George Bugatti
| George Bugatti | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | George Joseph Bugatti |
| Born | July 8, 1967 |
| Origin | Brooklyn, NY, U.S. |
| Genres | American Pop Standard |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Pianist, Songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, Piano |
| Years active |
1990–present Paul Anka Productions |
| Labels | Fynsworth Alley, Caravan Productions |
| Website | Official site |
George Bugatti (born July 8, 1967) is an American singer, pianist and songwriter, with three CD's in wide release. The first CD, "Oh, What a Night for Love" was produced by Tonight show creator, Steve Allen. The second CD “Bugatti Live on the Strip” was recorded Live at Bellagio, Las Vegas and is on Paul Anka Productions. The third CD “A Night for Romance” was produced by Nigel Wright (Executive Music Producer of American Idol and Warner Bros. Phantom of the Opera) and is distributed by Universal/Verese Sarabande.
Discovered while performing at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, by Steve Allen, Bugatti was quickly singled out to be the prolific comedien and songwriter protégé. Shortly after recording his first CD with Allen, Bugatti made his concert debut in Los Angeles with the legendary singer Tony Bennett. In an unprecedented gesture, Bennett invited Bugatti to perform with him at the Thousand Oaks Civic Auditorium.
Early life
George was born in Brooklyn, New York to immigrant parents Teresa Simon and George Joseph Sr.. he started studying music at the age of 5 and attended the prestigious High School of the Performing Arts in New York, followed by a short attendance the highly competitive Juilliard School, where he honed his skills as a classical pianist. From there he went to New York University where he majored in theater, studying directly under legendary acting coach, Stella Adler. In 1987, a tragic accident befell the budding classical pianist; the median nerve of his right hand was severed, causing the almost complete loss of movement and feeling to his right hand. At the Hand Surgery Center in New York City, George underwent microsurgery. He was told he would never play piano again.
Apparent that his career as a classical pianist was over, George decided to leave NY. He took up residence on a cruise ship where he tirelessly worked at rehabilitating his hand and discovered a new hidden talent; his voice. George moved to Los Angeles and quickly landed the coveted entertainer’s chair at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills. Where he was dubbed the “West Coast equivalent to the New York Carlyle Hotel’s Bobby Short” according to Los Angeles Magazine. Bugatti performed there for seven years from the grand opening in 1991 to 1998, meeting and playing for countless celebrities and dignitaries. It was there, that George first met Steve Allen. Not only did Allen produce a CD for him, but also invited Bugatti to appear in the stage version of the original "Tonight Show" with original cast members Jonathan Winters, Louie Nye, and Bill Dana at venues including the House of Blues in Los Angeles and Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.
In 1998, Steve Wynn, another Peninsula guest and Bugatti fan, invited Bugatti along with Michael Feinstein and John Pizzerelli, to open Wynn's Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas. George’s manager at the time, Robert D Wachs negotiated an unprecedented contract for Bugatti. "Bugatti Live on the Strip" was recorded at Bellagio, released in 2000 on Paul Anka Productions. Paul Anka also offered to produce and spearhead Bugatti’s career. Unable to finance the $500K deal, George lost the offer to singer Michael Buble.
Bugatti's next move was to headline with his big band at The Sands, Atlantic City in 2001. Chuck Darrow of the New Jersey Courier-Post said of Bugatti’s performance, “Bugatti is no museum curator, generally giving familiar tunes new life with sharp arrangements. His warm satiny voice is complemented by some of the best phrasing the Sands has heard since Sinatra last performed there.”
After continued rehabilitation of his hand combined with defiant unwillingness to accept the doctors’ diagnoses, in 2002,George received acclaim for his NYC Debut at Carnegie Hall on December 12, and again on May 14, 2003 performing on piano, a suite of his favorite works, arranged by Peter Nero.
His Current Release "A Night for Romance", distributed by Universal, is in stores and on radio play lists nationwide and was produced by Nigel Wright, former music producer of the FOX TV show American Idol. The CD features a single, “Two Shots of Happy” written by U2 front-man Bono, who gave George the song, originally intended for Frank Sinatra. Sinatra died before he had a chance to record it. That the song was given to lounge singer, Matt Dusk, is just a rumor.
George has been featured in: ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE, LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES and ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. National Television features include: INSIDE EDITION, EXTRA, HARDCOPY and NBC and CBS news in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
In addition to singing The Great American Songbook, George also performs songs from the 50's 60's and 70's and writes his own material. Recently George has opened for Comedy legend Don Rickles and Emmy winning television actor and comedian Brad Garrett.
George makes his directorial and writing debut with the musical; WiZaRD. The Music of Oz Composer Harold Arlen. Wizard is a labor of love for Bugatti who has written, directed and stars in this tribute to one of his favorite songwriting heroes, Harold Arlen. The show has been work-shopped and has toured Performing Arts Centers in 18 cities across America from 2006-2009. The stage musical is composed of 21 of Harold Arlen’s greatest hits including Stormy Weather, Old Black Magic, One for my Baby, World on a String, The man that got away, and many others. Wizard is co-produced by Sam Arlen, son of the famed composer.
George is also co-founder and Vice President of Harold Arlen Foundation/American Songbook Foundation 501(c)(3)