They were the ultimate 24-hour party people.听 Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Junior came to notoriety back in the fifties and sixties as founders of the Rat Pack.
They were an informal group of American singers, actors and comedians who were known for their hell-raising parties. Their music has been rediscovered by a new generation, helped in part by听 Robbie Williams and the popularity of the big band music on certain TV talent shows. All this means that a host of ages were out at Sennowe Park in full party mood for a beautiful summer鈥檚 evening. The weather and setting could not have been better.听 Around 1,600 people came with picnic hampers, deck chairs, wine glasses and blankets to sit in the glorious setting that is Sennowe Park: a private stately home set in acres of woodland.听 The stage was positioned beside the lake with its Victorian boathouse close by. The mood was such that no-one was in a hurry for the entertainment to start. | "For me, it was Jason Pennycooke who stole the show as a charismatic and energetic Sammy Davis Junior." | | Anita Miah |
They were听happy just to soak up the atmosphere while leisurely waiting for the music to get under way. That said, as soon as the Peter Long Orchestra took to the stage, the mood of the audience lifted.听 Suddenly everyone was ready to get the party started and it took a couple of minutes for people to rush to the front and start swinging to the beat.听 The orchestra was eager to please and played a mixture of magnificent melodies and show-stopping tunes.听A big hit was their performance of the theme from the Austin Powers film.
 | | A couple snuggle up to hear the Rat Pack |
After a big build-up, with the light starting to fade, we were suddenly transported from the Norfolk countryside to a smoky bar in the Sands Hotel, Las Vegas. The glitzy lights reflected off the trumpets and trombones to give Frank Sinatra the perfect location to make his entrance.听 The choice of first song was The Lady Is A Tramp.听 Was it the best song to kick off with from the batch of classics at hand?听 I鈥檓 not sure,听 but I don鈥檛 think it mattered. The response was more than enthusiastic.听 This audience was suspending all disbelief and gave performer Richard Shelton the same reaction that I鈥檓 sure Ol' Blue Eyes would have received. There were cheers and toe tapping a-plenty as the trio worked their way through the classics. 听Alex Giannini undoubtedly had the best songs as smooth and slurring crooner Dean Martin. Wine glass permanently in hand, he got everyone singing along to King Of The Road, followed by Ain鈥檛 That A Kick In The Head.
 | | The concert-goes prepare for the band. |
The banter between the three men was all part of the fun and the audience needed no encouragement to keep on dancing. For me, it was Jason Pennycooke who stole the show as a charismatic and energetic Sammy Davis Junior.听 Although it seemed to take a while for him to get on the microphone, he managed to hush the crowd with a haunting rendition of What Kind Of Fool Am I? Although he did not have the most well-known songs, he epitomised the carefree glamour the three men stood for. The tunes kept coming and after three encores the trio finally left the swell of party-goers happy with a sure-fire-winner, New York, New York. Cue lots of merry people attempting to co-ordinate leg-kicking in time to the music. Just when you thought the night couldn't get any better, the fireworks started.听 It was a display that was better than anything I鈥檝e ever seen. If you even remotely like this kind of music, you will not have been disappointed.听 If you love it, like I do, you鈥檒l have gone home feeling like Sinatra鈥檚 flown you to the moon and back. Salute To The Rat Pack played at Sennowe Park, Guist on Sunday 8 August 2004. Did you see the Salute To The Rat Pack at Guist - add your comments about the concert here. | 
