Q & A with Las Vegas Favorite Frankie Moreno

Frankie Moreno has had music on his mind since childhood and it’s paid off. A piano prodigy, Moreno enjoyed the national spotlight at age 10 when he appeared on Star Search. More recently, the singer, songwriter and instrumentalist has been twice-named ‘Las Vegas Headliner of the Year’. So it’s no surprise that today, Moreno is busy headlining his new show on The Strip—Under The Influence at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. I caught up with the multi-talented entertainer to talk about his work and the power of entertainment history and legends in Sin City.

You got an early glimpse of show business. Did that experience ignite your desire to pursue a career in entertainment, or make you a little more cautious about the choice?

I actually started playing piano at about 3 years old. I was one of those little freaks who could play Mozart before I could even talk. I kinda always knew music was what I was supposed to do. After I did Star Search it was crystal clear. I didn’t win the competition, which was a huge bubble burst, but it made me realize how hard I was gonna have to work for it. I dove right in after that with no turnin’ back.

Right now you’re headlining in Vegas where you pay tribute to major musical influences like Elvis and Frank Sinatra—who, of course, ruled the Strip way back when. As a performer, is there something magical that happens being in a city with so much entertainment history?

It is very magical. There are some big shoes to fill out here. I think Vegas has been one of those cities that has been up and down in the entertainment field. Sometimes it’s super hot and sometimes it’s not. Like any other music hub. We had a point out here where it was all artists that were done with their careers and came to make easy money. But now we have some of the biggest names in show business here. It’s kinda become how it was back in the ’60s and ’70s with the rat pack and Elvis. My goal is to just try to stay ahead of the game and focus on being the best I can be. That’s all I can do. Everything has its place out here, and I’m just excited to be part of it all.

What do you hope audience members will take away from ‘Under The Influence’?

The whole concept stemmed from the idea of digging into each artist and finding who their influences were. Tracing it back farther and farther. Everything comes from something. We want to show the audience how that works. But most of all, we just want them to have a good time with us and walk away saying, “Let’s do that again.”

You’ve been twice named ‘Las Vegas Headliner of the Year’. In a city that’s bursting with amazing entertainment options, that’s quite an honor. What do you think fans and critics relate to in your work?

When I first moved to Vegas, I played only original music. I never really played anybody else’s songs. That was not the trend. In fact, it got me fired from a lot of casinos. I even got fired from the Aladdin for playing my own music, which is now Planet Hollywood. Ironic.

I think the people who enjoy what we do just like us because we truly treat every performance uniquely. Never the same show twice. I feel if you’re gonna be an artist…once you paint a picture, it’s done. Paint something new. I think our audiences have grown to expect that of us and it keeps us always on our toes. I also try to write music that people can relate to. Something everyone has been through and can understand. It keeps me and the crowd all on the same page.

You’re a multi-dimensional and multi-talented guy. So how do you decide what direction to take in your career—or is it about balancing all of the skill sets to create one uniquely amazing career that has the potential to take you in many directions?

I was always told by producers and managers in the past to fit in a tiny little box so it’s easy to sell. But I love everything from classical to funk. I never understood the concept of squashing the ideas down to sell more records. I think the direction I’ve always taken is forward. I just wanna move forward. I still have so much to learn about music and it excites me. I’m a huge fan of music and I want to know all I can about it. So I study it. I practice. I explore. I think the variety of what I do ultimately defines my sound. My limitations define my style.

What’s next for Frankie Moreno?

That’s a good question. I never really thought it out like that. I just always want to progress. I never knew I’d be headlining in Vegas. These days it’s hard to know what’s gonna work and what’s not. I guess I just want as many people to hear what we do as possible. It will make it more fun to involve others. To be able to have these concert experiences with more and more new faces adding to the familiar ones. That’s kinda the beauty of music. Bringing a lot of people who don’t have much in common together to enjoy something. That’s a party I wanna be at. I will provide the music. That’s the dish I can bring.