Michael Imperioli is a star in his own right. But recently, the actor who plays Christopher Moltisanti on “The Sopranos” was very impressed when — waiting outside a studio door — he heard Bruce Springsteen rehearsing inside.
Except it wasn’t Bruce.
Frank Bergonzi (left) and Michael Imperioli.
The voice belonged to Frank Bergonzi. The Westport resident is front man for Lost in the Flood — a Springsteen tribute band. In a world of imitations, he’s the real deal.
Frank’s day job is North America director of corporate distribution for BASF. He commutes daily to New Jersey — the state he and the Boss grew up in — but on weekends his band plays all over the tri-state area. If you close your eyes — or stand outside the door, as Imperioli did — you’d swear Frank was Bruce.
This Saturday, you won’t have to travel far to hear Springsteen Bergonzi. Lost in the Flood plays n 8:30 p.m. show on Bobby Q’s roof. The dancing in the dark promises to be great — but even greater is the cause. For the past 6 years Lost in the Flood has donated funds from this gig to the Westport Fire Department — which passes it along to the Connecticut Burns Care Foundation.
Frank performed in musicals in high school — a fact that surprises those who know him as a jock. At UConn he was in a southern rock band.
Shortly after 9/11, Frank and fellow Westporter Steve Goldstein played an acoustic set to benefit the fire department. They included tunes from Bruce’s post-9/11 album “The Rising.” Two years later Frank auditioned to be Lost in the Flood’s vocalist.
The glory days continue Saturday night — right here in my hometown.
9/11 still resonates with the entire band. The bass player’s wife lost her 1st husband in the Twin Towers. Frank often dedicates “The Rising” to her and her children. Frank thinks about him throughout the song — “and others like him who lost their lives, just going to work that day.”