Long before Atlantic City became synonymous with casinos, celebrity residencies and headline concerts, it was one of America's premier live music destinations.
Legends including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie made the city a must-stop on the entertainment circuit, filling grand ballrooms and theaters with the unmistakable sound of full orchestras. Those performances helped define an era when live musicians—not backing tracks—provided the soundtrack for unforgettable nights along the Jersey Shore.
Today, one performer is determined to ensure that tradition doesn't disappear.
Dave Damiani isn't simply putting on concerts. He's leading a movement.
A singer, songwriter, producer and bandleader with deep ties to Atlantic City, Damiani has made it his mission to preserve the Great American Songbook while introducing it to a new generation of music lovers. Whether performing timeless classics or celebrating legendary producers like Quincy Jones, his goal remains the same: prove that orchestral music still belongs on today's stages.
"Atlantic City has always been a music town," Damiani says. "There's something special about hearing a full orchestra perform live. I want people of every generation to experience that feeling."
Bringing Big Band Back to the Boardwalk
This summer, Damiani is making perhaps his biggest statement yet with It's Pure AC – Concert Series, an eight-week free concert series taking over Kennedy Plaza every Tuesday evening on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
Supported by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the series pairs nationally recognized performers with Damiani's acclaimed No Vacancy Orchestra, bringing audiences everything from jazz and swing to Motown, Philly soul and contemporary favorites.
The lineup includes America's Got Talent favorite Sal "The Voice" Valentinetti, acclaimed trumpeter Benny Benack III, Grammy-nominated guitarist Grant Geissman, American Idol finalist Casey Abrams, AGT winner Landau Murphy Jr., and South Jersey's own Budesa Brothers, among others.
For Damiani, however, the concerts are about more than entertainment.
They're about reclaiming Atlantic City's identity as one of America's great live music destinations.
With more than 50 casino and performing arts productions to his credit—and his original song It's Pure AC serving as the city's official anthem—Damiani has become one of the region's most passionate ambassadors for its musical heritage.
Celebrating a Musical Giant
That same passion continues at Resorts Casino Hotel this summer with The Quincy Jones Experience, a full-scale theatrical concert honoring one of the most influential figures in music history.
Joined by his No Vacancy Orchestra along with special guest vocalists Elliott Yamin (American Idol) and Ms. Monet (The Voice), Damiani will celebrate Quincy Jones' extraordinary catalog—from his collaborations with Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles to his groundbreaking work producing Michael Jackson's Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad.
Rather than simply recreating familiar hits, the production showcases the sophistication, depth and artistry that made Jones one of the greatest arrangers and producers in American music.
For Damiani, honoring Quincy Jones also reflects his broader mission of preserving musical excellence.
"Quincy Jones understood the power of great musicians playing together," Damiani says in the production announcement. "We're thrilled to honor his incredible legacy with an orchestra and performers capable of capturing the magic, sophistication and energy of his music."
Keeping the American Songbook Alive
While today's music industry often leans heavily on digital production, Damiani believes audiences still crave authenticity.
That means real musicians.
Real orchestras.
Real arrangements.
His performances blend timeless standards with contemporary classics, introducing younger audiences to the music of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Quincy Jones and other iconic artists while demonstrating how their influence still shapes today's sound.
Having shared stages with George Benson, Bobby Rydell, Joe Piscopo and Molly Ringwald, Damiani has earned a reputation as one of today's leading advocates for the Great American Songbook. But he isn't interested in nostalgia alone.
His vision is about evolution.
By pairing beloved standards with modern performers and fresh programming, he's creating concerts that feel both timeless and relevant.
Atlantic City's Next Encore
For Damiani, Atlantic City isn't just another tour stop.
It's home.
It's inspiration.
And it's where he believes America's love affair with live orchestral music can flourish once again.
As thousands gather this summer on the Boardwalk for free concerts or fill the Superstar Theater at Resorts Casino Hotel, they'll experience something increasingly rare in today's entertainment landscape—a full orchestra performing the songs that helped shape American culture.
In many ways, Damiani's work isn't just about preserving the past.
It's about ensuring future generations can discover it.
Because if he has anything to say about it, the sound of brass sections, string arrangements and timeless melodies won't simply become part of Atlantic City's history.
They'll remain part of its future.
Celebrate the timeless music of a legendary producer and composer at The Quincy Jones Experience, coming to the Superstar Theater at Resorts Casino Hotel on July 18. Acclaimed entertainer Dave Damiani & The No Vacancy Orchestra will take the stage alongside special guest vocalists Elliott Yamin of American Idol and Ms. Monet of The Voice for an unforgettable evening honoring the songs and stories behind Quincy Jones’ extraordinary career.
From Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles to Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, George Benson, and more, the concert spotlights the iconic artists and era‑defining hits that shaped generations. Experience “The Soundtrack of Our Lives” in a spectacular tribute poised to be one of Atlantic City’s must‑see musical events of the summer.
The Superstar theater at Resorts Casino Hotel - 1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Tickets: https://resortsac.com/events-and-promotions/the-quincy-jones-experience/
