Elton John tribute singer inspired by soundtrack of his youth, "The Rainman" Donnie Leafloor comes to Kemptville Feb. 4

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By J.P. Antonacci

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EMC News - Classic rock fans know him as The Rainman, but Kanata musician Donnie Leafloor has another alter ego: Captain Fantastic.

Leafloor brings Captain Fantastic: A Tribute to the Music of Elton John to the North Grenville Municipal Centre Theatre on Feb. 4. Leafloor and his seven-piece Captain Fantastic Band cover the songbook of composer Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, including classics "Your Song," "Rocket Man," "Benny and the Jets" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting."

The two-hour show is a tribute, not an impersonation, Leafloor said in a recent interview. "It's truly about the music. I really wanted to focus on that," he said.

Tribute acts that depend on looks and gimmickry "get old quite quickly," he said. But his vision is different. Leafloor doesn't wear any outlandish wigs or costumes, instead trusting on his natural showmanship and years of performing experience to win over the crowd. "I think we'll bring some fantastic music to the stage, but we'll also bring a high level of entertainment," he said.

Listening to his older brother's records as a kid got the burgeoning musician hooked on Elton John, who was then a new face on the pop scene.

"When I was a teenager, I owned every album that he had ever written. As I thought then and as I do now, he's an incredible writer. He's been a big influence on me musically for many, many years, and I thought it was fitting to do a musical tribute to him," he explained.

Leafloor remembers seeing the bespectacled pianist perform for the first time in Montreal. "I'll never forget it - he was the man," he said.

Ottawa Senators fans might know Leafloor as The Rainman from his longtime solo act at a Scotiabank Place pub. During his 25-year solo career, fans would always tell him that he sounded "just like Elton" when he covered an Elton John song. It's not an impression, he says, but because John was such a big influence, some of the pop star's "vocal nuances" come through in Leafloor's singing.

Leafloor formed the Captain Fantastic Band two years ago, and the group performs monthly shows in the Ottawa area and as far away as North Bay and Edmonton. "Elton John's music itself is quite difficult to play, but I couldn't ask for a better band than I have now. We nail it. It's a simply fantastic band," he said.

With mainstays like "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel," the band's set list stays mostly mainstream to appeal to a wide audience, but Leafloor said the true Elton fan will appreciate a few more "obscure" numbers.

Though the band takes some musical liberties, Leafloor says the audience will recognize their favourite songs. "We stay pretty close to the originals. People have been accustomed to hearing it that way, so you really have to stay pretty close to it," he said.

That includes Elton's distinctive piano style, which Leafloor took years to get just right. "He's not an easy pianist to learn. He's a tremendous piano player. I've had to do a lot of work playing like him. I'm pleased at the level I've got to, but it's been a lot of work," he said.

The show's title is inspired by John's landmark 1975 record Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, but Leafloor says he can't name a favourite album. "Candle in the Wind" and a newer track, "Healing Hands," are among the songs he particularly loves to perform.

Captain Fantastic is stopping in North Grenville before a Feb. 24 gig at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The current tour visits several smaller venues, Leafloor said, as it's an "intimate" show that involves the audience.

"I'll get to know the crowd, we'll share some stories, we'll have a lot of laughs, and we'll get the people singing," he said.

Leafloor is welcoming four local musicians to the stage as backup singers. "They're very excited to do it. The more people you bring on stage, the more exciting it gets," he said.

Captain Fantastic comes to the North Grenville Municipal Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 4. Doors open at 7 p.m. with showtime at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28 and available at Class Axe Guitar in Kemptville and the Municipal Centre. For more information, visit captainfantastic.ca.




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