Sinatra tribute opens windows for former NE crooner
by Michael Kraft, reporter

    Although Frank Sinatra died three years ago, he has been immortalized through numerous tribute albums.

    The most recent Sinatra tribute, Let’s Swing … A Ding-Ding was released by Ken Nelson, a local entertainer and former TCC student.

    With the release of this album, Nelson joins a select and famous group of singers who have released Sinatra tributes including Tony Bennet, Barry Manilow and Harry Connick Jr.

    Nelson attended TCC in the mid-80s and performed shows directed by Stacy Schronk, associate professor of drama, in the theatre.

    After leaving college, Nelson became involved in the Starlight Summer Musical program in conjunction with TCC and the Euless parks service.

    There he worked as an associate producer/director for such shows as Oklahoma and The Music Man, in which he played Harold Hill.

    “I was in a unique position as I worked as a go-between for Marion Nesvadba, assistant professor of music, and Rick Harold, the director of Parks and Leisure Services for Euless,” he said.

    Nelson was also working as an entertainer in the area in theatre and music as well as teaching acting at KD Studios for 11 years.

    All this time though, an interest in Sinatra and his music was with him.

    “My parents would play his records all the time, and I think that part of the appeal is the timelessness of the songs,” he said.

    In 1995 he received a phone call from Gary Lee, the leader of the Gary Lee Orchestra, who asked him to replace the band’s recently dismissed vocalist. The orchestra features TCC’s Jack Cobb, associate professor of music, as trombonist.

    “It was a great example of right place, right time,” he said.

Nelson has been touring with the orchestra performing at senior centers, for local events and recently at the Miss Senior Texas Pageant.

    One of the best things he sees is the reaction of young people to the music.

    “Sure, you see the older people getting into it, tapping their feet or dancing. But you also see the young people, the teenagers and people in their 20s, and they are enjoying it as much as the older people,” he said.

    “It’s infectious; it’s timeless; it’s fun, and it’s bridging generations. Kids and parents who may disagree on many things can agree that this is good music. It doesn’t matter that it’s 50 years old,” he said.

    Nelson will perform at Borders off Chapel Hill in Dallas Saturday, May 12, 2-4 p.m. to promote his album and to

mark the third anniversary of Sinatra’s death in May 1998.
    “The unique thing about Sinatra’s music is its staying power. It’s interesting to see the effect that one man had on so many people,” he said.

    All proceeds from the sale of Nelson’s album go to the Frank Sinatra Foundation, which donates money to various charities, hospitals and shelters all over the country.

    “I’m not in this for money,” he said. “It’s about music and fun and people and a heartfelt thanks to Frank Sinatra for everything he gave us.”

    Nelson thoroughly enjoyed his time at TCC and said he owes much of his success today to the college and its faculty.

    “The college is very community oriented. Jack Cobb, Stacy Schronk and others are not just teachers but are out in the community working in their fields, getting experience and passing it along to students,” he said. “They actually practice what they preach; they don’t just get it from books.”

    Nelson is teaching acting at Theatre Arlington now with former TCC classmate B.J. Cleveland and said that being a teacher is “very respectable as far as an occupation, but oddly, not respected in how they are compensated.”

    Something he learned at TCC and tries to pass on to his acting students is a dose of reality.

    “Having your dreams and goals is great, and you should strive for them,” he said.

    “But you must have the talent, the drive and know the right people. I tell my students, ‘You may become a famous actor or musician or whatever, but you may just wind up a teacher.’”

    Nelson also belongs to a society of proffessional singers.

    The album, Let’s Swing ... a Ding-Ding, will be about the same cost as other albums and is available as a CD or cassette.

    This album is Nelson’s debut in the world of music.

    His album is available at Barnes and Noble, Borders and Virgin Megastores.