Interview: J. Robert Spencer of THE MIDTOWN MEN at Van Wezel

J. Robert “Bobby” Spencer spends a lot of time in airports. He has been traveling for the last 13 years with The Midtown Men all over this country and while doing so has become a part of the million-mile-club. While that says something about him having allegiance to one airline, that is not the only place you can see he is a very loyal person! He took a small reprieve, waiting for a flight of course, to catch up with us at Broadway World Sarasota.

It is a joyful experience to hear Bobby reminisce about his time on Broadway as a part of the original Jersey Boys cast, but he more is thrilled that his art goes way back beyond that time in 2004. “The legacy of entertaining and entertainers goes all the way back to Vaudeville. Like those who performed then, I just want to make people feel good and forget about all their troubles for about 90 minutes[sic].”

Bobby has plenty of music to evoke, as he spent a lot of time as a kid in the car with his family traveling up and down the East Coast. He states that was always switching the radio station to 1960’s music. Now that he and The Midtown Men have performed over 1200 shows highlighting this time, they know that sharing the beloved music they grew up listening to, reaches people of all generations. “Sharing music that is well loved takes everyone back to a time of nostalgia.”

When the other three cast members of the Jersey Boys, Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria and Daniel Reichard decided to get back together to do a touring show honoring the Rat Pack era music, they could not figure out what to call themselves. No longer “Boys”, it took them 9-months to come up with the name The Midtown Men, and it well suits them. An honor to their roots in New York City, they also are all now all grown-up “Men”.

Performing from a wide variety of 1960’s music, including The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Chicago, Elvis, The Temptations and more, each member brings their own individualized favorites alive on the stage. Sometimes they even perform songs that they have written (particularly at their Christmas shows). “There is a certain brotherly bond and chemistry of working together for so long.” Bobby was elated as he expounded on the fact that that he and his bandmates have a “different credibility” because they are all the ORIGINAL’S from a Broadway show. The mastery and craftsmanship that comes from honing that kind of skill-level in one person seems outstanding, but to put them all in together, to me sounds like pure magic.

We are so thrilled that The Midtown Men will be making their fifth appearance in Sarasota on March 6th. Tickets are still available for the one night show at The Midtown Men - MyProVenue™ (tickets.com). They are here for one night only, before they fly off again! Bobby looks forward to “looking back on his life and saying Wow! I have been everywhere and each place has a history. In those places we were able to do what we were meant to do: Making people feel good every night by sharing our divine gifts!”

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