Frankly Singing

Whatever you say, don't label Connecticut-born crooner Steve Lippia as an impersonator when he takes the stage tonight with the Cleveland Pops for Simply Sinatra. Just because he's an "East Coast Italian guy" doesn't make him a Sinatra wannabe. "I actually would be insulted. I don't put on a fedora, pinkie ring, and talk like I'm from Joisey," says Lippia. "To me, an impersonator is like a really bad wig. You're better off without one because it's cheesy-looking."But in a program that consists of Sinatra standards like "The Lady Is a Tramp," "New York, New York," and "I Got You Under My Skin," he sounds like the real deal. To Lippia, the tunes have remained classics because they're multi-generational staples. A glance at a karaoke-bar songbook makes his point. "You see a half-page of Bobby Darin, two pages of Elvis, and eight pages of Sinatra," says Lippia. "It's not the karaoke people shoving it down your throat. That's what the public wants, and that's what they want to sing." The concert starts at 8 tonight at Severance Hall, 11001 Euclid Avenue. Tickets are $24 to $50. Call 216-231-7300 or visit www.clevelandorchestra.com.
Sat., March 29, 8 p.m., 2008