Blast from the Past: Tommy Sullivan Sings the Classics

Maybe more American than fast cars or apple pie is our beloved classic rock ’n roll, and that all-American art form recently rocked a packed house at the Lindenhurst Memorial Library (LML).

Tommy Sullivan – from the quintessential 1960s American band Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge – played all of the old hits from that era and stirred up the audience’s memories with their favorite songs.

Sullivan’s trip down memory lane in the LML's downstairs meeting room started with The Young Rascals' hit, Groovin', coaxing the audience to sing along with him. And they did, happily joining in on the big hit.

The room was packed, with about 75 people sitting comfortably, but in tight rows up and down the room. As the space filled up, events coordinator Sara Fiorenzo quickly added a couple of last-minute rows in the back to accommodate the growing crowd, making sure no one had to stand.

Sullivan put the crowd at ease by relating humorous stories from his past with the Brooklyn Bridge, his friendships with other famous musicians and growing up on Long Island.

Before he sang Roy Orbison’s Only the Lonely he remarked that singing Orbison was a nightmare, implying the difficulty of getting the legendary crooner’s songs just right. But he did.

Next, Bobby Darin’s Beyond the Sea was dedicated to Navy veterans and he played keyboard in accompaniment.

The versatile singer covered everything from The Platters to Billy Joel, and Little Anthony and the Imperials to the Moody Blues. He not only sang, but also expertly played keyboard, flute and guitar. And as Sullivan warmed up, so did the crowd, singing along to each song he played.

Sullivan’s voice was very rich and clear, demonstrating that he’s a classic crooner in the style of Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra. He included Nice 'N' Easy in his repertoire.

Then it was back to Orbison with Crying. “This is because I’m a glutton for punishment,” Sullivan joked, though he had the singer down.

He had a friend in the audience named Marion, who was celebrating her birthday. Sullivan held her hand as he sang Johnny Maestro’s classic Sixteen Candles, and the mostly sedate crowd went wild.

He made things even livelier with 1958's Tequila. Everyone clapped and sang along as he walked the aisle, wailing on his sax.

Sullivan has almost always been a performer. Growing up with parents who loved music and who introduced him to everything from classical to jazz, Sullivan learned to play the saxophone at Hicksville High School.

“But when The Beatles came, I put down the sax, let it collect dust and taught myself the guitar,” remembered Sullivan, a recent inductee into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

Sullivan sang a very spirited Gotta Get You Into My Life, and if you closed your eyes at certain moments, he sounded just like Paul McCartney.

Sullivan plays libraries and restaurants all around Long Island and can be found on the North Fork at Pindar Vineyards every Saturday and Sunday in the summer months. Right now, he's there almost three weekends a month.

Dedicating the show to his “brother” Johnny Maestro, Sullivan finished big with The Worst That Could Happen and received a standing ovation. Both the singer and the crowd, who had been transported back in time on a musical journey, seemed happy to be here and now, in the moment.

For Sullivan’s new solo CD Then & Now or upcoming performances, he said people could email him. To see more free concerts like Sullivan’s at the library, visit the LML website.