Back to Bacharach & John Pagano
A Tribute to My Mentor, My Friend.
“Having spent 20 years touring the world and working in the recording studio with a genuine master, the “Back To Bacharach” show is my tribute to a great mentor and friend, The Maestro, Burt Bacharach.” – John Pagano
“What an incredible concert experience we had when John Pagano came to Aberdeen. All of our members attending thoroughly enjoyed the concert!
John and his ensemble performed at a very high level musically, but more importantly was John’s amazing interpretation of the Bacharach music. People left humming the songs, having totally enjoyed their concert experience.
In addition, John’s story telling was very much enjoyed by the audience. His stories of Burt Bacharach and his experience with Burt added to the concert and helped people better appreciate the Bacharach music and how John is so strongly connected to it.
After the concert one of our long time members caught me and said “this was the best Community Concert I think I have ever been to!” That is a real tribute to John! I would highly recommend.” – Aberdeen Community Concert Assn.
“John is the personification of a great artist and true professional.” – Burt Bacharach
Program includes selections from…
- This Guy’s In Love With You
- Alife
- Wives & Lovers
- Any Day now
- The Look of Love
- God Give Me Strength
- I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself
- I Say A Little Prayer
- Always Something There To Remind Me
- Anyone Who Had A Heart
- Walk On By
- What The World Needs Now Is Love Sweet Love
- Make It Easy On Yourself
- I’ll Never Fall In Love Again
- Windows Of The World
- I Still Have That Other Girl On My Mind
- Baby It’s You
- Close To You
- In Between The Heartaches
- Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
- One Less Bell To Answer
John Pagano
More than merely a fine singer, John Pagano is a complete musician, possessing the rare ability to bring songs of nearly any era or genre to life while still sounding distinctly comfortable and honest—like no one but himself. His natural musical aptitude has been honed by years of demanding work on stages and in studios. He’s done it alongside such major talents as Burt Bacharach, Whitney Houston, Elvis Costello, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Wynona Judd, and even Jerry Seinfeld. Jerry hand-picked Pagano to open his shows in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
Despite all that he’s accomplished—including two symphonic pops shows, well-received albums, and years of touring and recording with luminaries like Bacharach. Pagano finds each performance unique and thrilling. “When the time comes and you get out on that stage,” he concludes, enthusiastically, “you just have to close your eyes, listen, and react. It’s like being a boxer. You can train all you want in the gym, but it’s totally different when you step into the ring.”
John Pagano’s consummate artistry, sincerity and joy in sharing his music provided our patrons with memorable evenings of romantic standards for our Valentine’s Day orchestral pops concerts. His charts are all top drawer. And his deft and intriguing interpretations of songs from Cole Porter to Burt Bacharach were all performed with style and elegance. We were delighted to work with John and our audience loved him.”
-Rob McAlear
Artistic Administrator, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
Headline Appearances With:
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
Fort Wayne Philharmonic
Greensboro Symphony Orchestra
Kingston Symphony Pops
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra
Palm Beach Pops Orchestra
Rhode Island Philharmonic
San Diego Symphony
Stockton Symphony
John Pagano’s A Soulful Musical Journey
More than merely a fine singer, John Pagano is a complete musician, possessing the rare ability to bring songs of nearly any era or genre to life while still sounding distinctly comfortable and honest. His natural musical aptitude has been honed by years of demanding work on stages and in studios, alongside such major talents as Burt Bacharach, Whitney Houston, Elvis Costello, Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Wynona Judd, and even Jerry Seinfeld, who hand-picked Pagano to open his shows in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
Despite all that he’s accomplished, including two symphonic pops shows, well-received albums, and years of touring and recording with luminaries like Bacharach, Pagano finds each performance unique and thrilling. “When the time comes and you get out on that stage,” he concludes, enthusiastically, “you just have to close your eyes, listen, and react. It’s like being a boxer. You can train all you want in the gym. But it’s totally different when you step into the ring.”
A Soulful Musical Journey: Songs of Love and Inspiration
A Soulful Musical Journey: Songs of Love and Inspiration follows Pagano’s first orchestral show, Let’s Fall in Love—which focused more intently on his radiant interpretations of material from the Great American Songbook, with a few surprising twists and turns along the way. “I’ve always had the feel for those kind of tunes,” he says. “After all, my father woke us up every morning to go to school with Sinatra!”
Let’s Fall in Love drew much of its material from Pagano’s recent album Pure Imagination, a stirring set of classic songs delivered live in the studio with a full orchestra—just as the great crooners of Sinatra’s era recorded. Pagano made a conscious decision, however, to not imitate the masters, but to deliver these oft-recorded gems in his own voice. “After one of the takes,” Pagano recalls, “some of the older musicians came up to me and said ‘I really appreciate that you sang them like you, and not like Frank. We already have Frank!’ That really got to me, and let me know I was on the right path.”
Let’s Fall In Love
Let’s Fall in Love draws much of its material from Pure Imagination, John Pagano’s debut album and a stirring set of classic songs delivered live in the studio with a full orchestra. Just as the great singers of Sinatra’s era recorded. “After one of the takes,” Pagano recalls, “some of the older musicians came up to me and said ‘I really appreciate that you sang them like you, and not like Frank. We already have Frank!’ That really got to me, and let me know I was on the right path.” The end result of the album and the show is a touching celebration of timeless songs. Masterfully rendered by Pagano in a way both reverent and uniquely his own.
The inclusion of select numbers from the pens of Leon Russell and Burt Bacharach in the Let’s Fall in Love program hints at the core of Pagano’s newest orchestral program, A Soulful Musical Journey: Songs of Love and Inspiration. An evocative show rooted in Pagano’s childhood love of classic R&B, A Soulful Musical Journey also finds him bringing that same soulful sensibility to diverse other styles. Expertly programmed and powerfully delivered, the songs of A Soulful Musical Journey come together to tell a story, taking listeners on a journey defined by warmth, romance, resilience, and hope.
The Next Step
“Certain songs always stood out to me and gave me an indescribably inspiring feeling—chills or goosebumps, if you will,” John Pagano explains. “From my first listen, these songs touched my soul in a unique way… and even now, I still get that special feeling whenever I hear or perform these tunes. My goal with A Soulful Musical Journey: Songs of Love and Inspiration is to provide that very same magical feeling to each member of the audience.”
Consequently, the repertoire of A Soulful Musical Journey ranges from the classic soul sounds of Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder to the Beatles and even a stirring rendition of Charlie Chaplin’s signature tune, “Smile.” And, at the core of the program is a medley of Burt Bacharach compositions—fitting, since Pagano has been the legendary composer’s go-to male vocalist for the past 14 years.
