When it comes to crooners, a number of tenor-voiced singers have made their presence known over the years.

From Michael Buble today, back to Harry Connick Jr. in the 80s and 90s, and back to Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

But the man who set the bar for all of them in that department, post baby boom, was olB次元官网网址� Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 a big reason why tenor Ken Lavigne is heading out on an Island tour this month with a new concert he calls Let Me Be Frank! Crooner Classics from Sinatra to Buble.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a chance to get in touch with that big, brassy Vegasy sound,B次元官网网址� Lavigne said, on his way to record tracks for a studio version of the set that he hopes will be available by the first concert, April 26 at ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 Church of the Advent.

B次元官网网址淲hen you think of the crooner style, you think of Sinatra, just like when you think of operatic tenors you think of Pavarotti,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址�(Sinatra is) a high water mark for other people who came along later.B次元官网网址�

Lavigne called on his B次元官网网址渘erdy history buffB次元官网网址� side for a moment and pointed out that in his early days, Sinatra was chasing the Bing Crosby sound, with his breezy, baritonal crooner style. B次元官网网址淪inatra started his career as a tenor, but over the years he started to get down into that baritone range,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that years of smoking and drinking affected SinatraB次元官网网址檚 voice.

Besides the crooner sound, Lavigne said, B次元官网网址渢hereB次元官网网址檚 a sense of swagger as well. But Sinatra had his intimate and sensitive side as well. Either way, IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to some of the vocal challenges that come along with it.B次元官网网址�

Modern-day singers at the top of the ladder have a lot of pressure on them to perform at their peak every night, he noted, but thereB次元官网网址檚 a certain appeal to the simple, pure sound created on record by vocalists like Sinatra.

B次元官网网址淚 am always astounded when IB次元官网网址檓 listening to these old recordings at how clean they are and how the artists were able to enunciate,B次元官网网址� he said. Often striving to nail their part in one take, he added, B次元官网网址渢hey knew they had to sing to a certain standard.B次元官网网址�

Lavigne enjoys revisiting the classics for their interesting chord changes and memorable melodies, but also the sentimentality of theme that modern singers often donB次元官网网址檛 want to touch. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why this music is still alive, it speaks something genuine.B次元官网网址�

The Colwood concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Other shows in the series include Port Alberni (April 27, 7:30 p.m.), Campbell River (April 28, 2 p.m.), Sidney (May 4, 7:30 p.m.), Parksville (May 10, 7:30 p.m.) and Chemainus (May 11, 2 and 7:30 p.m.).

Tickets are available through the individual venues or you can find them online through , or by phone at 1-888-999-1110.