The Album the Music Industry Has Been Practically Begging For (For 25 Years) “Frank Songs, My Way” a Swinging Frank Sinatra Tribute By Chicago Crooner Frank Lamphere, Is Set For Release
Available on Valentine’s Day 2025, traditional pop singer Lamphere’s album of entirely different versions of Frank Sinatra recorded standards, is bound to leave a long-lasting impression on the beloved genre.
Chicago, IL. December 31, 2024 – Traditional pop singer Frank Lamphere (LAM-fear) on February
14, 2025, will release a new album “Frank Songs, My Way” (more than three years in the making).
The recording is a new high point in a music career that has included four studio albums and
thousands of performances across the US.
Not a pure jazz album, nor the too common Frank Sinatra “copycat” record, but Lamphere’s
original brand of Rat Pack Jazz (A musical “bridge” connecting pop & jazz) Lamphere understands
and agrees with many Sinatra aficionados, that “Frank” is a genre, all its own. “Hey, what are you
listening to?” Response “Listening to some Frank”. This project, began with the premise that
nobody could equal, let alone surpass the quality of Frank Sinatra’s beloved recordings. To not
invite comparisons, this Frank, took a group of mostly well-known “Frank Songs” and along with
his top-notch musical colleagues, crafted fresh interpretations for them. Author- jazz historian
Scott Yanow wrote "He avoids copying him and, while many of these standards are closely
associated with Sinatra, Lamphere comes up with fresh interpretations that uplift the material"
My Way is the album’s opening track and is like no previous version. Unlike the Sinatra hit, this
version is a finger-snapping, mid-tempo swinger, with trumpet and sax. Similarly, Fly Me To The
Moon, bears little resemblance to the iconic Sinatra version. It was recorded as an uptempo jazz
waltz and features solos by former Count Basie Band saxman Eric Schneider and acclaimed
pianist Jeremy Kahn. Stellar guitarist Dan McIntyre who worked for Frank Sinatra Jr and currently
on tour with Mark Tremonti, plays on all but one track. On That’s Life, The Shadow Of Your Smile
and others, McIntyre demonstrates why he is a first-call guitarist in this setting. Other tracks
include a bluesy Drinking Again, a brief Count Basie-like I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Strangers In
the Night becomes a late-night ballad and a fast-paced version of Just In Time.
Lamphere has made a career of performing pop music from the generation before his own. Frank
states “Even though I listened to the Top 40 as a kid, for whatever reason, from about sixth grade
on, this became my music”. He also readily admits that had he recorded this album earlier in his
career, he may not have been capable of doing “much” that hadn’t already been done with these
popular songs. Lamphere’s signature swinging style is abundant on these melodies. His vocal
lines are crisp, strong and imbue a sense of realness. The album was made primarily over two
sessions at Crystall Recorders Studio in October of 2021. The time was right! In fact, Chicago
Jazz Magazine writes “This could be one of the best Frank Sinatra tribute albums ever”
Lamphere’s music brand Rat Pack Jazz, was conceived in the early 2000s. In addition to the
music business, he is a successful deck builder-contractor. He started his A-Affordable Decks in
1992. Happily married, with a couple of children, his music career highlights include four studio
albums (the latest Now THAT’S Amore! in 2023), steadies at top jazz clubs in Chicago, headlining
numerous Rat Pack tributes and Italian fests across the country, corporate gigs from Las Vegas to
New York. Lamphere’s original song I Never Forgot from his 2012 CD “Frank Swings” was
featured prominently in the award-winning film Theresa Is a Mother. Prolific in the recording studio
over the last several years, Frank has been utilizing the great jazz talent in Chicago and has
recorded two more albums, one of these dedicated to the songs of Dean Martin. Lamphere is
available for musical performance nationwide.
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