LAS VEGAS – While on a songwriting spree during the pandemic, David Perrico got to thinking about his hometown.

The Las Vegas-based music producer, composer, band leader and trumpet player fondly recalled growing up on Youngstown’s west side. He wanted to salute the city, whose character and traditions remain at his core.

The result is “Youngstown, Steeltown,” a seven-minute opus recorded in May by Perrico and his 68-piece Pop Symphonic orchestra, plus a group of eight singers. Perrico arranged all parts for the orchestra and also plays trumpet on the song. Rocky Brown co-wrote the lyrics with Perrico and also arranged the vocal parts.

​WATCH VIDEO HERE

“Youngstown, Steeltown” will appear on Pop Symphonic’s upcoming album, “Sidewalks,” which will be released July 1. The song and video were recorded at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas.

Perrico’s DPG Enterprises employs 100 musicians and manages 12 bands in the casino city, where he has lived for the last two decades.

But the Chaney High School and Dana School of Music graduate simply cannot forget the city that shaped him.

“It’s important for people to remember where they cut their teeth,” he said in a phone interview. He credits Youngstown for his work ethic and never-quit approach during hard times.

“People there learn to adapt,” he said. “They are quick to think on their feet and hustle, to make a buck. That work ethic gave me the drive I needed out here.”

Perrico also credits the musical mentorship he got in the city, citing some of his instructors: Tony Leonardi and Esotto Pellegrini at YSU, and Bill Gonda and Joe Danko when he was still in middle school and high school. Perrico actually began taking trumpet lessons from Pellegrini when he was 12.

In “Youngstown, Steeltown,” Perrico layers a confident and clear trumpet melody over the lush orchestra. At intervals, the vocalists take turns singing lines about the city and its enduring pull.

“Something keeps on calling me back there, and I know it will always be home.
“It’s the people who give this city it’s heart and soul.
“All the ones who lived here before us, all the ones who raised and adored us.
“The memories and lessons they taught that made us who we are.”

Brier Hill, “Sunday sauce” and the city’s long list of sports greats also get mentions.

The upcoming album will include “Youngstown, Steeltown,” and nine other new songs written and arranged by Perrico and performed with Pop Symphonic.

While Perrico’s orchestra “can play everything from Beyonce to Beethoven,” it specializes in reworking pop songs with a full-bodied Vegas flair. He’s already thinking of a follow-up album that will focus on covers of songs by the likes of Earth Wind and Fire and Bruno Mars.

Perrico is also the leader of the Raiders House Band, which performs at all Las Vegas Raiders home football games. His next visit to Ohio will be as an ambassador for the NFL team.

On Aug. 6, former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Cliff Branch will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, and Perrico and the Raiders House Band will perform at the event.

“[Raiders owner] Mark Davis wanted his Raiders band to be there,” Perrico said.

On Saturday, July 9, David Perrico & Pop Strings Orchestra will perform “TRIBUTE TO THE DIVAS” featuring vocalists Lily Arce, Serena Henry, Skye D. Miles, Tymara Walker, Katrina Reese, April Develos, and Fletch Walcott, and the music of Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Cher, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Gladys Knight, Mariah Carey, and more…

Tickets start at just $29 and are available on The Smith Center website or via the button below...

New Pop Symphonic music video!
Pop Symphonic 68-Piece Orchestra

Youngstown-SteelTown
ASCAP-FIRST HAWK PUBLISHING
Recorded: May 3, 2022
Pop Symphonic Las Vegas
David Perrico - Composer, Trumpet, Arranger, Conductor
Rockie Brown - Lyrics & Vocal Arrangement BMI
Tymara Walker - Featured Vocalist
Steven Lee - Guitar Solo
​
Video by Light Forge Studio
Additional Recording by Luis Pacheo - The Hideout Las Vegas, NV
Audio Mixing by Bob Lentini - SAW Studios Las Vegas
Venue: Reynolds Hall - Smith Center Las Vegas, NV
Logo by Sebastien Theve

New Release! Original composition... 
Pop Symphonic 68-piece

LA PROMESSA
David Perrico - Composer, Conductor, Trumpet
Fletch Walcott - Lyrics/Rap/Vocals
Crystal Yuan - Viola Solo
Rockie Brown - Background Vocals
Steven Lee - Guitar 
Otto Ehling - Accordion

Venue: Reynolds Hall, The Smith Center Las Vegas
Video: Light Forge Studios
Audio Mixing: Bob Lentini, SAW Studios Las Vegas
Additional Recording: Luis Pacheo, The HideOut Las Vegas, NV

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - The NFL Draft wasn’t just about sports. For many locals, it was an opportunity; not only for employment, but to showcase their live entertainment talents on a national stage.

David Perrico and his Pop Strings Orchestra are the house band for the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. They also served as the draft event’s dedicated house band. In doing so, they played in several feature spots throughout the three days, on stage and on screen.

“It’s really exciting to have it here in Las Vegas. You can feel that little extra something,” said Perrico. “We’re still so fresh coming out of a shutdown, so anything with entertainment, businesses flourishing -- epecially to see our Strip with three or four multiple stages simulataneously -- it’s just great business for Las Vegas.”

He said the event was “truly an epic three days.”

​“And to see so many people back to work, ya know not just musicians, but in all of hospitality,” said Perrico.

Perrico told FOX5 they got the gig because an executive with Raiders’ media and entertainment spoke with the NFL’s entertainment team and referred them.

The NFL has done its homework in scouting Las Vegas talent.

A pair of “America’s Got Talent” champions, the cast of one of the hottest shows ever on the Strip and the new Cirque du Soleil production will represent the city in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The league on Friday announced the entertainment for the April 28 Day One festivities at the NFL Draft Red Carpet at the Fountains of Bellagio and also Draft Theater at Caesars Forum behind the High Roller at Linq Promenade. The draft runs from April 28-30.

David Perrico and the Raiders House Band is the event’s dedicated house band for all events at the Draft Theater.

The live entertainment at the Draft Red Carpet stage begins at about 5:30 p.m., following the parade of draft prospects at 1:45 p.m. Set to perform are the casts of “Absinthe,” which this month celebrated its 11th anniversary at Caesars Palace; “Mad Apple,” the new Cirque show opening May 12 for previews at New York-New York; and the hit dance production “Jabbawockeez” at MGM Grand.

The Las Vegas Academy Singers, winners of a dozen Grammy awards, will also perform “Lift Every Voice” from the Red Carpet venue.

Segments of the red-carpet action will be be televised as part of NFL Network’s NFL Draft Kickoff show. Melissa Stark and Michael Irvin will anchor the coverage and interview prospects live from the scene.

At the Draft Theater, Kodi Lee, the season 14 champ of “AGT” and a co-star in “America’s Got Talent Live” at Luxor, is set to sing the national anthem. “AGT’s” season 9 champ and Linq Hotel resident headlining magician Mat Franco is then set to perform at 5 p.m. Perrico’s band is performing throughout the events.

Las Vegas bands yet to be announced are also planned for each day and night of the draft. At the close of each day of selection, the NFL is hosting free concerts at Draft Theater in its NFL Draft Concert Series (which seems laid out like a vast Cool Hang on the Strip).

Access is on a first-come, first-served basis and is standing-room only, with all headliners to be announced. The entire complex at Caesars Forum is dubbed the NFL Draft Experience, the event’s football theme park.

Draft Experience hours of operation are noon-9 p.m. April 28, noon-9 p.m. April 29, and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. April 30.

The Experience is free and open to the public for all three days of the draft. For free entry, fans are required to register for NFL OnePass at NFL.com/OnePass. Fans can download the NFL OnePass app to play games at Draft Experience, receive digital content and glean more information about the attraction.

David Perrico & Pop Strings Orchestra will be performing at the Nevada Ballet Theatre's Annual Black & White Ball on Saturday, April 9 @ Encore at Wynn Las Vegas.

Nevada Ballet Theatre is pleased to announce that Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, author, activist and humanitarian Judy Collins will serve as the organization’s 2022 “Woman of the Year” at the 38th Annual Black & White Ball.

For Collins this distinction falls in the midst of a multi-city tour spanning two countries, an upcoming album, Girl In Colorado, due out in February, and a newly launched podcast entitled “Since You’ve Asked.” No stranger to performing in Las Vegas, Collins most recently graced the Reynolds Hall stage at The Smith Center (performance home of NBT) as part of a double bill with Stephen Stills of the famed Crosby Stills, & Nash.

From her beginnings as a 13-year-old piano prodigy, singer songwriter Judy Collins has made an indelible mark on the entertainment landscape with an illustrious career spanning over six decades. Responsible for shaping the music scene of the 1960s and 1970s, Collins’ famous interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards along with her own visionary compositions have led to top-ten hits, gold- and platinum-selling albums, acclaimed collaborations, and numerous awards and distinctions including the Grammy Hall of Fame. Her 1975 rendition of Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” became a chart success earning her international acclaim and cementing her star power.

Throughout Collins’ fascinating career in music, her commitment to helping others has also remained a constant; whether it be improving social injustices, supporting environmental causes or perhaps her most well-known platform in recent years – mental health awareness — for which she has been honored for both her prevention and advocacy efforts.

“Judy Collins is a bona fide superstar who has spanned the generations and continues to enlighten, entertain, and inspire with her music and humanitarian efforts,” said NBT Co-Founder and Co-Chair Nancy Houssels. “From arts and entertainment to championing mental health awareness, we are elated to honor this legendary artist whose extraordinary life and career has made an unforgettable impact on our world.”

As one of Las Vegas’ preeminent society and fashion events, the annual Black & White Ball supports all areas of NBT including its professional company, affiliated school, the Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre, and its successful Community Education programs–including the acclaimed Future Dance Program, that impacts 20,000 students a year, largely from underserved communities.

Boasting an important history of honoring female trailblazers beginning with Elaine Wynn in 1985, Collins now joins an impressive list of internationally-recognized female icons who have been celebrated over the past three decades by NBT for their artistic achievements, philanthropic contributions and connection to Las Vegas including Debbie Reynolds, Celine Dion, Marie Osmond, Bette Midler, Mitzi Gaynor, Florence Henderson, Debbie Allen, Olivia Newton-John, Vanessa Williams, Giada De Laurentiis, Rita Moreno, and Shania Twain among many others.
​
For information and reservations call (702) 243-2623 ext. 222 or email bwball@nevadaballet.org 

To purchase Tables or Individual Tickets, click HERE. ​

On March 2nd, David Perrico & Pop Strings Orchestra will perform “The Music of James Bond 007” featuring vocalists Lily Arce, Serena Henry, Jaclyn McSpadden, Laura Wright, and Fletch Walcott.

Tickets start at just $29 and are available on The Smith Center website or via the button below...

Excerpt from YSU MAGAZINE, Winter 2022 Edition: CLASS NOTES - EXTRA

When the NFL’s Oakland Raiders moved to Las Vegas and was looking for a band to play at home games, it was only a matter of time that they settled on David Perrico. The 2002 YSU Dana School of Music graduate and Youngstown native is a veteran musician and bandleader who has lived and performed in Las Vegas for 17 years. His latest gig is the front man for the 19-piece Raiders House Band, playing before 65,000 fans at the Raiders’ new state-of-the art home, Allegiant Stadium. The band debuted with a splash at the home opener on Monday Night Football this past fall.