Frank @ Sapphire Beach 05/05/2023

As Friday's go, this has been a particularly good one. Great music, better conversation about the great music. Oh..and my RL refill of my favorite tea arrived. I was pretty sure the day couldn't get any better, then I saw an announcement in a group I just joined yesterday, and that was for a show at the legendary Sapphire Beach. This is one of the most expansive beach venues around. With multiple dance machines, there is something for every couple and all us loners too. To keep up with their many, many events at their multiple venues, you can find them on FB. Claudine and John were also the hosts for the KissiTulips Alpha memorial last month. The venue tip jar is found just to the right of the stage. One of my favorite features of the comfortable venue is the waterfall fed inlet just in front of stage. This is a perfect way to cool your feet after long week (or cool your beer as it turns out).

Today's musical guest at this amazing venue was Frank. I just heard him for the first time earlier this week and really wanted to share him my reader(s). Appropriately, Frank's first song was Chris Rea's "On The Beach". His clear, vocals and spontaneous lyric changes really connected the song to the mood on this beach. His next song was the instant classic from Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett "5 O'clock Somewhere". And I can assure you it was 5 O'clock on the toe warming sand at Sapphire Beach as the boat drinks appeared in hands, as if by magic. As if on cue, Frank shared an amazing rendition of the quintessentially appropriate "Half of me" by Thomas Rhett.

His next two songs were originals, both in his native German language. These two upbeat, toe tapping songs, had everyone moving, and event pulled some of the audience up on stage to dance with Frank and کchηuςкɨ. He kept the energy up with a fantastic interpretation of Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" that had everyone belting out "shalalala lalalala di da" and splashing as they kicked up their heels and danced like no one was watching.

Frank flipped back to his Country theme with the reflective "God is Good, Beer is Great" by Billy Currington and then Wade Hayess "When The Wrong One Loves You Right", which is, I guess, based on no science whatsoever, the excuse given in 87.3% of SL breakups. Frank's next treat for our ears was a pair of tunes from the King of Rock n' Roll, "Teddy Bear" and a killer rendition of "Blue Suede Shoes" that once again had people splashing in the water in water in front of the stage. And then, to me, the gem of the show, Joshua Kadison's "Jessie".

The last song of this thoroughly enjoyable hour was "Joy Of My Life" from Chris Stapleton. I was truly bummed when this hour of consummate entertainment ended. You can be assured you'll see me are more Frank shows and I hope to see you there too!

Frank is an experienced (live and studio), well-trained singer of Swing, Jazz, RnB, Country, Rock/Pop, Musical. also a singer/songwriter with many songs, also inspired by Second Life experiences and stories. Songs that bridge the gap between the virtual and the real world. Many of the songs he plays live on his piano. For the rest, he uses the best available backing tracks where he mostly plays along to.

He is an outstanding artist in so many ways. He is ‘natural’ one would like to add and loves to reach out for people all over the globe to bring his vision and perception of music to everyone who is ready and open for it. His voice and interpretation of the songs is unparalleled in Second Life. He not only sings live but also plays live on his piano which he affectionately calls “Peggy”.

He sings and plays the old Sinatra jazz classics like no one else as well as his own compositions, amiably introduced and mixed with personal stories and insights. His repertoire is so impressively large that it is almost impossible not to be enchanted at some time and somehow then. It is impossible to escape from his charm. Luckily, we’d say, because if there is ever a weakness with DonFranko, then that his concerts almost never end in time (as long as no other artist is singing right after him). When he’s in his flow and the audience in the right mood, then the old saying is true: no hour strikes the lucky one."