On September 5, tribute acts for Rod Stewart, Cher, and Elvis Presley performed remarkable sets at Sergio’s Restaurant in Massapequa on Long Island. They performed for a sold-out restaurant. Howard Newman, also known as “High-Powered Howard,” served as emcee and delivered his impressive stand-up comedy set throughout the afternoon.
Steve Mitchell as Elvis Presley
Steve Mitchell kicked off the show with his high-energy set as Elvis Presley. He began with “Burning Love” and immediately broke into “Shake, Rattle and Roll” and “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You,” which he incorporated as a singalong with the crowd at Sergio’s.
He picked up the pace with “Trouble” and “Jailhouse Rock.” His cover of “Suspicious Minds” was distinct and impressive, and he described “If I Can Dream” as the greatest song that Elvis has ever recorded, and he encouraged the audience to listen to his words.
Rick St. James as Rod Stewart
St. James was able to perform a mixed bag of Rod Stewart’s songs, which included his hit singles, ballads, and old standards as part of the “American Songbook.” He had the audience with him every step of the way.
He kicked off his set with “Reason to Believe” and continued with an expressive rendition of “I Don’t Want to Talk About It.” He dedicated “Rhythm of My Heart” to all of the troops serving our country, and immediately broke into “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright)” and “This Old Heart of Mine.”
“Forever Young” was a favorite among the fans, where everybody sang along and he continued with “Having a Party” and with the ballad “The Way You Look Tonight.”
Later in the show, he returned to perform “Hot Legs,” “You Wear It Well,” “You’re in My Heart,” as well as his signature tune “Have I Told You Lately.”
He showed the ladies how to have a good time with “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and equally impressive was the upbeat “Maggie May” and “Downtown Train.”
Louise Bruno as Cher
Three-time “Best of Long Island” winner for “Best Celebrity Impersonator” Louise Bruno performed as Cher. She kicked off her set with “Take Me Home” and went on to sing Cher’s global smash hit “Believe,” which Cher brought to the top of the Billboard charts at age 53, according to Bruno.
She went on to deliver a solo rendition of “I Got You Babe” and closed with “The Beat Goes On.”
Bruno surprised the audience with a three-song Pat Benatar mini-concert, which was well-received. It included “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Treat Me Right,” and “Hell is For Children.” Well done, Louise.
Interview with Rick St. James
Prior to his performance, Rick St. James participated in a quick sit-down interview with Digital Journal’s Markos Papadatos prior to his set. He shared that he has performed on Long Island many times before and he actually started with a band and with comedian Howard Newman. He revealed that he started his Rod Stewart tribute while he was playing Long Island with his blues band.
St. James was afforded the privileged opportunity to perform with the actual backing band that backs Rod Stewart, and the living legend himself gave him a “thumbs up” and endorsed his approval of his performance since he “liked what he heard.”
While living in Nashville, he noted that after COVID-19 slowed things down, he started performing his Rod Stewart tribute act again. “It is always an exciting show,” St. James said. “People wanted to see me again and they wanted to see me perform again. It was a special moment for friends and fans in this part of the world.”
“It’s a wonderful thing to have people enjoying what you do and seeing the smiles on their faces,” he said. “I sing my heart out for them. It’s a love affair with my fans.”
To learn more about Rick St. James, check out his official website.
