Stepping Out

Saluting Ol' Blue Eyes

SNL alum Joe Piscopo joins Nassau Pops for its annual benefit concert

Posted

The ever-dynamic Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra joins in this year’s celebration of Frank Sinatra’s centennial as it gets ready for its annual concert to benefit United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau (UCPN). For this, the orchestra’s 12th concert in support of the vital agency, Music Director Louis Panacciulli, welcomes Joe Piscopo to the stage, at Tilles Center, on Sunday, Oct. 25.
It is sure to be a humorous afternoon of music with this very special guest.
Most everyone remembers Piscopo from his SNL days. What many may not know is that in addition to being one of America’s beloved funny guys, Piscopo is also an accomplished pianist, guitarist and singer — specializing in the music made popular by Sinatra. Piscopo’s career has taken him from TV to the movies and the Broadway stage, along with the performing stages of Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and now radio. Since February 2014, he has been the host of “The Answer,” a morning talk show on AM970.
On top of this, Piscopo always finds time to help various charities. “Joe always does a lot of charity work and is quite a personality,” says Panacciulli. “He’s got a great voice and a great take on Frank. He has a lot of Frank’s demeanor and style. His performance is more like a tribute than an impersonation.”
Piscopo first appeared with the Nassau Pops in 2009. “He did a great job with Frank’s songs then and we were eager to have him return,” Panacciulli says. “Last year he was very helpful to us by promoting the concert on his radio show and we decided then we’d like to bring him back.”
With new orchestral arrangements created for the Nassau Pops, the orchestra will vibrantly enhance the existing versions of Sinatra’s hits. “We had special arrangements done, expanded versions for an entire symphony,” Panacuilli adds. “Frank sang with jazz bands most of the time. So for this concert, we added five saxes and expanded our horn section. The arrangements are quite unique but very authentic.”
As always, the 60-plus member Nassau Pops opens the concert in its inimitable style. “Frank did a lot of work with different composers, such as [Duke] Ellington and [Cole] Porter,” Panacciulli notes. In true Sinatra style. the orchestra sets the tone for what is to come with a jazzy, brassy prelude. Panacciulli will lead his group through a medley of selections from “Sophisticated Ladies,” the jazz standard “Autumn Leaves” and some Cole Porter tunes.
Creation, the four-person ensemble who participate in UCPN’s Adult Day Treatment Program, will join the orchestra to close the first half of the concert. NPSO’s yearly benefit concerts are never complete without an appearance by this ensemble, which has been participating annually since 2004. They’ll sing “Sinatra’s “Young at Heart” and “High Hopes,” along with John Legend’s hit “All of Me.” Panacciulli will join in with the Creation singers for “High Hopes,” noting that he sang with them at a previous concert and “we got a great response, so we thought it was time to do it again.”
“They have grown up with us,” says Panacciuilli, of the ensemble’s members, who are now in their 30s. “The first time they performed with us was the first time they had ever appeared on a stage. They were inexperienced and had never sang before in front of such a large audience. It was tricky for them. They have progressed so much musically and personally since then. They have evolved and grown into quite good performers. They truly sing from their hearts and the audience response has been overwhelming. They always get a standing ovation.”
And for Panacciulli, a Franklin Square resident, who has been at the helm of the Nassau Pops since 1984, that is the concert’s true significance.
“We always want to leave something behind after the notes have faded away,” he explains. “Many of us in the orchestra are music educators and teachers, we are dedicated to children and helping people. This group is a testimony to the wonderful work that United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau does. We love doing this for them. I’m there (at UCPN’s campus in Roosevelt) a number of times during the year and everyone is so friendly and upbeat, even though they are dealing with a difficult affliction. It does my heart good to help them.”
In addition to his duties with his orchestra, Panacciulli serves as band director at Nassau Community College, a post he has held for 25 years. He recently retired from his position teaching music in Valley Stream School District 13. “I’ll now be able to put more time into the orchestra. We are looking to expand our performance schedule,” he says.”
The second half of the program, “100 Years of Frank Sinatra,” is all Piscopo. His interpretation of the Sinatra Songbook captures the essence of the “Chairman of the Board,” according to Panacciulli. “Sinatra called Joe the ‘Vice Chairman of the Board’. His impersonation of Sinatra on Saturday Night Live caught Sinatra’s attention at the time and Joe had an opportunity to meet him.”
From “Summer Wind,” “Fly Me To the Moon” and, of course, “New York, New York,” to “Angel Eyes” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” among so many treasured hits, it will be an afternoon sure to delight Sinatra fans. Besides the tunes, expect plenty of chitchat from Piscopo. “He always banters quite a bit,” says Panacciulli. “He can keep talking for quite a while.”
As always, all box office receipts are donated to UCPN, a total therapeutic community that meets the needs of individuals from their birth to their senior years. On-site services are provided for people with a broad range of mild to severe disabilities where everything from rehabilitation to recreational therapy, education to employment and specialized primary medical care is available.
NEFCU continues to partner with the Nassau Pops as the concert’s title sponsor. “NEFCU has been closely aligned with The Nassau Pops since 2012. We’ve developed a strong relationship with this people-oriented organization. NEFCU is also involved in other concerts with us. It’s a strong partnership and we are looking forward to a long-term relationship. They are very generous and we appreciate all they do for us,” Panacciulli says.

Page 1 / 2