Following a sold-out world premiere run at Neptune Theatre in March, the smash hit musical revue The Songs of The Rat Pack comes to Glace Bay this month. The show stars Nova Scotian singer/actor Geordie Brown, and pays tribute to the golden era of Las Vegas.
“After the incredible response we received in Halifax, I’m so happy to be taking this show on the road,” says Brown, who sings more than 25 songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. in under two hours. “It will be my first time performing in Pictou and Glace Bay. I’m thrilled.”
Brown, who conceived the show himself, is an award-winning singer, actor, director, and producer from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He is backed by four-piece band of acclaimed Nova Scotian musicians, featuring band-leader Lisa MacDougall on piano, Jamie Gatti on bass, Ken MacKay on saxophone, and Mike Carroll on drums.
Brown says audiences get more than just a concert. “At its core, it is not only music, but it’s the three men who made us all love the music”, says Brown. The performer will give a bit of a history lesson throughout the show.
“For instance, not many people know that Sammy Davis Jr.’s The Candy Man stole the No. 1 spot from Cat Stevens’ ‘Morning Has Broken’,” explains the 25-year-old.
The show ends with Dean Martin’s 1964 hit “You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You” — Brown’s grandmother’s favourite song.
“Dean Martin was her favourite member of the Rat Pack, and my grandfather even looked like Martin,” muses Brown, who is dedicating the performance to his grandmother, who died when he was 13.
“She passed away before I started to sing, but she was a huge fan of my piano playing. She encouraged me to play jazz standards from the Great American Songbook. Her favourite member of the Rat Pack was Dean Martin so he became my favourite too.”
Brown also recorded a live album during the shows in Halifax, which is being released this month and will be on sale at the deCoste and the Savoy. “It’s amazing how much of the excitement of the show we were able to capture”, comments Brown, who is coining the album as his debut record.
“The Songs of The Rat Pack” is presented by Off The Leash Creative and plays the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay on April 29th at 7pm. Tickets are $34.50.