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09/02/2015 04:03 PMEach time the celebrity judges gave feedback to Nick Fradiani, Jr., on his way to winning American Idol 2015, his dad, Nick Fradiani, Sr., was listening—and learning.
"I got to know them a little bit and I think what I really took away from Harry and Keith and JLo was that they were really encouraging and trying to help people become better artists than they already are," said Fradiani, Sr., of American Idol stars Harry Connick, Jr., Keith Urban, and Jennifer Lopez.
On Sunday, Sept. 13, Fradiani Sr. will help choose the next "Can U Sing USA" winners, as a judge at the live-music "Can U Sing Final Showcase" at Water's Edge Resort in Westbrook. Event proceeds will benefit a Can U Sing anti-cyberbullying music video production.
Madison resident and Branford native Jill Nesi is an Emmy-nominated singer/songwriter and the creator of Can U Sing. She says having Fradiani, Sr., as a celebrity judge is another milestone in the program she started as a way to encourage new vocal artists and to support important local causes.
"Nick Fradiani, Sr., is an accomplished song writer and musician and he's thrilled to be doing this," said Nesi. "We've really come a long way since I started this in 2013 out of my pocket! In the past few years we've raised thousands for pediatric cancer programs, and this time we're putting the proceeds toward doing a music video titled Stand Up and Speak Out. It's a song I've written about a girl who commits suicide as a result of cyberbullying."
The video features a past Can U Sing finalist, Summer Eden, on vocals. Nesi said she's already reached out to Madison and DurhamState Representative Noreen Kokoruda to begin a dialogue about incorporating the video as part of statewide anti-cyberbullying efforts.
"I want to be able to give it to every high school in Connecticut to start a discussion," said Nesi, who is also a mom to a middle school student. "It's 2 ½ minutes; it's short and intense and purpose of it is to start a discussion in the schools. It's to make them think and to help them deal with this. There are numbers they can call; there's help they may not know about. It's to prevent the worst thing from happening."
Supporting the hopes and dreams of young people, and adults, is a big part of the Can U Sing philosophy. This year's final showcase on Sept. 13 brings 18 talented young singers (ages 13 to 17) to the stage and 22 adult finalists (ages 18 and up). The adult who takes first prize will win $2,500 and the youth who places first, $1,000 (sponsored by Barbarino Nissan).
"It's a nice positive thing for young people who really want to pursue this as a career, and we're also trying to get the point across that it's never too late to dream," said Nesi. "For example, we have an 88 year-old gentleman who's a retired New Haven Police sergeant and he's fabulous."
Each finalist first made their way through auditions and preliminary judging this summer, during events held in East Haven sponsored by The Fireplace Store and emceed by prestigious Connecticut DJ John Saville. Saville returns as Master of Ceremonies at the final showcase on Sept. 13, where past American Idol Top 40 finalist Erin Christine will join Fradiani, Sr., at the judging table.
Fradiani, Sr., said watching his son's experience as an American Idol contestant, combined with Fradiani, Sr.'s own 40 years in performing, creates empathy for the range of emotions each Can U Sing finalist must be experiencing.
"When we were out there at American Idol, it was pretty awesome. But we were never thinking about my son becoming the next American Idol, because my son has always said he never looked at music as a competition," said Fradiani, Sr. "We try to find the good in all kinds of music. So I'd like it to be something these kids can learn from. Some of these kids are just starting their career. I've been doing this 40 years, and hopefully I can help these kids with some feedback, and make it a great learning experience."
Nick Fradiani, Jr., graduated from Guilford High School and his family still resides in the town. While his dad is busy with a burgeoning area performance schedule of his own, Nick, Jr., is in Nashville, Tennessee, working on his first CD.
"I just got off the phone with him about 20 minutes ago," said Fradiani, Sr., who was interviewed Wednesday, Sept. 2. "He's doing awesome; he's very excited about the song he composed last night. One thing we both do is write songs and share with each other all these ideas. We love to perform; but our real passion is song writing, and because Nick is such a good writer, they're letting him write his own songs. So he's really excited because this is one of the first years that [American Idol] is allowing a CD with songs that have been written or co-written by the winner."
Sharing the same name as his famous son has been a good thing, added Fradiani, Sr., even when it meant temporarily discontinuing sales of a CD he'd published well before his son was on his way to becoming a household name.
"At the time they were judging American Idol, one of my CDs was selling a lot and I had to take it down so it wouldn't cause any confusion," said Fradiani, Sr. "That was no problem; I would do anything for my kids. So I'm always going to have to use that 's-r' at the end of my name; but it's really helped me a lot. I'm playing a lot more now and my shows get a lot more people."
Fradiani said he looks at the new-found recognition as an opportunity to "give back."
"I've been getting more involved with charities, because if there's anything I learned about last year, I learned to be grateful and to give back," said Fradiani. "That's why I'm happy to help Jill. She's got a great soul."
Ticket reservations are recommended for the Can U Sing Final Showcase Sunday, Sept. 13, at noon at Water's Edge Resort, 1525 Boston Post Road, Westbrook. Reserve tickets ($45 adults, $20 kids) by email sent to jillnesi@aol.com. All proceeds benefit the production of Can U Sing's anti-cyberbullying video "Stand Up and Speak Out." For more information on the video and Can U Sing, visit www.canusingusa.com. Donations toward completion of the video accepted online at www.gofundme.com/ya2e363b.