LOUIS Hoover had company when he starred in Frank, Sammy And Dean, The Rat Pack Live From Las Vegas last year. Now, he must do My Way his way in his own touring show, Louis Hoover's Salute To Sinatra.

"It was a nerve-wracking prospect but now we've worked on it, and two weeks into the tour we're stunned how well it's going," says Louis, who will be in York on Wednesday with a 17-piece orchestra to salute Sinatra at the Grand Opera House.

As a young man, Hoover had been drawn to the glamorous Seventies sound of David Bowie and Roxy Music before the discovery of a box of albums in the back of a cupboard changed his musical course. "It had this picture of this actor on it, and I thought 'Who's this actor who's done these albums?'"

The 'actor' was Frank Sinatra. "I just thought he was this actor who could sing a bit, but out of curiosity I put the record on and out of the speakers came this enormous sound, at a rock'n'roll noise level, and I was hooked."

Hoover was to make his name in Wall Street Crash, his talent coming to the notice of jazz legend Ronnie Scott, who noted that "this kid can really croon". Subsequently, Hoover recorded a self-titled album with a sextet for Scott's Jazz House label and a Sinatra tribute album, And This Is Me.

Louis went to play Sinatra in Frank, Sammy And Dean and will return to that touring production in April for a new Rat Pack tour with a new cast in April. Where Louis must always stay in character as Sinatra in that show, his own Salute To Sinatra is not so restrictive. "It's me as Louis Hoover paying tribute to Sinatra."

Looking to the future, Louis has been offered his own TV series, The Louis Hoover Show, six half-hour BBC shows. More details will follow as to when you can switch on this particular Hoover.

Louis Hoover's Salute To Sinatra, Grand Opera House, York, February 21, 7.30pm. Tickets: £12.50 to £15.50; ring 01904 671818.