Photo by Juneaid Subzwari
Robert Bannon has been dazzling audiences on the stage and screen for years, his emotive and powerful vocals and knack for comedy bringing people by turns to tears of emotion, laughter and elation, and always to their feet.
Now, the accomplished and lauded cabaret singer and “Saturday Night Live” actor is about to release “Unfinished Business,” his debut album set for release in 2021. The highly anticipated album features Bannon’s versatile vocal talents and includes duets with Grammy Nominee Jane Monheit and recording star Loren Smith. “Unfinished Business” consists of two originals and 11 classic songs by a variety of American Songbook crowd pleasers running the gamut from Frank Sinatra to Johnny Mercer to Whitney Houston. Bannon recorded the album in his home studio with all musicians adhering to social distancing guidelines.
The album’s first single, a powerful rendition of the Bette Midler song, “From a Distance,” is a highly emotional and inspiring performance that sums up 2020 perfectly, providing an unforgettable, uplifting soundtrack to a tumultuous year. The track spotlights Bannon’s unforgettable and emotive rich, soaring voice and vocal flourishes as he signs of a hopeful, peaceful and prosperous future.
The album was produced by international cabaret superstar Lee Lessack. In 2020, Bannon and Lessack co-hosted the virtual sensation, “Quarantine, Cabaret, and Cocktails,” a weekly live stream on Facebook and YouTube that has reunited the Broadway casts of “Frozen,” “Aladdin” and “Mrs. Doubtfire” and featured Broadway legends like Lea Salonga, Chita Rivera, Shoshana Bean and many more. They have also hosted the applauded “Best of Broadway and Music” on Facebook Live and YouTube.
Bannon, a tireless performer, brings a wealth of experience and rave reviews to listeners. In addition to his work on “Saturday Night Live” the past three years, Bannon has performed with a number of rhythm-and-blues, jazz and comedy icons including Patti LaBelle, George Benson and Whoopi Goldberg at legendary venues like Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Bannon also sang for Bill and Hillary Clinton during for Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center and for Hillary Clinton at a Martin Luther King Day event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Bannon has also traveled the country performing his hit one-man show, “Unfinished Business,” including at New York’s famed Feinstein’s/54 Below cabaret. The autobiographical performance traces Bannon’s journey from his time at the prestigious Juilliard Prep School to giving up music to become a teacher and finding his way back to the stage. He’s also performed in national touring and regional productions of “My Big Gay Italian Wedding,” “Rent,” “We Will Rock You,” “My Way” and many more.
Robert Bannon has been singing since he was 12. He is a graduate of the William Esper Conservatory and Juilliard Prep, both in Manhattan. Bannon was admitted into the very first Juilliard Prep class for musical theater under the direction of Broadway icon Bertin Roswer at Lincoln Center. A Fort Lee, New Jersey, resident and native of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, Bannon spends his “downtime” from singing and performing in the classroom as a 5th grade history teacher in North Bergen, New Jersey.
PRIDE SPECIAL EVENT PERFORMANCES
“I Think He Knew Me”
“From A Distance”
DEBUT ALBUM
Unfinished Business
July 2nd, 2021
To learn more about Robert, visit www.RobertBannon.com
