Falcone Jr., Vincent (11th July 1938-25th March 2017)

Arranger, conductor and pianist born in Syracuse, New York, who started to learn the piano when he was three years old. He veered towards jazz even though having classical training at Syracuse University and after leaving education pursued his love of jazz and pop.

He traveled across Europe and on is return to the US decided to relocate to Las Vegas in 1970. He collaborated with Rosemary Clooney on The Last Concert and Sentimental Journey and after being heard as the house pianist at Caesars Palace went on to forge a creative partnership with Frank Sinatra in the late ’70s.

He started out as Sinatra’s piano player in October 1977, and a year later he assumed conducting duties. Vincent served in both capacities on Frank Sinatra’s 1979 boxed set, Trilogy. In 1980, he led Sinatra’s orchestra in a series of concerts at Albert Hall and Festival Hall in London, England. A year later, they embarked on a South American tour that took them to Buenos Aires, Argentina and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Shortly thereafter, it was back to the States and another one of Sinatra’s favourite venues, Atlantic City. In 1982, he arranged, along with Don Costa, the cuts on Syms By Sinatra, a collaboration between Frank and Sylvia Sims, with Frank wielding the baton and Sylvia covering some of his songs.

Occasionally, Vincent strayed from the Sinatra fold, although never very far, especially on projects such as Steve Lawrence Sings Sinatra, on which he plays piano. You can also hear him on the keys on Walter Boenig’s Lot of Us. He also took up the baton on Paul & His New Age Jazz Orchestra Cacia’s Legacy: The Last Sessions.

You will find more information on the multi-talented Mr. Falcone, in his autobiography, Frankly, Just Between Us: My Life Conducting Frank Sinatra’s Music.

Suffering from a brain tumour, he passed away in Torrance, California, in March 2017. He was 78 years old.

Here he is arranging and conducting a rehearsal of “I’ve got You Under My Skin” with Bob Anderson and the Springfield Symphony…

Sources:

Falcone Jr., Vincent (11th July 1938-25th March 2017)

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