Late composer’s daughter sings The music of Henry Mancini

By John Benson

The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra Pops concert is on Valentine’s Day.

With a last name of Mancini, singer Monica Mancini realizes she has big shoes to fill.

The Grammy Award-nominated vocalist, who has two solo CDs to her credit (“Monica Mancini” and “Ultimate Mancini”), continues to keep the music of her father, famed movie composer Henry Mancini, alive in the form of “The Music of Henry Mancini” touring show. This trip down memory lane by Mancini comes to Youngstown Saturday for a Youngstown Symphony Orchestra Pops Concert at Powers Auditorium.

“I could sing my dad’s music all of the time,” said Mancini, calling from Studio City, Calif. “I have no problem with that. It’s kind of a singer’s dream to have melodies that are so terrific to sing anyway, but people love Mancini music and the draw for people to come and see me is certainly because of the name. So they go in being Henry Mancini fans and come out being Monica Mancini fans, which is always a nice thing for me.”

Born in Cleveland’s Little Italy and raised in Aliquippa, Pa., the Grammy Award-winning Henry Mancini is remembered for his many songs, including “The Pink Panther Theme” and “Moon River.”

Fans attending the upcoming “The Music of Henry Mancini” can expect to hear those tunes and more. Also, Mancini, who in the past has appeared on various film scores and recordings, as well as recorded with notable artists such as Placido Domingo, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson, said she’ll be performing her own solo material.

“It’s a nice mix,” Mancini said. “Times are really bizarre right now, and I think anybody that can hear some great music, be entertained and take themselves away from the reality, it’s a nice way to spend some time. And when they hear the music played with the orchestra, it kind of puts people in a different space and time. It’s very comforting and a great way to spend an evening.”

Even though Mancini never had a chance to perform with her father, who passed away in 1994, she believes he’d be very supportive of her “The Music of Henry Mancini” show.

“Oh, he’d love it,” Mancini said. “When he was still alive doing what I do, his whole thing other than scoring films was he’d go all over the world and conduct pop symphony orchestras. And I used to ask him years ago, I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be a great idea if you conduct and I’ll come out and sing the songs?’ And he said, ‘I work alone, kid.’

“So he was around to do his own stuff, and now that he’s not here, I’ve kind of stepped into that position. I think he would be just floored. I think he’d be delighted, but if he was still here he’d be out doing his own music.”

Mancini said aside from enjoying the performance aspect of “The Music of Henry Mancini,” the show actually provides an ancillary element that remains special to her.

“In a weird way it keeps me very connected to my dad with his music,” Mancini said. “We still have a really great relationship 14 years after he’s gone, so it’s really fun for me and keeps him real close by.”