Concert set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday

The Ironton Council for the Arts opens its 2016-2017 subscription concert series with nationally renowned crooner and Wayne, West Virginia native John Eric Booth, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, in the Ohio University Southern Riffe Rotunda.

Booth is also an entertainer, producer and radio personality. He will perform standards from the Great American Songbook, with his smooth vocal delivery reminiscent of the greatest male crooners of all time, such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett.

From a precision aspect, John Eric Booth considers Frank Sinatra as his major influence, but he also describes himself as an entertainer with a Dean Martin personality. Booth considers entertaining his fans as his greatest indulgence as a singer. He said his fans are the spring that propels him to higher musical levels and visions.

Interestingly, he did not actually begin paying homage to the great crooners like Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Johnny Hartman, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tom Jones, Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole until his late 30s. He then began noticing and listening more closely to the greats, along with the modern-day standouts.

A debut CD album titled “Alive & Swinging!” swiftly followed, including 15 tracks recorded with big bands and smaller groups. His career continued to escalate when the music video for his critically acclaimed single, the Bobby Troup/Neil Hefti penned classic “Girl Talk,” was released to the world. Booth described this as a dream come true, as he overlooked the beautiful seaside town of Laguna Beach during the 12-hour shoot.

Part of John Eric Booth’s plans for 2016 is to further reach out to his new audiences around the world and entertain them with more new music and video productions.

During the past six years, Booth has performed with some of the most revered musicians in Los Angeles, Hollywood, New York City and Las Vegas. He was recently endorsed by Pete Escovedo, Latin jazz drummer and percussionist with the legendary band Santana.

Currently, Booth is working on a six-song digital release with Australian producer/instrumentalist/arranger Damien Montalto which, he said, will reveal his soul and pop influences from the 1970s.

Tickets for this and other individual shows are $10. Season tickets for all seven performances are $70 (family), $35 (adult), $30 (senior citizens and non-Ohio University students). Ohio University students are admitted free with ID.

Season tickets may be purchased at the door or by visiting the Ironton Council for the Arts website at https://www.ohio.edu/southern/events/ironton-arts-concerts/performances.cfm. Also visit the ICA on Facebook.