THE RAT PACK

WWW.MICHAELDUTRA.COM // WWW.LOWELLMA200.ORG

The City of Lowell is celebrating its 200th year since becoming a town in 1826 by presenting a free concert at the Lowell Summer Music Series. It’s a tribute to the Rat Pack, made famous by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.

Experiencing a Rat Pack show is like stepping back in time to a glamorous era filled with charm, wit, and outstanding music. The Rat Pack was known for their iconic performances in Las Vegas during the 1960s.

Singer and bandleader Michael Dutra is a Rhode Island native. Since 2002, he has been performing his tribute to Frank Sinatra across the United States, from Las Vegas to Miami to Boston, appearing in supper clubs, dinner theaters, performing arts centers, corporate events, and private parties.

Michael has been hailed as one of the finest interpreters of the Sinatra sound in the world. Boston Globe columnist Wesley Morris wrote, “His sound is velour to Sinatra’s velvet, you really can’t tell the difference.” Ron Della Chiesa of WPLM Boston Radio, a noted Sinatra authority, said, “Michael literally channels Sinatra.”

The swaggering epitome of sharp, macho 1960s cool, Frank Sinatra’s gang of entertainers were the iconic kings of the Las Vegas Strip, making movies, putting on concerts, and causing a stir wherever they went. Their friendship led to starring roles together in the films Ocean’s 11 (1960), 4 for Texas (1963), and Robin and the Seven Hoods (1964). However, it was their live performances in casinos that cemented their legend.

Renowned for their heavy drinking, womanizing, and extreme partying, as well as alleged ties to organized crime, the trio performed variety-style shows at the Sands Hotel, drawing crowds of celebrities and high rollers. Despite their fame, they never recorded a studio album together. Years later, live recordings were compiled into releases such as The Summit: In Concert (1999), Live at the Sands (2001), From Vegas to St. Louis (2003), and other collections, capturing their ad-libbed showmanship and remarkable charisma.

Michael and the Strictly Sinatra band have performed at some of New York City’s most notable venues, including The Cutting Room, B.B. King’s, The Iridium Jazz Club, City Winery, the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, the Loews Regency Hotel, the Carlyle Hotel, the Cotton Club in Harlem, and the world-famous Blue Note, along with numerous events in Little Italy.

Michael recently recorded vocals for a Twix candy bar commercial seen by millions in South America. He has also performed at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, opening for Howie Mandel. He performs regularly from Maine to Miami, averaging approximately 275 shows per year in a wide variety of venues.

His true passion is performing with his own Strictly Sinatra band, which tours primarily in New England during the summer and Florida in the winter.

For more information on Michael, including upcoming shows, videos, and audio performances, please visit www.michaeldutra.com.