‘Direct From Vegas! A Salute to Sinatra’ Channels Ol’ Blue Eyes

John Turner

“Swing, baby, you’re platinum.” That phrase, one of Frank Sinatra’s most iconic and often-used, will surely be heard on the afternoon of Sunday, February 28 during “Direct From Vegas! A Salute to Sinatra,” a one-day-only performance presented at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. The show, which will take place in the 394-seat Scherr Forum Theatre, will feature the stylings of Gary Anthony. Considered the world’s foremost Frank Sinatra impressionist, Anthony will perform many of Sinatra’s hits and give commentary between numbers that will give attendees the temporary impression that they’re seeing (and hearing) Ol’ Blue Eyes himself.

Anthony has toured around the world as a Sinatra impressionist and regularly performs gigs accompanied by a big band at Las Vegas showrooms. His numerous TV appearances include a live 90-minute performance at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood for AXS TV’s “The World’s Greatest Tribute Bands,” a show featuring musical impressionists in March 2015.

In an interview posted on the AXS TV website, Anthony said that he was practically born to play Frank Sinatra. Growing up in Los Angeles, CA, he said, his father was a bandleader so he got to spend time around music greats like Count Basie, Danny Thomas and Harry James. As a teen, he and his siblings performed music at swanky Beverly Hills parties for the likes of Zsa Zsa Gabor and other A-list celebrities. And while he never had the opportunity to meet Frank in person – as few people did, for that matter – he was drawn to Sinatra and his music from an early age. “I grew up with that music,” he said. “And when you grow up with the music you pretty much live it. The lyrics, the writers who wrote these songs had everything to do with love and life and hurts and pains… I said early on, ‘That’s my music right there.’”

For “Direct From Vegas! A Salute to Sinatra,” Anthony will take the audience through highlights of Sinatra’s musical career with performances of “New York, New York,” “Mack the Knife,” “My Way” and “It Was a Very Good Year,” among others. And anyone who witnesses Anthony’s tribute will likely agree with another Ol’ Blue Eyes maxim: “Ya gotta love livin’, baby.”

“Direct From Vegas! A Salute to Sinatra is at the Scherr Forum Theatre at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza at 3 p.m. on Feb. 28. To purchase tickets visit this Ticketmaster page.