(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- He was born Maurizio Carrara in Italy, but he's better known as Tony Ocean from Elmwood Park.
"I knew I always liked music. My grandfather was an opera singer, but my parents wanted me to do what my dad did. He worked for Gonnella Baking Company. My dad wasn't pleased when I told him I wanted to be a singer," he laughed.
Ocean attended Elmwood Park High School. His first gig was at 15 years old at a restaurant in Stone Park and he sang a Rolling Stones song.
"It was Jumpin Jack Flash," he recalled. "I got to sing on stage but on my break I had to sit in the car. I couldn't sit in the bar because I wasn't of age," he laughed.
Ocean performs the music of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and hits of the ’50s-’80s. He also performs with the Cheap Trick cover band, The Dream Police, and Moe Jo’s Jukebox, which plays songs of the 60's and 70's.
"I always loved the Sinatra, Rat Pack kind of music, because when I saw those guys on stage and in their movies, they were so cool. I changed my name to Tony Ocean, after Frank Ocean from Ocean's 11- the original with Frank Sinatra."
He started out performing in restaurants and lounges. In 1992, Ocean was discovered when he won the runner up prize on the popular TV show "Star Search". He returned to Chicago and got a gig at the former Jilly's in the Gold Coast.
"That gig really put me on the map and my career took off. In 2000, we played the Riviera in Las Vegas in 2000."
Over 30 years, he estimates he's performed 8,000 shows.
"That's pretty amazing. I'm going to be 60 in December. To be able to say I'm still doing this- I would never have thought that I would still be doing this as much as I am. I sometimes I wish I could clone myself," he laughed.
Ocean has traveled the world with his act and even opened for Don Rickels and Tony Bennet, but his place in the Chicago performing scene has become legendary and he's acquired quite the local following.
"A lot of places have been so good to me. My local following- a bunch of people flew out to Vegas to see me there. We just finished Florida and Arizona and people came there to see me. I'm blessed." he smiled.
The recent pandemic kept Ocean on the sidelines for about six weeks, but then he returned to performing in a whole new way. He was often asked to appear in driveways or in backyard tents in Chicago neighborhoods so that people who were quarantined or practicing social distancing could enjoy his performances.
"We made it work. We did some online performances, but one thing I realized is that what people needed to get through that was music."
A packed house filled the Des Plaines Theater over the Memorial Day weekend to see Tony Ocean's 30th Anniversary Extravaganza.
"I couldn't believe all the people who showed up. I peeked through the curtain and I got a little nervous. I was so humbled and grateful so many people came out to celebrate with me," he said.
Ocean is still booking more than five nights per week. He said his energy and his sense of humor keeps him going.
"I want to keep doing what I'm doing. I've been everywhere. But I'll keep doing this until people stop coming to see me or I can't sing anymore. With four cigars a day, I'm surprised my voice is still there too," he laughed.
As he reflects on 30 years, Ocean takes pride in being Chicago's own, a timeless performer, just like his music.
"I've been very, very fortunate. I don't know," he shrugs. "Maybe I create something in the atmosphere to keep the audiences coming. If I can do that 2 hours a day or 3 hours a night, make people happy, then I've done my job." he smiled.
Visit tonyoceanmusic.com for information on Ocean's upcoming shows.
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