Legends of the 50's and 60's Stars Paul Fracassi Gary R. Beck - Beck's Best | |
December 10, 2015 |
Returning to Act II Entertainment after a super successful run last 2014-15 season in a tribute to The 4 Seasons, which will be repeated often here, too, Paul Fracassi presents a new show featuring well-known great hits of the 1950's and 1960's. This was a super time in music history.
He is an accomplished singer who recently added two notes to his vocal range and is a fine dancer. The way he twists, bends, swoops and bows all over the stage is entrancing. Paul is an Entertainer with a capital E. He engaged us immediately with a rocking classic "La Bamba" made famous by Ritchie Valens. He whipped back and forth, hair falling over his forehead and eyes dramatically. Then he ends with a striking sideways pose.
From his "Walk Like a Man" show here, he brought forth "Sherry", one the 4 Seasons [lead Frankie Valli] biggest and well-known hits from 1962. He reaches the high notes with his pitch perfect falsetto, sounding exactly as if Frankie were here on stage singing as fifty years ago, not an easy feat. His version and arrangement of fondly remembered "Let It Be Me" demonstrated to any doubters that he is indeed a star. It was fantastic with his voice cradling the lyrics mixing with the melody.
We reminisced with many tunes and younger people present reveled in their new discoveries so important in the history of modern music: Rock 'n' Roll and Pop. Paul educates the theatergoers with the men whom he selected whose songs molded the future, unbeknownst to them at the time. It was certain that Paul was born to sing, to entertain and bring absolute joy into our lives. In addition to his terrific vocal abilities, he plays guitar as he danced over the stage.
Needless to say, legendary Frank Sinatra had to be included in this exploration of legendary singers of the 1950's and 1960's. "New York, New York" brought cheers from the crowd who admired his verve and striking, effective stage presence. He uses wisely his vocals, twisting and turning to swerve, build, then descend. A highlight was his rendition of Bobby Darin's "Mack the Knife". He knows how to weave and swing, then build up to a final crescendo.
Elvis Presley bounced onstage with Paul wearing a white jumpsuit with cords and beads hanging from it. He jolted the audience with rousing huge hits from his catalogue. "My Way" was sung richly and resolutely. Regrets, I've had a few...not for his viewers of this knockout performance. Paul sings "The record shows I took the blows but did it my way". He certainly did and we who were in awe realized this is one Performer, one Entertainer.
I could not envision a better way to end this show, for now, than "You'll Never Walk Alone" which he puts his all into the words and the arrangement of his vocal strengths. A sad goodbye, but a perfect song production, until next time.
Paul will continue to demonstrate his vocal prowess every Sunday at 7:30 pm in the Red Room of Act II Entertainment until the end of March, 2016 in Puerto Vallarta and said he will be ever-changing his songbook so each return visit will feature songs not heard every night.
For tickets, stop by the Act II Box Office at the corner of Basilio Badillo and Insurgentes in Old Town Vallarta which opens daily at 11:00 am, telephone is (322) 222-1512 or purchase tickets online at Vallarta Tickets.
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