As a kid, I’d go to Mario’s Barber Shop in Bloomfield. On his wall were pictures of the Pope and Frank Sinatra. Mr. Sinatra’s picture hung higher. My dad played his music, but he stressed to me how important he was for italian-Americans. I was into Jimi Hendrix and the Stones, but when I started doing my Sinatra characterization on Saturday Night Live, I connected with him. I appreciated the Jersey in his voice, the character and passion in his “guy’s guy” voice. When I do him now, it’s like my dad is next to me. The older I get, when I sing “Summer Wind,” the more it means.
Mr. Sinatra also had a wicked sense of humor. Vincent Falcone, who worked with him for many years, is my musical mentor. He was in Francis Albert’s dressing room when Mr. Sinatra first saw me do him. He was going on for the late show at Resorts, and I am on his dressing room TV doing my best “Frank.” Everybody froze. They were afraid he’d be upset. Vinny says, “What do you think, Captain? “Pretty good,” Mr. S. says. “The little prick.” And starts laughing. He slapped cease-and-desist orders on 50 guys who did him, but left me alone. Right after that, he started referring to me as “The Vice Chairman of the Board.”
(“Joe Piscopo’s Sinatra Birthday Bash” will be held Dec. 12 in Red Bank; visit countbasietheatre.org for more information.)