Centennial Celebration: Crooners pay tribute to Frank Sinatra in Hoboken

HOBOKEN (WABC) -- What better place to celebrate Frank Sinatra than at Sinatra Park in Hoboken. The city's pop-up concerts began on Saturday, and many of the singers were not fooling around when it came to singing Sinatra.

"Frank Sinatra is the native son - he put the town on the map," said Sinatra singer, Mike Simone.

Ol' Blue Eyes may be the most famous person to ever come out of Hoboken, and this year, the crooner would have turned 100. In honor of Frank Sinatra's birthday in December, the city is celebrating sounds of Sinatra throughout the rest of the year with more than a dozen pop-up Sinatra concerts, like the one at Saturday at the Hoboken Historical Museum.

"They really appreciate that, and I think that's what they're honoring this weekend," adds Simone.

"I've been a Sinatra fan since 1975" says Sinatra singer Paul Jacobi, "I've been an enthusiast ever since, and I take it very seriously.

Jacobi came prepared with notes on the Sinatra songs he wanted to sing.

"I do have a setup at home, so I practice," he says.

Jacobi even worked with a musician for his background music.

"I found this guy in Scotland, he does magnificent work," Jacobi says.

Professional singer, Mike Simone shows Eyewitness News that imitating the Sultan of Swoon is more than just sounding right.

"When you perform at an event like this that celebrates his life and music, you want to catch that same feeling - classy elegance," Simone says.

If you are going to resemble one of the best singers in history, you have to do it correctly.

The celebration continues Sunday at Sinatra Park, when past Sinatra Idol winners will perform, starting at 6 p.m.