Mark Tremonti is known for his amazing guitar work with Creed, Alter Bridge, and his solo band Tremonti. But his latest project puts down the guitar and instead covers one of the all-time great singers for an important cause.
In an interview with 97.7 QLZ’s Elwood, Tremonti discussed his upcoming album Mark Tremonti Sings Frank Sinatra, on which Mark fully channels the music legend’s classics like “Fly Me to the Moon” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” with accompaniment from members of Sinatra’s old touring band.
“I told my manager I wanted to do this project. He says, ‘Well my guitar teacher growing up played with Frank Sinatra.’ So he hooked us up with Mike Smith who was Frank Sinatra’s bandleader who played with him for over 40 years.”
Tremonti had been privately obsessing over Sinatra, learning his style and sound without any real purpose. “What am I going to do with this other than enjoy it”?
Inspiration for an album came when his unborn daughter was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. “There’s a reason for this [Sinatra] obsession. I’m gonna record a record, and I’m going to do it for charity. I’m going to raise money for Down Syndrome and partner up with the National Down Syndrome Society.”
“It was kind of a lonely thing. We’re going to have a child with special needs and it’s going to change our existence. It seemed like it was going to be a lonely thing to deal with, but once you meet this community… it’s a hugely supportive community and we just want to give back.”
In the interview, Mark also revealed that between the Sinatra project and touring with Tremonti following last year’s Marching In Time album, we can also expect the 7th studio album from Alter Bridge later this year.
“I’m in the studio now… the Alter Bridge record will be getting mixed [while I’m in Europe touring with Tremonti] and setting up for an October 14th release. And that record’s going to be called Pawns and Kings.”
Mark Tremonti Sings Frank Sinatra will be released on May 27. You can order the album, special merchandise, and find more information on the NDSS at TremontiSingsSinatra.com
