A SHOW focusing on Frank Sinatra and the musicians, bands and singers which greatly influenced his career is being staged at the Palace Theatre on Friday.

The Sinatra Years features vocalist Tony Jacobs as Frank Sinatra, described by the late, great bandleader Syd Lawrence as 'a great singer with a great personality'.

Tony has been touring with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra for more than six years, as well as guesting with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra.

The Sinatra Years is also a musical tribute to other greats such as Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong, together with Sinatra's contemporaries Nat King Cole, Perry Como and Dick Haymes.

And the musical line-up is neither a big band nor the usual small group combo - although a great evening of jazz, swing, ballads and blues is promised.

Instead, it has been inspired by the swing band used by Sinatra in many world concert tours in the fifties and sixties, the Red Norvo Quintet.

Accompanying Tony is a quintet headed by musical director Jim Barry on the piano, saxophonist and clarinettist John Barnes, Roger Nobes on vibraphone, double bass player Andre Messeder and drummer Steve Rushton.

The show begins at 7.30pm and tickets cost £10, £9 (disc rate) or £8 (with Reddicard) from the box office on 65203 or the Tourist Information Centre.