Conductor cheers as Sinatra sings Sinatra

Friday, Oct. 4, 2002 | 9:20 a.m.

When: 9 tonight, Tuesday and Wednesday; 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; dark Monday.

Where: MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre.

Tickets: $54.25.

Information: 891-1111.

Frank Sinatra Jr. makes a triumphant return to the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre tonight, five months after a successful concert in which he paid tribute to his father.

No one could be happier than the younger Sinatra's close friend and conductor, Terry Woodson.

"The audience goes nuts when they hear him," Woodson said during a recent telephone interview from his home in Los Angeles. "Sometimes he gets two or three standing ovations. I think people are a little surprised that it is the show that it is, and that he sings as well as he sings."

For decades young Sinatra was overshadowed by his legendary father.

"His dad did cast a big shadow," Woodson said. "Frank Jr. has come into his own, so to speak. He's doing his father's music, but it's the music he lives and he knows the songs inside and out."

So does Woodson, who is custodian of the Sinatra music library, as well as the music libraries of Henry Mancini, Linda Ronstadt and, among others, Sylvester Stallone's brother Frank.

As a music librarian, Woodson keeps copies of music by his clients on file and when they get ready to record, he prepares the sheet music for them.

Woodson, a trombonist, is a native of Tulsa, Okla., where he graduated from the University of Tulsa with a Master of Music degree before moving to Southern California to pursue a musical career in 1964.

"I came out here to see what I could do," Woodson said. "I didn't know how long I would stay. I had a music teaching degree, but I wanted to do something more than teach. I wanted to be a professional musician."

His career in Los Angeles started out in the music-copying business.

"Music copying is not a well known part of the business," Woodson said. "Someone has to copy the music, to extract the individual parts from a score for individual players. You have to have a copyist, or the music won't get copied."

At the same time he got a gig playing trombone with the Don Ellis band. But it was one of the most famous composers/conductors in the world who gave him his start.

"Henry Mancini opened the door for me," Woodson recalled. "I was playing trombone for Don Ellis and Mancini came down to hear the group. He happened to hear my set, my arrangement of a piece that featured me."

A few days later he got a call from Mancini, inviting Woodson to to join his orchestra.

Woodson played for many of Mancini's musical scores for such films as "Victor, Victoria." He performed with the legendary conductor until Mancini's death in 1994, at the same time pursuing other interests.

He got into the musical library business in 1980.

"Playing hit a lull," Woodson said. "Synthesizers were taking over. Work was not plentiful."

When a friend who maintained a musical library retired, Woodson took over. The Frank Sinatra and Frank Sinatra Jr. music libraries were included in the deal.

Woodson's relationship with the elder Sinatra was cordial but distant. He has always been closer to Sinatra Jr.

"I really enjoy conducting for him," Woodson said. "He does the music of my life, the arrangements I grew up with. Frank Jr. is doing such a marvelous job."

In addition to maintaining five libraries, Woodson's music service prepares and records music for many television shows. His credits include "Newhart," "Father Dowling," "Matlock" and "The Smothers Brothers."

Woodson also manages the Percy Faith Orchestra on monthlong tours in Japan each year.

"Percy Faith died in 1976, but people love the music -- especially in Japan," Woodson said.

The sound of a full orchestra is still appreciated by audiences, although the big bands are becoming rare.

"We will have 38 in the orchestra at the MGM Grand, including me," Woodson said. "People come out of the concert saying it's so nice to hear a real orchestra." I think people are a little surprised that it is the show that it is, and that he sings as well as he sings."

Terry Woodson

ABOUT FRANK SINATRA JR.