Frank Sinatra comparisons in stride

Singer Steve Lippia takes Frank Sinatra comparisons in stride

In previous seasons, the Louisville Orchestra has focused the music in its opening concert on classical repertoire. This season, the lineup is a bit different, with part of the evening featuring singer Steve Lippia, who sang with the orchestra in early 2011.

This time, Lippia is back to be part of a celebration of Bob Bernhardt’s 30th anniversary with the orchestra. Lippia, whose voice is often compared to Frank Sinatra’s, talked recently about how he got into singing, launched his professional career and interprets how people compare him to Sinatra.

What did you sing when you were growing up?

I sang in glee clubs and choruses and then was into music that my peers were into, rock ’n’ roll. But I sang a lot of liturgical and classical music in the church choir, and I went to a Catholic high school with a very robust choral program.

We sang contemporary music, but it was mostly Bach and Mozart and contemporary classical artists. I think it was good for me from ear-training, and being confident in one area of music can always help in another. Singing classical music requires a certain technique and that helped me, even though I never really studied music professionally. It was a good foundation for me.

When was the first time you sang solo onstage?

I did some solos with the chorus, but my junior year I performed in the school variety show. Until then I had been singing choral or rock music, but had decided to sing an American standard. I got a great response. It was 1973. My friends were shocked because I was more known as an athlete. I also got a great write-up in the local newspaper.

When do you remember first becoming aware of music known as the American songbook?

I was always aware of it because my mother was a professional singer for a few years before she met my dad. She still sang that music around the house, and so it was always there. It was good music, I thought. I wasn’t really in this musical family, but even when I was 2 or 3, she would teach me some of these songs. So, I’d sometimes be walking around the house, snapping my fingers and singing Bobby Darin tunes.