancouver. He has attended the Tribute Artist and Impersonator Convention, performing in the Golden Nugget Casino and on the Freemont Street Stage in Las Vegas. Rick also performs in Vancouver theatres with his own nine-piece orchestra, and continues to bring back the Big Band sound, keeping Frank Sinatra’s music alive in Canada and beyond.

Last year’s winner, James Anthony, will be on hand to sing a few songs and pass the trophy to the 2013 winner. James is an Operations Manager at a digital graphic/sign facility and lives in Bristow, VA. Growing up in Las Vegas during the 70′s offered wonderful memories, from watching performances by Rat Pack members, to hearing Elvis. James started singing in his high school choir; during the 80′s, he became a harmonist/percussionist. He left the music industry for a while to help raise a family, but returned in 2006, when he recorded a CD of Sinatra songs in different styles. “Frank Sinatra’s way of singing brings joy to me and I do my best to share that love of singing with others.”

Thanks to the event’s sponsors: Muller Insurance, Carlos Bakery, Little Town NJ & Stan’s Sports Center for their generous support.

Thanks to the following local businesses for donating such fabulous prizes: W. Kodak Jewelers, Arthur’s Tavern,  Dino & Harry’s Steakhouse, Trinity, The Madison, Empire Coffee & Tea Co., Jos. A Banks, Leo’s Grandevous, Cafe Michelina, Body Balance, Massage Envy Spa, Hoboken Dive Center, Hoboken Golf, Carpe Diem Pub & Restaurant, Sedona, Wicked Wolf, Ali Baba, Vicki’s Jewelers, Tunes, Hoboken Man, Ali Baba Restaurant, Zafra, Three A’s Bar & Grill, Hoboken Cigars, Lepores Chocolates, Teak on the Hudson, and Onieals Restaurant.

For more information call 201-420-2207.