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PERSONALITY PROFILE
Impersonator nails Sinatra on the screwsBy Todd Dewey,
His mother's due date was Dec. 12, the same day his idol, Francis Albert Sinatra, was born. In another twist of fate, Bobby Barrett's debut on the famed Las Vegas Strip -- at the now-defunct Brown Derby at the MGM Grand -- took place the last night of Sinatra's life. Close to six years later, Barrett, the longest-running Sinatra stylist in Vegas, is still performing his tribute to the Chairman of the Board in the city he and his Rat Pack made famous. "I've had offers from other cities, but Vegas has been good to me," said Barrett, a native of Massachusetts who has lived in Sin City for close to six years. "Vegas and Frank are so synonymous. (It's special) because he loved it here so much. Him and Elvis built it. He made Vegas Vegas."
Barrett, who has close to 300 songs in his repertoire, now performs from 8 p.m. to midnight, Mondays through Thursdays, at the Casa Di Amore Italian restaurant on East Tropicana Ave., a short cab ride from his old stomping grounds at the MGM Grand, located less than two miles away. Barrett's schedule gives him plenty of time to work on his golf game, and he usually plays two or three times a week. A 15-handicap, the Summerlin resident's favorite courses include the Siena Golf Club, TPC Canyons, the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort and the Angel Park Golf Club. While Barrett, 43, has loved Sinatra since his ears could hear The Voice, he didn't become passionate about golf until his mid-20s. "I started watching it on TV and me and my friends started playing it on Nintendo for money," he said. "Then we said 'let's try it' and we went to the driving range and started playing. After the first round, I was hooked." Barrett was hooked on Ole Blue Eyes, a former golfer himself, since birth. "I grew up listening to him. My mother was a fanatic, but I think I was more of a fanatic," he said. "She said I used to go crazy when I was listening to him." After overcoming a severe case of stage fright, Barrett, began singing karaoke at a local chinese restaurant, where he was approached by the producers of Joey & Maria's comedy Italian wedding. "They asked me to do a part in their show, and I ended up being the bride's brother, best man, and emcee," he said. "I was petrified at first, but when the shell came off and I got over my fear, I loved it. I'm pretty natural at improv, so it was easy for me."
After a few years of doing the show in Boston, he went with the cast to Vegas, where they did a month-long stretch at the now-defunct Italian-American club on East Sahara Ave. Their stay was extended by a couple hotels and Barrett was then approached by a local restaurant owner to perform on his own. Soon thereafter, Barrett was offered a job at the Brown Derby and he's been singing Sinatra in Vegas ever since, resigning from his job at the post office after 14 years. "I thought I'd stay here for a month and that would be it, but I never left," Barrett said. "I got a good reputation and things worked out. A lot of good things have happened to me out here, a lot of things I'd never dreamed of before." Noted entertainers Tom Jones and Tony Curtis became regulars at the Brown Derby, and Barrett even performed at Curtis' wedding reception. "I can actually call them friends," Barrett said. "Tony Curtis was the best. He told me (Sinatra and my) personalities were very similar, and he loves the way I sing. "He was really good friends with Frank. He was one of the Rat Pack, even though he was not on stage. He was real young. Those guys were in their 40s and he was 28. Frank called him Boinie, because his real name was Bernie." Barrett, whose successful run ended at the Brown Derby after a new restaurant took its place, has performed for a plethora of celebrities, including Joe Pesci, on his birthday, Robert DeNiro, Robin Williams, Gregory Peck, Robert Goulet, who he sang with, and others, including none other than Frank Sinatra Jr. "Frank Jr. came in one night with 20 people after one of his shows, and I was told he enjoyed it, although I didn't get a chance to talk to him," he said.
"All of them were sitting around a big table full of pasta and meatballs, and they all cheered when I came in, and they made me sing," he said. "I didn't have any music, so Gandolfini told them to get a boom box and I put my CD in and sang." After a five-year run at the Brown Derby, Barrett -- the 2003 celebrity pick for best lounge performer in the Best of Las Vegas poll in the Las Vegas Review-Journal -- bounced around to a few different venues, including Treasure Island, Bally's and the Tropicana. Barrett, who has performed in 42 states the past six years, and is booked years in advance for weddings and corporate events (568-9000), enjoys the atmosphere at Casa Di Amore, where his regulars include Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, and Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers. "It's great. There are a lot of locals and people who have been following me since the MGM there," he said. "It's a great place -- it's a joint -- and they have great food and a great atmosphere." Casa Di Amore (433-4967), which serves dinner 24 hours a day, is a place straight out of Goodfellas, with Barrett's Sinatra stylings the perfect complement to a veal parmesan or linguine with clams dish. While Sinatra recorded 1,414 songs and more than 70 original albums -- not to mention earning credits in 63 films and winning two Academy Awards -- Barrett said New York, New York and My Way remain his two most requested songs. Barrett said being able to do it his way on the links is one of the lures of the game. "I like being in the open air by myself. The game challenges yourself," he said. "You totally have to rely on yourself." Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans. |

Barrett played the part of a Sinatra wannabe, which he admitted wasn't
much
of a stretch, and sang five songs a night during the dinner show.
The male cast of The Sopranos certainly enjoyed the show. After Barrett
sang
during an autograph session with the actors, he was summoned to perform
in a
private room for the cast, at the behest of James Gandolfini, Tony
Soprano
himself. 
Bob Gauvreau wrote on: Feb 23, 2010
Hi Bob,
You and I would email regularly when you were in Las Vegas. In 2007, my wife and I made a trip to Vegas to More »
Reply
Darla wrote on: Jan 9, 2009
Does anyone know where Bobby Barrett is? Is he still performing in Vegas? We want to see him religiously at the Brown More »
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CeeCee wrote on: Feb 10, 2009
Bobby has moved back to Boston for a much needed voice rest. But don't fear you will hear from him again!
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Ray Rodriguez wrote on: Feb 12, 2010
Would really like to know if or when Bobby will be back in Vegas, would definitly make the trip to see him perform !
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laura kent wrote on: Feb 6, 2010
Bobby where are you???? Want to hear you play! Laura in Houston
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Anne wrote on: Jan 10, 2009
He has left Vegas and is now living in Massachusetts.
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Joe wrote on: Sep 11, 2008
I will be coming out on Oct. 5th. Is Bobby still on the lounge circuit, or playing anywhere around town? He is worth the More »
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Marlene C. wrote on: Jun 23, 2007
We are always wondering how Bobby is doing & where he is now? Is he still in Vegas singing? Take care & we wish you the More »
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Frank W. barrett wrote on: May 12, 2007
i just want to say hi to my cousin, I miss him very much. I wish that i could talk with him- I am the son of his uncle More »
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Dianne wrote on: Mar 2, 2007
I looked on the Internet and found this article and was so happy to hear that he did so. The first time I met Bobby was More »
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glenn m wrote on: Jun 5, 2006
I believe Bobby Barett is performing Sunday nights at a loung at Treasure Island according to an internet site on Vegas More »
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jenny wrote on: Jul 1, 2005
being the neice of bobby barrett and having the privelage of listening to him sing is great. whenever we [me and my More »
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Jeff wrote on: Feb 25, 2007
My daughter is getting married and i want to hire Bobby to perform. The wedding party will be held in Las Vegas. How can More »
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Ed Baquerizo wrote on: Jul 25, 2006
My friends and I are big fans of Bobby Barrett and will be traveling to Las Vegas in a couple of weeks. According to More »
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Vickie wrote on: Jul 16, 2005
I am a big fan, please let me know where Bobby is playing now. Thanks, Vickie
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Joan Dixon wrote on: Jan 7, 2006
I am a big fan - where is Bobby playing?
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glenn m wrote on: Jul 7, 2006
Try Treasure Island, Las Vegas a lounge on Sunday nights. Let me know. I heard that he is performing there.
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Glenn M. wrote on: Jun 5, 2006
Check out Treasure Island. I believe Bobby is at a lounge there on Sunday nights.
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kahuna wrote on: Mar 1, 2006
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glenn m wrote on: Jun 5, 2006
Check out Treasure Island. I believe Bobby is at a lounge there on Sunday nights.
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rvg wrote on: Jan 14, 2006
I'd like to know that too.....we'll be in town the 27th & 28th.....would love to see him.
Brunette TJ fan
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normstar wrote on: May 30, 2007
last I talked to Bobby he was taking some time off from singing and living in Phoenix, but that was quite a while back. More »
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Paul wrote on: Dec 8, 2007
We are going to be in Vegas Feb. 11 to Feb. 16 Please let me know where he is.
Seen him years ago at the MGM and he's More »
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