Monroe County Fair: Free Sinatra tribute show Monday

Jeff Grainger started singing Frank Sinatra’s songs when he was in college.

“I was an athlete (track and cross country), so I was used to ‘performing,’ so to speak. When I realized I could sing Sinatra-type music fairly well, I decided to give it a try,” Grainger of Frankenmuth said.

When his friends got married, Grainger sang Sinatra hits at their weddings.

“It wasn’t until many years later that I developed a repertoire of his songs,” Grainger said. “Then I started performing at an Italian restaurant near my residence in Miami, Florida. From there, it just snowballed.”

Today, when he’s not working at his family’s Frankenmuth News, Grainger travels with his Sinatra tribute show. On Monday, he's coming to the Monroe County Fair. Grainger and his trio will offer a free concert from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the white entertainment tent at the northeast corner of the fairgrounds.

“My trio consists of me with a bass player, drummer and keyboardist. We will be performing all the Sinatra and crooner favorites, including ‘Fly Me to the Moon,’ ‘Come Fly with Me,’ ‘That's Life,’ ‘That's Amore,’ to name a few,” Grainger said. “I always finish with ‘New York.'"

In addition to the trio, Grainger performs with Rat Pack, Elvis and Marilyn Monroe tribute artists. The performances take him all around the U.S.

“I travel across the country for shows, mostly Florida, since that’s where I got my start,” Grainger said. “I do anywhere from 35 to 50 shows a year, which include private events, festivals, concerts, restaurants, weddings and assisted-living centers. I perform for many types of occasions.”

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Grainger's Sinatra tribute is enjoyed by audiences.

“It's (usually) mostly an older crowd, 60-plus, but I've been surprised at some younger fans, too,” he said. “I've had great response, with comments like, ‘I thought it was a CD of Sinatra,’ or, ‘You sound and look and act just like Frank.’”

To reach Grainger, email miamicrooner@yahoo.com or visit www.miamicrooner.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County Fair: Free Sinatra tribute show Monday