Steve Lippia didn’t set out to be a musician.

While in his 20s, Lippia owned a concrete paving company in southern Florida and sang with local swing bands for fun, according to Port Angeles Light Opera Association board member Richard Stephens.

A demo tape of his singing found its way to some people who worked with Frank Sinatra, who thought they’d found lost recordings of Old Blue Eyes.

After learning the Sinatra sound-alike was Lippia, they flew to Florida to meet with him and within six months he was headlining in casinos in Las Vegas. Since then, Lippia has had television appearances, performed in sold-out venues throughout the United States and Canada and performed at events for well-known people including producer Aaron Spelling, Betty Ford and Donald Trump.

Lippia is bringing Sinatra’s music to the peninsula and, according to Stephens, PALOA is running wild with the 1950s’ theme, decorating the stage like a big band nightclub and inviting attendees to dress in swing dance clothing.

Lippia plans to perform Sinatra hits such as “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Luck be a Lady” and “My Way,” accompanied by a 16-piece orchestra.

Proceeds from the concert will go to the PALOA Building Fund, which is raising money for improvements to the PALOA Center for the Performing Arts building.

For Stephens, as well as many others who have heard Lippia, it is akin to hearing Sinatra in person.

“What is amazing is how much he sounds like Sinatra,” Stephens said. “He is not an impersonator but his voice sounds so much like Old Blue Eyes, when you play the two side-by-wide, you can’t tell the difference.”

What: “Simply Sinatra,” a concert by singer Steve Lippia accompanied by a 16-piece swing orchestra

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8

Where: Port Angeles High School auditorium, 304 E. Park Ave., Port Angeles

Tickets: Call 452-8299;

visit the PALOA Web site, www.paloa.org; or purchase at Northwest Fudge &

Confections, 121 W. First St., Port Angeles