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Don't call Steve Lippia a tribute artist. And whatever you do, don't call him a Frank Sinatra impersonator.

Lippia hears cheesy connotations in those terms, and he's quick to say that's not what he does. "I don't put on a pinky ring and talk like I'm from Hoboken," Lippia said. "I don't try to look or walk or act like Frank, or adopt his persona."

What Lippia does is sing like a real singer who knows how to deliver the great songs of the Rat Pack era. He doesn't try to make his voice sound like Sinatra's. It just does.

Listeners can judge for themselves when Lippia joins the Utah Symphony for "Simply Sinatra," conducted by the orchestra's principal pops conductor, Jerry Steichen. (Skeptics can check out Lippia's style on YouTube.)

Steichen needs no convincing. "Steve and I have worked together quite a bit," Steichen said. "You close your eyes and he sounds exactly like Frank Sinatra at the height of his career. It's beautiful voice, and he has the style down. "

Steichen said audiences around the country are in the mood to remember Sinatra. "People loved to hear him sing," Steichen said. "The whole Rat Pack thing and the glamour of that era and his life are now enjoying such a rebirth with shows like 'Mad Men' and 'Pan Am.' People are nostalgic for the sophistication of that time, and that's really what Steve has. He's singing the Great American Songbook, music we grew up with and love."

Lippia said he grew up listening to rock music, not Sinatra, in the 1960s and '70s. He auditioned for a high-school variety show in his home state of Connecticut and ended up singing the Sinatra tune "It Was a Very Good Year" after running across the sheet music at a friend's house.

The performance won a rave review in a local newspaper, prompting Lippia to call area bandleaders in search of part-time work. Lacking training, experience and the ability to read music, he was turned down a lot.

Finally, the leader of a big band met with him, noted his muscular physique and hired him as a roadie. The job required transporting, setting up and taking down sound equipment for dances and shows. Learning one song at a time, Lippia started working his way into the act while attending college.

Life intervened, and the part-time music job gave way to jobs as a stockbroker, then contractor. Lippia was working in Florida when the singing bug bit again. This time, he got noticed by Sinatra's former pianist and music director, Vincent Falcone, and his life changed in a big way.

Within months, he had a long-term contract to headline a show at Las Vegas' Rio hotel in front of a swinging 21-piece band. The backup group got even bigger when Lippia began bringing transcriptions of Sinatra's original charts to symphony orchestra halls across the nation.

Those charts, based on Sinatra's song arrangements by Nelson Riddle, Sammy Nestico and others, are key to the show's success, Lippia said.

"I'll be bringing to this show some very authentic re-creations of those arrangements, played by a wonderful symphony," he said. "We'll have the whole musical palette of strings, woodwinds, harp and horns. Wrapped within that is a big band — saxophones, brass and a rhythm section."

Songs on the playlist include "I've Got You Under My Skin," "The Lady Is a Tramp," "My Way," "Fly Me to the Moon," "Come Fly With Me" and many more. Lippia will even sneak in some songs introduced by singers such as Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin.

Lippia likes to chat with his audiences and tell stories about the songs and those who sang them. But don't expect to hear an imitation of Sinatra.

"Anybody that tries to emulate or copy someone like Sinatra does a disservice to the original artist and themselves," Lippia said. "The best entertainer you can be is one who is genuine and authentic, the best version of yourself."

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Sinatra at the symphony

"Simply Sinatra" is the theme for Utah Symphony concerts headlined by singer Steve Lippia. Principal pops conductor Jerry Steichen will conduct.

When • Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24 and 25, at 8 p.m.

Where • Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City.

Tickets • $27 to $85 ($5 more on performance day) at 801-355-ARTS or http://www.usuo.org. Season ticket holders and those desiring group discounts should call 801-533-NOTE.

Hear for yourself • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tPwABDT-0w