From Local Farm Boy to Vegas Singing Star in Concert at Waterbury Palace Theatre

Steve Lippia is a local boy who grew up on his grandfather’s vegetable farm in Southington during the town’s rural era of the 60s-70s. 

Steve looks back at his early nutmegger days, reflecting now on the simple but happy boyhood life that was his growing in in Apple Valley. 

“My family worked hard as farmers. Not people of means, but I was happy in that special bucolic quality of life, my years at Flanders Elementary School, St. Thomas Junior H.S. and St. Paul’s H.S. in Bristol. I remember those times as though they were yesterday. I had so many friends growing up in Southington.  I was interested in music as long as I can remember from my mother teaching me the classics.  I was also very curious about the popular styles of the decades before me and I loved to sing many of those songs."

"Later, after college I was on the the school board of St. Paul's High Both from my school days and later on their board, I enjoyed some solid friendships with teachers and classmates and staff.  Those memories remain alive to this day and many of us stay in touch.”

Lippia attended the college which is now CCSU, (then a college). earning a degree in  psychology and English Literature. He later studied Law at Western New England College in Springfield.  "I became a stockbroker with Kidder Peabody and still later to some fine career pursuits, but I left Southington in 1989 in a decision to move to Florida where I started a paving business."

Ten years later, in 1999, Lippia decided to act on his continued passion for music and, in particular, singing.

Steve’s life changed dramaticaly as he soon became a star and show headliner on the Las Vegas Strip, a trouper doing national concert tours in a hundred cities each year, including Canada, Latin America and Europe, while his home turf has offered him opportunities to perform with the Hartford Symphony at Talcott Mountain and the Bushnell Theatre.   

Described by critics today as “a singer’s singer, a prominent professional American vocalist.”,  his popular crooner-style vocalism is reminiscent of Frank Sinatra, though he is clear in saying: “I don’t do Sinatra. I don’t don Bobby Darin. I do myself, though my natural voice happens to be similar to Sinatra’s.”

Now, there's good news for Steve’s local friends, family and fans: He will be doing a benefit concert for his alma mater, St. Paul’s H.S. of Bristol,  at Waterbury’s Palace Theatre on Thursday, May 8, 2014. Lippia will be his show, entitled: “Simply Sinatra”.  

With a hot, driving band behind him, Steve moves from crisp, popping swing tunes to lush, poignant ballads with a voice that is reminiscent of a young Sinatra, Harry Connick, Jr. and Bobby Darin.  His repertoire brings the music and lyrics of Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, and Rodgers and Hart to new life and includes such standards as “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, “The Lady Is A Tramp,” “Mack The Knife,” “Summer Wind,”  “That’s Life,” and “The Best Is Yet To Come.”  More concert and ticket info at www.palacetheaterct.org/box-office.  Also visit www.stevelippia.com.