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Larry Bené A Man Of Many Voices

Cheryl Bentley/SUNCOAST NEWS

Larry Bené has had a half-century career in show business opening for entertainers such as Red Skelton and Billy Eckstine.

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By Cheryl  Bentley | The Suncoast News

Published: January 16, 2008

Frank Sinatra, Vaughn Monroe, Bobby Darin. Figures from the past and the songs they sang come to life again in a conversation with Larry Bené.

In his half-century career in show business, singer Bené has opened for famed old-timers including Red Buttons, Billy Eckstine, Nipsey Russell and Sarah Vaughan.

The 75-year-old Bené began his entertainment career as a 10-year-old singing during vaudeville amateur night in a Harlem theater.

Bené grew up in Harlem. For a time, he knew Bobby Darin there. Later, Darin's family moved to the Bronx. The two subsequently reacquainted through their show business careers.

They often met at Hanson's, a drugstore on Broadway. "All the aspiring artists use to hang there," Bené recalled.

Later, Bené with his group the Bellhops was called in to substitute for Darin for one night at New York's famed nightclub the Copacabana.

It was during this time, Bené had an opportunity to make a decision that could have set him on the road to a big time career in show business. He had the opportunity to appear on "American Bandstand." That involved forking up "payola," a fee for his appearance. Later, "Bandstand" host Dick Clark's career was almost destroyed by the payola scandal, which rocked the record industry in the late 1950s.

Bené chose the other road, that of touring with singer Vaughn Monroe and television personality Dagmar because it offered a steady paycheck.

"In those days, to get paid for two months was something," he said.

Bené met his idol Frank Sinatra while singing in the piano bar at Jilly's, in New York. Sinatra and actress Jill St. John spent the entire evening there.

"I admired this man," Bené said of Sinatra. "I admired his phrasing, his breath control."

Ol' Blue Eyes response to his performance? "Good job, kid."

But the encounter that chokes him up the most was the one with legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald in a Boston television studio, where the two were appearing on a variety show.

Fitzgerald extended her hand and said, "My name is Ella Fitzgerald."

"It made me feel so humble," Bené said. "I had the experience to be with all those stars, and they always treated me royal."

Bené has lived in New Port Richey since 1999.

He has appeared with the Richey Community Orchestra in its tribute to Sinatra.

"He's got charisma," the orchestra's executive director, Denise Isaacson, said about Bené. "He's very authentic to Frank Sinatra's style."

Bené appears locally at civic associations and small groups. "I sing. I dance. I become a person 40 years younger."

Bené will perform 7 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19, at Buena Vista Men's Club, Buena Vista South Club House, 4212 Buena Vista Lane, Holiday. Call 727-938-0897 for more information.

He is also appearing 7 to 9 p.m., Monday, Feb. 11, at Cinema Grill at Embassy 6, 9510 U.S. 19, Port Richey. Reservations required. Call 727-846-8052.

For more information on Bené call 727-842-3158.

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