Kingsville man 'His Sinatra' nominated for best tribute artist at Nashville award show
A Kingsville man has been nominated for the title of Tribute Artist of the Year at the Josie Music Awards for his remarkable renditions of Frank Sinatra's iconic songs.
"I've always been attracted to really good ballads and very emotional pieces, songs that had very well-put-together lyrics where you could express yourself with a little bit of feeling. Sinatra did that very well," said Rick Stephenson.
As a performer, Stephenson goes by the stage name "His Sinatra."
Stephenson fell in love with big band music as a child, listening to his grandparent's records.
At just 15-years-old, he found himself leading a big band before completing his training at Toronto's Humber College under the mentorship of Order of Canada Recipient Ron Collier.
Stephenson graduated with honours in trombone performance.
"I started by playing drums in a polka band so I could eat. I transitioned into the Tommy-Dorsey trombone style and then the Frank Sinatra thing all melded together for me," he said. "I started singing and it went over very well. People were happy to hear the Sinatra-type style so I continued doing that. Lo and behold, it's been 40 years."
Stephenson believes that while he may not sound exactly like Sinatra, his approach, presentation and emotional connection to the songs are very similar.
"I try to be a part of that song. If I'm singing about somebody who's been heartbroken, I think about times when I was heartbroken and convey it much like an actor," he said.
The ninth annual Josie Music Awards, which aims to provide a platform for independent musicians to showcase their talent and gain recognition for their contributions to the music industry, takes place on October 22 in Nashville.
Stephenson is up against 14 other nominees in his category, including tribute artists for Kenny Rogers, Elvis Presley, and Aretha Franklin.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
China's latest EV is a 'connected' car from smart phone and electronics maker Xiaomi
Xiaomi, a well-known maker of smart consumer electronics in China, is joining the country's booming but crowded market for electric cars.