Come For The Food, Stay For The Sinatra

While the patrons of  of Massapequa dined on their suppers, the timeless tunes of Ol' Blue Eyes himself floated through the dimly-lit eatery, enhancing and enriching each and every bite they took.

However, would you believe that the silky-smooth voice channeling the vocals of the late, great Frank Sinatra belonged to one Preston Stockman of Wantagh, certified public accountant by day and crooner of the classics by night?

Stockman has been booked at Sergio's since October 2004, a testament to the enduring popularity of his "Sinatra Night" act. A lover of song since his youth, Stockman came close to losing his gift forever to the pressures of everyday life that affect us all.

"I sang when I was younger...high school, college, and a little bit afterwards," he said. "But then I got married, kids, responsibilities. I had to earn a living, and I didn't have time for it anymore."

However, with the encouragement of his significant other, he got a second chance at a time in life where most people have given up on their dreams altogether.

"When I was about 45, my wife was saying, why don't you go out there and sing again?" he said. "You're not getting any younger, and you don't want to go through the rest of your life saying you wish you could have done that."

"In 2001, I started singing in nursing homes, that kind of stuff...just to get back into it," Stockman continued. "Then I started calling places and getting more jobs singing."

However, after all those years on the sidelines, Stockman had to work out the rust in his act.

"At first, I knew no songs, as far as the words were concerned," he said. "So what I would do is I would start, say on a Wednesday night, and I would learn, like, 15 songs. Enough to do the act. Within maybe six months to a year, I had a built it up to a point where I could do over 500 songs."

This evening, Stockman worked the room with a wireless microphone, belting out popular Sinatra songs such as "My Way." In-between numbers, his witty banter kept the crowd engaged.

Stockman's sets average two-and-a-half hours without a break, and cover a variety of musical artists.

"I do everything," he said. "In addition to Sinatra, I also Do-Wop, Bobby Darren, Elvis...songs from the 60's, 70's, and 80's."

Stockman averages several gigs a month, with at least one or two of those being at Sergio's. And each time he take that microphone in his hand, the excitement is still there.

"It feels great," he said. "I'm not making a lot of money; it's pocket change. I'm not going to get rich tonight...I don't charge a lot, because I like to sing, and I love to perform for people. And when people want to be entertained, you're meeting them at their best. It's a great thing."

Sergio's owner Mike Sergio has been offering various entertainment to his guests for years, and he had high praise Stockman.

"Preston’s been working here for years," he said. "He's a very good entertainer, a very good singer."

In addition to Sinatra Night, Sergio's also employs acts such as an Elvis singer, Psychic Robert Hansen, and Murder-Mystery dinner theater. The emphasis on unique and fun dinner acts helps Sergio's to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

"For people, if they're working all day, they like to go out at night and enjoy different stuff," he said. "Some restaurants just serve dinner, but here you get a little extra."

Pat Baffa of Massapequa Park is a regular at Sergio's, and when he heard about Stockman's act, he just had to see it.

"I was here before, when they had a young fella doing Elvis songs," he said. "Then I heard [Preston] was coming, and that he did Dean Martin, Bobby Darren...I love those guys. So we came down to see him tonight. I love the show so far...it's fantastic. I'm enjoying it a lot."

Joe Cavallo of Massapequa Park was equally impressed by Stockman's showmanship.

"He sings very nicely," he said. "He's got a very melodic voice, wonderful tones, and he came well-prepared. And with all the different songs he does, it's very nostalgic. It's very, very nice."

If you're interested in booking Preston Stockman for an event, he can be reached at 516-221-0104.