I won the Frank Sinatra Idol Contest in Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken, NJ on Friday June 19th. What a thrill for me!
My very pregnant Niece Erica Reilly and her Husband Brett (my Brothers son) live in Hoboken and were kind enough to put me up for the night. My Niece and her friend Kelly escorted me through the evening. My Nephew Brett was in Charleston, SC for his Cousins (my Niece and Godchilds’) wedding the next day (I took a real early flight down to SC after the contest).
I was also driven up to Hoboken my my biggest fans George Callahan and Carol Burdick (they obviously have no life if they’re following me around). They stayed the night in a new “W” Hotel right on the Hudson and had a ball. I sooooo appreciate their friendship and support.
At the end, after being announced the winner, all of us “Sinatra” contestants gathered and all sang “NEW YORK, NEW YORK” and to my wonderment, I looked over my right shoulder as The Empire State Building lights came flashing “ON”! WOW, that was “chill bump” stuff, for me at least.
My winning song was “THE BEST IS YET TO COME” (w/Count Basie).
The irony is that I was to sing “The Way You Look Tonight” at my Niece’s wedding but didn’t have that on CD so I said to Caitlin, how ’bout I sing the same song I sang to win the Sinatra Idol contest, I mean…really…The Best IS Yet to Come, right? She agreed.
Well at the wedding, Caitlin’s departed Mom, my Sister Karen paid us a spiritual visit. The Reverend (and without any cue’s) was talking about …”this is NOT the best day of your life, for if it is, it’s all downhill from here, BUT, for you 2, THE BEST IS YET TO COME! How about that $#!% So, no matter what song I was going to sing, it seems that THE BEST IS YET TO COME was destined to be my winning song and Caitlin’s “Father/Daughter” wedding day dance……..TRUE STORY!
Click on the here to read the article from the Hudson Reporter Newspaper about the Sinatra Idol contest.
Thanks all for your love and support!
Sean
Sean Reilly - Vocalist in the Sinatra Style 