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"Frank Stallone's In Love In Vain is a knockout," says Tony Bennett. "It's the kind of singing that I love to hear and be around," he adds. Legendary crooner Frankie Laine exclaims, "Having heard Frank Stallone's album, I can only say he's on his way to doing great musical things." As the late-great four-time Academy Award winning songwriter Sammy Cahn once said of Frank's big band style, "...matching Frank's great singing with great songs...results in amazing music...I just think Frank's one of the best." What these musical icons are referring to is Frank Stallone's masterful style and new album release In Love In Vain. Bringing back all of the glory the American Songbook/Big Band recordings, Stallone's In Love In Vain is an exquisite collection of tunes that exudes what Grammy winning arranger & conductor Billy May, who has recorded with Stallone, feels about Stallone's vocal style: "When I had the opportunity to work with Frank in the studio, I felt that same excitement that I got in 1958 from another Frank (Sinatra), or in 1953 from Nat Cole." Recorded live in the studio with the internationally acclaimed Sammy Nestico and his orchestra, In Love In Vain, is a labor of love for the Grammy and Golden Globe nominated artist. Stallone has been everything from a street singer, to a rock singer, to now, a keeper of the American Songbook. Frank has also composed & published more than 200 of his own songs. Stallone's journey has been an impressive one. "I fell in love with music when I was five years old," remembers Frank. "Like many others in the business, the first time I heard Elvis and the Beatles, that sealed my fate. Right then, I knew that I wanted a career in music." At a young age, the Maryland-born, Philadelphia-raised native pursued his musical ambitions, forming a series of bands in high school, and turned professional at 15, performing in clubs with such acts as Bonnie Raitt, Ten Years After, and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Frank's longest-lasting band, Valentine, on one of the early installments, included lead guitarist John Oates, of Hall & Oates. Frank eventually landed in New York, where he performed on street corners and made the rounds, performing at coffee houses in Greenwich Village just to make ends meet. "Some nights it was so cold, that my guitar strings froze, and my fingers wouldn't move. All I owned was the guitar on my back, and a dufflebag for my clothes. If I was lucky, I made five dollars a night. Frank recalls, "One night I was standing on Third Avenue playing my guitar, when this big Irish policeman came strolling by, and stopped to listen to my playing. When I was done, he politely handed me a ticket for disturbing the peace, while at the same time telling me how much he liked my voice. I wish I still had that ticket," continues Frank. Frank's musical ambitions were paralleled by his brother, Sylvester Stallone's acting ambitions, who was performing in off-Broadway shows when he had the chance. The two decided to join forces and became ushers at the little Carnegie Theatre, in which, they were unceremoniously ushered (no pun intended) out of their employment, because they were wearing improper attire, namely cowboy boots with their tuxedos - those being the only shoes they had. It was when Sylvester moved to California to begin a film career, that the two brothers' worlds really came together again, affording Frank his first big break into the mainstream. Sylvester's low-budget film, that happened to transform into one of the most successful and enduring movies in motion picture history, needed a group of street corner singers - that movie was "Rocky." "The only reason why I got the part wasn't because of nepotism...I was the only musician he knew (and I worked cheap). So I asked my band, Valentine, if they would be willing to give up our $100 a night gig at The White Horse Bowling Academy in Trenton, New Jersey," laughs Frank. He continues, "they debated on whether or not it was worth losing a night's pay!" Frank's a-capella, self-penned song, Take You Back, resulted in becoming one of the film's most unforgettable street corner scenes. Valentine, which was signed to RCA a year before the "Rocky" release, included Take You Back on the self-titled debut album when it was released in 1976. The band lasted for 10 years, when Frank finally decided to move to California to be with his brother. It was there, that he coincidentally moved next door to his musical idol, the late two-time Grammy Award winner Harry Nilsson. "I not only got to meet Harry, but we became great friends," smiles Frank. A dream came true for Frank when the duo collaborated on the Joni Mitchell classic, Case Of You, in which Frank sang, and Nilsson produced. Released on Scotti Brothers Records in 1980, the single garnered great acclaim, and reached the Top 100 at #67 on the Billboard charts. Frank continued to write and record compositions for seven films, including his brother's "Rocky II" & "III," "Rambo II," "Paradise Alley" and "Over The Top." Frank also wrote and recorded 11 songs for the soundtrack and film "Staying Alive," which gained the respect from his industry peers and critics alike when he received a 1983 Golden Globe nomination for "Best Soundtrack"; and Grammy nomination for "Best Original Song," with his single, Far From Over. Far From Over became a massive Top 10 hit on Billboard, and stayed on the charts for more than four months. In 1984, Frank signed with Polydor Records as a solo artist, and released his self-titled debut, spawning the hit single, Darlin.' Frank's versatility as an entertainer soon led to acting roles, in which he further carved out a second career to his name. Over the course of the last two decades, Frank has acted in more than 50 films, including "Tombstone," "Hudson Hawk," "Staying Alive," and many others. One of his most memorable on-screen appearances was his role as Eddie the bartender in "Barfly," which gave rise to serious consideration for Frank for an Academy Award nomination, and won the acclaim of renowned film critic Roger Ebert of the "Chicago Sun Times": "Barfly is a terrific film that features an outstanding performance by Frank Stallone...he's both captivating and terrifying at the same time!" In 1999, Frank went back into the studio to record the rock-influenced Full Circle, followed by Frankie And Billy, a recording with Billy May. He simultaneously released Stallone On Stallone, a compilation of Frank's recorded movie and film soundtrack tunes, in addition to three songs from his first solo album, Frank Stallone. Frank also, over the last several years, has taken his love of the big band sound on the road, performing all around the world in concert halls from Los Angeles to London, where he has garnered critical acclaim from such publications as the "New York Times"..."One listen to Stallone's big band confirms the knock-out endorsements by Sammy Cahn and Tony Bennett"; and the "New York Daily News"..."He has the crowd enthralled." Check out the artist's website: http://boystowntheband.com Track List: 1. Day In Day Out 2. Witchcraft 3. I Wish I Were In Love Again 4. Beyond The Sea 5. One For My Baby 6. In Love In Vain 7. At Long Last Love 8. Spring Is Here 9. The Lonsome Road 10. But Beautiful 11. All Of You 12. Like Someone In Love Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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