Howard plays Sinatra, but grew up mostly with Martin’s music. “When I first started in the Rat Pack I sang Dean’s songs, but people would say, ‘you look more like Frank’.”

He says he was about 12 when he first saw Sinatra. “I’d watch Frank when he’d be on Dean’s show. I liked the way he crooned, his bending of the notes.”

Sinatra’s vocal ability has often been debated but Howard maintains when he was younger and sang with big bands, his voice was very smooth. “During the ‘50s it got rougher and had that rough cigarette sound, but people really enjoy that tone. I don’t really know if anyone can do it – his phrasing was pretty unique. When he sings, you know it’s Frank.”

One of the things that has surprised Howard on tour, is how Sinatra’s music covers all age groups, especially in Australia and the UK. “Some kids in the UK know more about Frank than I do. They know all the songs and his movies. They watch Mad Men and dig the skinny suit and tie look.”

Sinatra was known as Chairman of the Board. “Frank was always in charge up there,” Howard says. Sammy and Dean, they were on stage to please Frank, they would try to crack him up.

“Sinatra, Davis and Martin were superstars in the music business, and all movie stars. Other members of the Rat Pack were actors Joey Bishop, (Frank liked his humour) and Peter Lawford, who was connected to the Kennedys, (which Frank saw as an asset).”

Howard says he is an actor first and so watched Sinatra’s reactions to Dean on stage via recorded footage. “Frank would try to tell jokes but he wasn’t good at it. I do that better. Frank would get on to tangents and nobody knew where he was going. Dean could come in an save him and Sammy did too.”

This trio, like the originals, are friends off stage. “Johnny [Edwards – Martin] and I see each other almost every day, and get breakfast a couple of days a week. Johnny started as Elvis and I had my own show on the [Las Vegas] strip doing 60 impersonations. We go out see other people sing. Alfredo lives in Los Angeles – he does the tours and some theatre show around the country, so we don’t catch up as often.”

Howard’s favourite Sinatra song varies. “I love That’s Life, but sometimes I like Summer Wind, Witchcraft, or– Craziest Dream which is an old song on the New York, New York album), it’s obscure and moving.”

His favourite of Martin’s is Sway, and his favourite of Davis Jr’s is Hey There. He says they bring a lot of music with them to Australia and change it up from one show to the next to keep them “sharp”.

“People want to grab on to the nostalgia, especially as they can’t see them [the originals] again. After Baby Boomers die off, it’ll change to a history lesson, but there’s always a way to make it relevant.”