An accident caused almost complete loss of movement and sensitivity in his right hand, but singer and pianist George Bugatti overcame being told he would never play again.
Lakeshore Community Concerts (formerly Northwest Indiana Concert Association) and Live On Stage Inc. present his “Portraits of America” show March 21 at Munster High School Auditorium.
“I’m very grateful. I have my limitations. I’m not competitive in the classical world any longer. That was my dream I had set out to do, to be a classical pianist and interpret classical works, but I didn’t have the facility I used to have,” said Bugatti via phone on the way to a Pennsylvania venue for a show.
“I have a measure of it back and I enjoy it so much.”
Bugatti pairs pop standards from the 1950s-1970s with images of landmarks for “Portraits of America,” which is based on an idea by his agent Eric Amada.
“I just love the concept, which is basically songs from all across the country – ‘Wichita Lineman,’ ‘Moonlight in Vermont,’ ‘Stars Fell on Alabama,’ ‘New York, New York’ – with fun facts and beautiful imagery on the screen about each location. It’s a musical travelogue,” he said.
“These are phenomenal compositions both musically and lyrically. Also, I was able to source some absolutely gorgeous images.”
Those images include the Empire State Building in New York, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.
Bugatti, who attended the High School of the Performing Arts and the Julliard School in New York, was discovered by the late Steve Allen while performing at the Peninsula Beverly Hills, California.
“I’ll never forget that. He was just such a musical man. A lot of people don’t realize that about him. Those that do, know that he created ‘The Tonight Show’ and he was a funny man, but he was also a prolific composer,” Bugatti said.
“‘This Could Be the Start of Something Big’ was one of his big hits. He gravitated toward the piano and he seemed to like what I was doing. Soon after he made me an offer to produce my first CD so that continues to be a highlight of my professional life.”
In addition to that “Oh, What a Night for Love” CD Bugatti has released “Bugatti Live on the Strip” on Paul Anka Productions and “A Night for Romance,” which was produced by Nigel Wright, former music director for the Fox TV show “American Idol.”
Bugatti, who has opened for comedy legend Don Rickles and Emmy-winning TV actor and comedian Brad Garrett, was among the entertainers real estate businessman Steve Wynn asked to launch the Bellagio resort in Las Vegas.
“He saw me at the Peninsula hotel and invited me originally for 30 days to open the hotel along with Michael Feinstein and John Pizzarelli. Then that 30 days turned into a two-year contact. I was very fortunate to see Vegas in that way,” Bugatti said.
“In Las Vegas there’s a true closeness to the entertainment community. People support and love each other. It’s a warm feeling to be an entertainer in Las Vegas and be a part of that community.”
Performing at the Peninsula Beverly Hills also led Bugatti to connecting with legendary singer Tony Bennett.
“He was always very kind to me. He would stop in and say hello,” said Bugatti, who is performing with Bennett’s daughter Antonia on May 19 at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas.
“We developed a friendship that encompassed him giving advice on how to approach songs. Then one evening he invited me to a show that he was doing in California and, out of the blue, he invited me up on stage to sing with him, which was a complete surprise.”
In addition to performing “Portraits of America,” Bugatti is working on presenting additional dates of the musical “The Wonderful Wizard of Song: The Music of Harold Arlen,” which he co-created with Sam Arlen, son of the late composer known for writing the songs for the film “The Wizard of Oz.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
‘Portraits of America’
When: 7 p.m. March 21
Where: Munster High School Auditorium, 8800 Columbia Ave., Munster
Tickets: $30 adults; $10 family add-on
Information: 219-923-7879 (Christine Small), www.lakeshoreconcerts.org or www.georgebugatti.com
Etc.: starring George Bugatti; presented by Lakeshore Community Concerts (formerly Northwest Indiana Concert Association) and Live On Stage Inc
