Frank Sinatra, of course, was known for his
blue eyes and while Rick Sonata's are most certainly brown, it is just the first of many signs this Tribute Artist is trying
to capture something deeper. Even in a crowded coffee shop it's easy to pick him out, with his uncanny resemblance to
the legendary crooner. Sure, Mr Sonata knows he could go for the schtick - wearing blue contact lenses and speaking
in a faux-Jersey accent -- but when he stepped on the stage at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto backed by 60 members of the Toronto
Symphony Orchestra, he offered something more authentic.
It all began at a friend's wedding when the
then 26-year old was coaxed onto the stage. He'd grown up surrounded by music and by the sounds of the crooners in particular,
but he'd never tried anything on stage before. "Back then I knew how to sing, but I was not a singer yet," he recalled.
"The bandleader told me how much I looked like Frank and sounded like Frank and maybe we can polish you up a bit." Within
a few years, Rick Sonata was doing weddings and other shows, playing with the band on weekends. It didn't take long
before he was ready to step into the spotlight.
In 1992, he made his first venture in the belly
of the beast, Las Vegas. "I was nervous but it was very, very exciting," he says. "It's a big door that opened
up. Now you're known as a Tribute Artist, the looks are there and the sound is there and the band is there." That
door led to a regular schedule of shows from corporate gigs to theatre performances and Rick Sonata was able to quit
his job as a Construction Site Supervisor.
Rick Sonata is meticulous in his efforts to
recreate Sinatra without aping him. Even his arrangements are done by professionals, lifted directly from Sinatra's
records. "I was not trying to be Sinatra at all," he says. Instead he was amazed, as he began to study the Chairman
of the Board, how easy it was to match up his own personality and style with Sinatra's. "The whole package just came
on its own; I'm not a wannabe," he says, stopping to laugh. "I dunno, maybe my mother had an affair in '56 in
Vegas."
In Las Vegas and Reno, Rick Sonata was able
to work with genuine showbiz legends such as Tony Bennett, Wayne Newton and Phyllis Diller. Overall his experience has
been positive and he was treated as one of them. "When I'm on stage, I try not to be Frank, but we have a lot of things
in common. I don't want to be known as an impersonator or a look-alike," he says. "When I'm dressed with the hat
and the suit on, it's like Frank is out there in 1968. Learn the songs, learn the repertoire, learn some moves, mannerisms
and then it all comes naturally."
In 2006 in addition to numerous successful
corporate shows, he was the headline entertainer at a high-profile and prestigious gala fundraisers that included the
Paediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), and Computers for Children. Also in the same year thrilled and delighted
audience with a series of concert performances backed by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
On May 4, 29007 Rick Sonata was the featured guest artist
at Toronto's illustrious Roy Thomson Hall and performed with select members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. A portion
of the funds generated by this prestigious event were donated to help benefit the Sick-Kids Foundation of Toronto.
When he's home, and not being Frank, he cooks, golf's and spends
as much time as possible with his family. Rick Sonata is on the road almost every weekend, performing about 150 gigs
a year. He has played everywhere from the dives on up but his eyes light up discussing the experience of being backed
by a large, skilled orchestra.
Mr Sonata has done a Toronto Symphony Orchestra
style show in Buffalo, NY and has gigs lined up with some of the continent's best orchestras. "This is another level
of the career. From the weddings to the Corporate to the Showrooms to the big bands and theatres...," he looks up and
tries to find the words to demonstrate the excitement of being backed by such a musical ensemble.
"It's beautiful...it's a thrill. I'm more
of a showman, I'm more of an entertainer." Rick Sonata says. And, it goes without saying, he's doing it his way.
