INTERVIEW: Nicolas King celebrates 25 years with memories of Liza and others

Photo: Nicolas King celebrates 25 years of making music. Photo courtesy of artist / Provided by Fortune Creative with permission.

---

Nicolas King’s new album is a trip down memory lane. The accomplished vocalist recently released Act One: Celebrating 25 Years of Recordings, available now to stream, on digital formats and on physical CD. The retrospective includes a host of guest appearances, from the likes of Liza Minnelli, Tom Selleck, Jane Monheit and Norm Lewis, according to press notes.

For fans of King’s music, Act One proves to be a welcome treat and also a promise of more to come. The singer’s record label, Club44 Records, is planning to release a new album of new songs within the year.

On Act One, fans can hear King’s renditions of such standards as “God Bless the Child,” “How Deep Is the Ocean,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “What a Wonderful World” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.”

Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with King about this important milestone in his career — a career that has included appearances on Broadway in Beauty and the Beast and A Thousand Clowns. He opened for Minnelli while she toured for more than a decade, and he appeared twice on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. Oh, and there was also Discovery Kids’ Kenny the Shark and a world-famous Oscar Mayers Lunchables commercial. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.

What inspired you to put together this 25-year retrospective?

Initially I was looking to create a simple compilation album that I could sell at concerts. Once quarantine hit, I had loads of free time, so I began digging through my old collections of recordings. I was truly shocked to uncover so much music that I had completely forgotten about. The little idea started to snowball, and I realized that 2020 would be 25th year of being in show business. Totally weird for me to say, since I’m still in my 20s, but the project just grew and grew. And now I’m happy to have this comprehensive look back at the last 25 years.

How are you a different singer today compared to 25 years ago?

It’s funny to hear my sound and style develop over the years on this record. I can definitely tell that I was mimicking the sounds I heard around me at the time. It makes me chuckle actually. I’m happy to say that I feel more original now as an adult. I feel like I’ve found my voice.

In your opinion, what are some of the highlights of the new album? What are you most excited for listeners to hear?

I’m so honored to have some of my dearest friends on the record. There’s some swell big band arrangements from the brilliant and legendary mind of my dear friend Charles Calello. My pal Jane Monheit is featured on the record in a duet arranged by my longtime musical director Mike Renzi, and I’m elated to have a new duet with Norm Lewis on it as well.

Tom Selleck makes his singing debut on the album in a recording of us when we co-starred on Broadway together, and Liza Minnelli opens the album with an introduction from one of the concerts we did together when I was on the road with her. It’s chock full of memories for me, and I’m excited for listeners to take the journey with me.

Throughout the years, how did you make connections to these great guest artists?

I feel very fortunate to have formed relationships with such brilliant people. Liza was a mentor to me, and she always told me to surround myself with people who are more talented than I was. I always took her advice. I met Connie Francis through our mutual friend Charles Calello, and she graciously supplies the album with the liner notes. I pinch myself sometimes when I think of the people I’ve been able to get to know, and I feel incredibly grateful.

How do you take a standard that has been interpreted by many other singers and make it your own?

I try to isolate the lyrics from the stereotypical renditions, and think ‘what is this song really about,’ or ‘what is this really saying’? The majority of the songs we call ‘standards’ come originally from movies or Broadway shows, so they’re written in a way to advance a plot line, or to tell a story about a character at a very specific moment in their life. I think the best interpretations of the standards are born when you approach the song from your own point of view and tell the story.

How much has COVID-19 impacted your professional life?

I’m definitely at home more than I’m used to! I have never had this much downtime. I’ve been working since I’m 4-1/2, so I haven’t been this stationary in 25 years! I miss working, I miss meeting people, I miss traveling, I miss touring, I miss hotels! I’m appreciative of the time off I’ve had to tackle projects, both professional and personal, that I would have never gotten around to otherwise. And as grateful as I am for the virtual platforms, I can’t wait to get in front of an audience again and feel that tangible energy. There’s simply nothing like live music.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Nicolas King’s new album is Act One: Celebrating 25 Years of Recordings, available now from Club44 Records. Click here for more information.