Sinatra Sizzles Into Summer Concert Series with the Pops

COURT HOUSE – Linda Gentille & The Jersey Shore Pops are proud to announce the return of Canadian singing sensation Claude Eric for their summer concert series. Eric will star in “Sinatra Sizzles” July 19 at the Middle Township Performing Arts Center. This show is expected to sell out and be one of the highlights of the popular summer concert series at the PAC. This show will feature all of Sinatra’s greatest hits including: My Way, New York New York, The Summer Wind, Come Fly with Me, Fly Me to the Moon, along with many other hits of the Chairman of the Board.
Claude-Eric, one of the most popular cruise entertainers on Princess Cruises, was born in Montréal, Canada. The youngest of four children, he and his family were exposed to the cultures of Guinea, Algeria and Zaire, all African countries where they followed their father, whom was working as an engineer for several mining companies. A happy young boy, Claude-Eric was always singing and his mother use to record him and send tapes back to Canada where the extended family still had residence.
His vocal training began after high school with four years of private lessons in both classical and pop techniques at the School of Prochant Montréal, Les Ateliers de la Voix in Montréal and a private teacher Quebec City.
He then was offered his first professional show; “The Elvis Story”, which premiered in Quebec City, in the summer of 1995, toured to Toronto, Canada, and Biloxi, MI. He ended a contract as headliner on the MV Regal Empress and later joined Holland America Cruises, where the cruise line had a show specifically written for him. The MV Zuiderdam was his home for a few months and he then took part in the maiden voyage of the MV Westerdam. For the last five year, Claude-Eric has worked on many cruise lines as a popular Guest Entertainer, including Princess, Celebrity, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Cunard, SilverSea, and Regent, While performing in different venues around Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Conductor of the Jersey Shore Pops, Linda Gentille first met Claude while both were headline performers on Princess Cruises. She was so impressed with his show and talent that she immediately invited him to perform with the orchestra in 2012 for the first time. Gentille comments, “I knew the minute I saw the audience reaction to Claude Eric’s show that he was a fabulous entertainer as well as singer and would appeal to our audience as well. Claude also has fans across the country who come to see him here at the Jersey Shore now. He has created a fan base all over the country which is a tremendous marketing asset for a performer.
The Jersey Shore Pops 2014 Summer Concert Series will continue with two more concerts in August.
Aug. 9, at 7:00 p.m.: Broadway on Tap
Aug. 23 at 7:00 p.m.: Great Balls of Fire, Legends of Piano
The Jersey Shore Pops is a big band orchestra with string section, modeled after the orchestras of the Frank Sinatra era which featured a string section along with the bid band sounds. The orchestra was founded by entertainer and conductor Linda Gentille in 2009. The orchestra features 25 of the finest New Jersey musicians either born or based in New Jersey and has become the most popular orchestra at the shore and an attraction for tourists from all over the east coast for the past 5 years. Many Philly Pops fans patronize the Jersey Shore Pops Summer Concert Series when the Philly Pops is on vacation during the summer months.
The assistant music director for the orchestra is John Drechen, Band Director at Lower Cape May Regional High School for many years. Since 1994, he has been the Pit Conductor for musicals at Lower Cape May Regional High School, conducting for 12 musicals, including; “Funny Girl”, “Bye, Bye, Birdie”, “Sweet Charity”, and several others. Assistant musical arranger for the orchestra is Clifford Buggs, renowned trumpet soloist and former leader of the Coast Guard Band in Cape May. The concert mistress for the 2014 season is once again Susan Elsayed. Before becoming the principal concert mistress for the Jersey Shore Pops, Elsayed had an impressive performing resume. Elsayed studied with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and earned her violin performance Bachelor`s Degree from The Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts. She was the Concertmistress of the Ocean City Pops during the 80`s under the leadership of Frank Ruggieri and currently is also violinist with the Masterworks Choir/Ensemble . Elsayed has performed as a principal violinist in the main show rooms of the casinos for such headliners as Frank Sinatra, Josh Groban. Andrea Bocelli and Tony Bennett and many other stars.
Other talented members of the pops orchestra are: Angela Guido, Ted Blohm and Jim Tangney (Trombone), Paul Butler, Cindy Yenloevich , Christopher Kobik, Paul Butler, Gene Teece, Brian Height and Walter Palmer (Sax, Clarinet and Flute) , Dominic Scalfaro ( Trumpet) Susanne Di Vincenzo, Briana Saddler, Heain Kim, Emily Ip ( Cello) Sandy Miller, Susan Elsayed, Amina Elsayed, Mary Jo Zahradnik, Elizabeth Maxfield, Sara Smith (Violins) Karen Kessler ( Viola) Ray Deeley and Sandy Eldred and Jim Hines (Bass).
This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The funds were administered by the Cape May County Culture and Heritage Commission, under the authority of the County Library Commission, for the Board of Chosen Freeholders. This program is also made possible by generous support from our sponsors: The Avalon Golf Course, The McMahon Agency, Doug Heun, Friedman L.L.P, Shore Veterinarians and The Jessie Creek Winery.
Tickets for this concert start at $22 for a group rate of 20 or more people, and $25-$40 for orchestra and balcony seating. To purchase tickets to Sinatra Sizzles, please call the JSP Ticket Office at 800-838-3006 or 609-628-4544. You can choose your own seats online by going to www.JerseyShorePops.org. Walk up sales are available M-F from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the PAC. The theater is located at 212 Bayberry Ave, off exit 10 off the Garden State Parkway. There is convenient and free parking at the facility.