Tony Danza Has Audience Swooning At The Suffolk In Riverhead

LONG ISLAND, NY — There's just something about Tony Danza: Everyone loves him. When I first wrote about his upcoming show, "Tony Danza: Standards & Stories," which took place at The Suffolk in Riverhead Saturday night, I shared the post on Facebook and the comments came flooding in.

"I love Tony," so many, many friends and colleagues wrote. "He's such a nice guy." "He is such a great guy. Completely down to earth."

The accolades, they kept coming. Lifelong fans shared memories of Danza's standout performances in "Taxi," and "Who's the Boss?" as well as applause for his storied career, beginning as a professional boxer, and then, with starring roles in hit films such as "Angels in the Outfield," "She’s Out of Control," "Hollywood Knights", and "Don Jon." Well-established as a song and dance man, Danza has also starred on Broadway in "The Producers," "A View from the Bridge," and most recently received stellar reviews for his performance in the Broadway musical comedy, "Honeymoon In Vegas."

He received an Emmy nomination for his guest spot on "The Practice," and recently made a special guest appearance on "Blue Bloods and Power Book III: Raising Kanan." Danza also has a "Who’s the Boss" sequel in the works, and co-stars in the newly released 20th Century Fox feature film, "Darby and the Dead."

And for all of it, his fans have been cheering him on. Because whether they hail from Brooklyn as Danza, the son of a garbage man, does — or from anywhere, really, across the globe — anyone who's ever known Danza or has been touched by his work has walked away feeling as though he were one of them, one of their own, a veritable "Paisan" from the old neighborhood. A man of integrity and honor. A man they'd like to call friend.

That's why the crowd flocked eagerly to The Suffolk Saturday night, to see someone who's been beloved in American homes since "Taxi" first debuted. They came to see the man they all call "Tony," the performer who's won a place in their hearts for generations.

And what followed was a performance transcendent in its excellence, as Danza, a veritable triple threat who once drew raves in the boxing ring, gave an extraordinary nod to the variety shows of days gone by with timeless elegance, grace, and knockout talent.

The Suffolk was the perfect space to showcase Danza's performance of classics from the Great American Songbook — and even a hint of Motown — woven seamlessly with tap dance, ukele, and stories of his life. Stories told with humor, deep love for his mother and children, and most of all, with a warm sense of kindness that reverberated from the stage.

An incredibly beautiful and restored Art Deco theater, The Suffolk features cabaret-style seating at intimate tables, sublime cocktails and a menu featuring delicious light bites, and a sense of grandeur that harkens back to the days when a night out was an experience to be savored. When women wore pearls and men, tuxedos. When the songs were, as Danza said, love songs. Songs that spoke to the magic of moonlight. That first, heart-sweeping kiss. The kind of love that lasts forever. The kind of songs you're still humming with fondness years later.

Danza was, to put it plainly, extraordinary. And not just because of his incredible charm, the "it" factor that you can't learn in a classroom or from any acting coach. He's got the magnetism, charisma and genuine likability of a true star, but he delivers a performance with not just perfection, but an innate enthusiasm and shy grin that makes audiences feel as though he's enjoying every moment just as much as they are. And make no mistake, the man can really, really sing.

Like the class act he is, Danza takes the time to acknowledge every writer behind the songs he delivers so flawlessly. He showcases each of his four musicians, and it's clear that they're friends as well as colleagues. He takes the time to notice a boy, just 11, in the audience, wearing a tuxedo. Danza even came out after the show to meet the boy — who just happened to have the same last name, but was no relation to the star. Because that's the kind of performer Danza is — a clearly down-to-earth, humble man who cares about his family, his fans, and producing caliber work.

In short, he deserves all the accolades he's received: The long-running hit show, which includes Danza's four-piece band, has entertained audiences around the country with The New York Times stating: “Tony’s a live wire who tap-dances, plays the ukulele, tells stories and radiates irresistible charm… He exudes the kind of charisma that can’t be taught!”

Broadway World added: "Tony Danza is as good a crooner, as good an entertainer, as any of the men in tuxes who have come before him, and that includes that famous guy from Jersey . . . It is a genuine pleasure to listen to Danza sing… The standard of excellence.”

In his show, Danza mentions his mother, who used to play Frank Sinatra records while he was helping her clean the house — he had to finish his chores before he was allowed outside. When she felt he was becoming too big for his proverbial britches, heady with television fame, she told him that the day he introduced her to Sinatra, then he was a star.

Whether or not his mom actually ever got to meet Sinatra remains to be seen — only those who see the show can glean the answer to the burning question. But one thing is clear, if she were alive today, it's certain that his mother would be beaming with pride at her own boy, who's now earned a spot among the top crooners of all time with his velvet voice and the undeniable star quality that has audiences swooning.

Danza has been one of the world's most beloved and iconic entertainers for more than 40 years. And after seeing his show, "Standards & Stories," it's clear why. He's the kind of entertainer that's virtually almost impossible to find nowadays — the stuff that Hollywood legends and crooners are made of. His show is a delightful feast for the senses, of music, dance, and stories — a show that helps us to remember, for a while, what true entertainment was always meant to be.

To see upcoming dates for Danza's show, click here. For Danza's newly released live album or to hear the songs from his show, go to iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, or Pandora.