Just call him the courthouse crooner.
Mark Lanzieri sings “Strangers in the Night” so smooth and so dead-on that you can close your eyes and swear “Old Blue Eyes” is singing himself.
Sinatra never took a break from singing to flip a hot dog on a bun.
Lanzieri owns Courthouse Dogs, a small hot dog cart parked daily outside Derby Superior Court at 106 Elizabeth St.
Every Friday since Sept. 9, Lanzieri and guitarist Mike Coppola put on a small sidewalk concert as Lanzieri sells hot dogs, sodas and other refreshments.
Neither men have been paid for their performances but Derby Cultural Commissioner Rich DiCarlo feels they are providing a great service for Derby.
“He’s a breathe of fresh air,” DiCarlo said. “ He plays to a captive audience — including those stuck on the ramps of the courthouse.”
Last Friday, about seven people gathered to watch them play.
“I think he’s great,” said Josh Zebrowski of Seymour. “The food is well and his sings well, too. I was surprised, but he’s cool, actually.”
Lanzieri and Cappola play jazz and swing — but mostly Frank Sinatra tunes. They say they are planning to play until it gets colder, perhaps even until Thanksgiving.
The two men have performed together in the past and each has performed music for more than thirty years. Lanzieri sings at weddings, special events and restaurants.
Lanzieri said he is scheduled to play at the Brickhouse Restaurant and Cafe, Derby, on Sept. 25 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Coppola says he has has played guitar for over 42 years and also plays professionally. He performs three days at Griffin Hospital which consist of two days at the new cancer center and one in the main lobby in the general hospital of Griffin. He also teaches professional guitar lessons.
It is their outdoor combo that gets Valley residents passing the courthouse moving to a different beat and stopping in their tracks.
One bystander, Jess Zembruski, of Shelton, was impressed by the informal concert.
“He’s amazing. I wouldn’t have thought a hot dog guy could have such a great voice,” said Zembruski. “ This is also my first time seeing a nine string. It’s not something you expect to see in front of a court house but you get such a great vibe.”
