"I went in, and I met with Woody, and he looked at me up and down," Forte says. "I'm talking about ten minutes. He says, 'Could you do a movie with me?' I says, 'Yeah.'" With that, Apollo Forte landed the role of lounge singer Lou Canova, which was originally a small role but ended up being a major part of the film. Allen also used two of his songs ("Agita" and "Bambino") because, the singer says, they fit right into the movie.
"When the movie was done, the executive producer said, 'It was a great day when you met Woody Allen, but it was a better day when Woody Allen met you,'" says Apollo Forte. "And that was the highest compliment I could ever have."
With a career that spans six decades, Apollo Forte knows his way around Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Dean Martin, but he'll also delve into other material from the 1950s and '60s when he performs at Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret, 1601 Arapahoe Street, tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets are $22; for reservations and more information, call 303-293-0075 or go to www.lannies.com.
Sun., April 22, 7 p.m., 2012
