As owner of The Rat Pack Cafe in Framingham, Ronnie Catanese has seen them all, from wistful retirees to curious teenagers to the well-dressed 25-year-old who rolled up his sleeve to reveal the Chairman of the Board tattooed on his bicep.
Catanese knows he can't turn the clock back to the days when Frank, Sammy, and Dino reigned supreme, but his restaurant makes a stab at it with oversized red leather booths, memorabilia-covered walls, and a piano bar Wednesday through Friday nights.
"For me, it's comforting," he said. "I guess I'm nostalgic. I envision them singing on stage in Las Vegas -- that era that's gone by."
This Sunday, his restaurant will host "A Tribute to the Sounds of the Rat Pack and More" by singer and songwriter Ralph Graham of Ashland.
The silky-baritoned Graham will perform hits from Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Marvin Gaye, and Barry White, along with his own songs, beginning at 8 p.m. at the restaurant off Route 9 at 50 Worcester Road.
For dinner reservations and concert tickets, call 508-628-1842.
Graham recorded several albums in the 1970s and his song "Differently" was recorded by Jose Feliciano and Thelma Houston. After a 15-year hiatus to raise two sons after his first wife died of cancer, Graham has resumed writing and performing, and is recording a new CD.
"I try to bring new life to a lot of the songs," he said. "I don't just stick to the old Frank Sinatra pattern. I give it a different spin."
Whether it's an old standard or a new tune of his own, Graham said he picks songs that have passion. "I like songs that speak to me. I like to get people involved in the emotion," he said. "I like to make grown men cry."