What can I say about my father? I could write a book about the man and how he helped save my life, gave me a career, or why he is the reason I even have a family. But instead, I want to share with you another side to my father.
My father happens to look like a very famous, icon-level, singer. Sometimes his more-than-slight psychical attribute can cause quite a roar. Let me tell you the story about a little incident (which occurred as a direct result of the considerable resemblance). This incident took place while on vacation with the guys, all the way in Vail Colorado.
After making a zillion ski runs down the luxurious bump filled slopes of Vail, my father and the guys enjoyed their dinners at the same restaurant every evening. Needless to say, after a few nights, the group had become rather friendly with the owner and the staff members.
One evening, the owner of the restaurant decided to have a little fun. He wanted to play a prank that included my unknowing father and the other unsuspecting patrons in the building.
There just happened to be a three-piece live band playing that night. The owner of the restaurant asked the lead singer of the band to lend a hand in executing this prank. The lead singer, took one look at my dad, and agreed…all to eagerly.
Smack in the middle of dinner service, the lead singer of the band, having just finished a Billy Joel set, turned on a bright spotlight.
A GLEAMING WHITE HOT SPOTLIGHT.
First, the spotlight was aimed onto my fathers’ table. But then, the spotlight narrowed in and pointed directly onto my fathers face.
Immediately the chatter amongst the tables ceased. People in the bar put their drinks down. Silence fell heavy in the room. Everyone curiously distracted by the giant ray of light gleaming onto what appeared to be a somewhat familiar face.
With microphone in hand, the singer announced the following, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am happy to tell you, we have a celebrity in the house! Look right here!” (spotlight square on my dad’s mug) “Everyone please give a warm welcome to Tony Bennett. Right there! It’s Tony Bennett. Tony! Don’t be shy! Stand up! C’mon, take a bow!!”
What was my father to do?
I’ll tell you what he did.
He stood up.
My father stood right up.
The entire room started applauding. Thunderous clapping rang in the air. My father stood there, and then, he jumped right into character.
He started to wave, in slow motion, while he turned a full 360 for all to see, before gracefully taking a bow.
After my father was seated again, a couple of drunken blitzed girls ran over to his table. “OMG! Like? Are you really Tony Bennett? OMG! OMG! OMG! You like ARE…You ARE like totally Tony Bennett!…Um. Can we like have your autograph?”
[insert pregnant pause]
“Yes, yes you can.” Said my father. He picked up a pen andautographed the napkins.
Yup.
That’s my Daddy.
When he’s in Colorado, he’s not Ron Colonna. He is Tony Bennett.
In my fathers defense…
The resemblance is uncannily very similar – I can wager a guess, but that’s all it would be. So, you come from royalty then????
So, here is my guess (at least on one pic) – you father is the one in the middle top row…
Thank God he’s not getting mistaken for Quasimoto!
he is a the real star… tony bennett or no tony bennett…..
WOW!! I always thought he looked like him, but when you put photos together it’s unreal!! Just by the movies you’ve made of him, I could TOTALLY see him play it up to the part. What a riot!! He’s so much fun!
Your Dad ROCKS! That is so much fun.
Lance:
Isn’t that awesome!
My father is in the middle top row and the far right top row.
Can you guess the others?
Angry Man:
Agreed!
Paisley:
I know how much you love your ‘adopted’ father!
xxoo
Chef Mom:
My daddy is The Best! He is total comedy.
CourtneyRyan:
Yeah, He does!
🙂
this is a freaking hoot. loved it. funny. good of him to play along. he could make money doing being a double.
people mistake me for someone else, people i don’t know though.
He Does look like him! Wow! Thats pretty neat!
Ah – but can he sing? Now THAT would be a hoot!
stepping up to the mike and just wailing” I left My Heart……. in San Francisco…..” Even if he couldn’t sing well. LOL.
What an incredible resemblance, and what a handsome, classy Dad you have!
Valerie:
The only person people ever confuse me with is Leah Remini from the King Of Queens. My dad is a total sport.
🙂
Oscar:
I KNOW! Its almost scary!!
No. My dad cant sing.
But he is one hell of a dancer!!
Selma:
Aw. Thank You!
He really is a gem.
xxoo
My dad was once mistaken for a felon.
Oh..wait…
..wasn’t a mistake.
My dad sucks.
He does look just like him! Very attractive.
My father doesn’t need to look like anyone… he already thinks the world revolves around him.
mooooooooog35:
I dont know if I should laugh at your comment or feel bad for you.
I’m choosing to laugh at that one.
Monique:
ha ha ha.
Well. My dad isnt perfect. He suffers from ‘asking too many questions and not waiting for the answers’ syndrome.
Wow, he really does look alot like Tony Bennett. That’s great he was such a good sport and played along!
I love ’em BOTH!!!!!!!! 🙂
And you too of course! xoxoxo
Employee No.3699:
I know. He should get paid as Tony’s stunt double!
Olga:
I love you back.
xxoo
🙂
So you are Meleah Bennet?? I want an autograph!!!!!!!!
😉
I look like Yoda ….
The best part of it all is that your dad goes along with it! that’s the spirit. Then again, he maybe IS the real Tony Bennett.
Speedy:
HA HA HA.
I love that YODA picture of you.
Rog:
Yeah. Well, my dad is NOT the real Tony Bennett. And I wouldn’t want him any other way.
I sure as HELL can tell the two apart. Your dad is YOUNGER, and more HANDSOME. He is such a hunk, meleah. Seriously. Don’t tell my very own hunkster. Hahahahaha! Great story!
Whoa!
How many times has he been stopped and asked for his autograph?
I wish I could think of something else funny to say but I’m having a pity party today…sorry. 🙁
Wow! OMG! He totally “like” DOES look like Tony Bennett! And now I want to go skiing.
My dad used to resemble Charlton Heston quite a bit, before he started going gray and all wrinkly. When we traveled to South Korea the whole airport customs area was starting at him, going “Shawlton! Shawlton Heston!” He had told us that this would happen, as he had been to South Korea on business before. We didn’t believe him.
wow, looks so much like him!
Wow, he really, really is, like, like Tony Bennett! LOL! Good for him for playing along, I say!
A friend of mine has a son who was mistaken for Corben Bleu one evening in a London pub. Now this young lad shouldn’t even have been in there in the first place, being only thirteen years old, but he’s incredibly tall, and well, there he was. A bunch of teeny girls were all over him, begging for his autograph. Bless him, he played along and signed (forged) for them. I laughed so much!! I looked up this Corben guy later and wow, the resemblance was uncanny! LOL!
Can I get an autograph – please? PLEASE????
Sorry, this has nothing to do with this post, but I didn’t see a way to email you…I was just looking at my Statcounter and apparently someone found me while looking for a Mia Mea Juicer, go figure.
Oh I’ve this story so firmly printed in my head, and I do believe they look so much alike 🙂
What a cool dad you have Meleah 😀 And no, I seriously cannot tell the difference between them. Thumbs up to your dad 😀
I never got to know my dad cos my parents separated when I was 5 years old and I’m always enjoying other people’s experiences with their dads 😀
Hi Meleah Bennett!
Awesome post! Can your Dad sing like his identical twin? 😉
Ha!!! I am taking him out to dinner and I am going to get to play the part of his agent!! Hmmm, but what day should we schedule? Uh, Christmas Eve, perhaps?
😉
KellyPea:
I knew YOU would be able to tell the difference!!
Im glad yoou made it over here for this story!
xxoo
Random Chick:
Hey! No More Pity Parties!!
Feel better woman
🙂
Eva:
ha ha ha ha ha ha
Thats classic!
RJ Light:
Thank you
Jay:
How funny!
Skipper:
SURE!!
Employee No3699:
LOL
(My email is in the side bar, but I will email you so you dont have to hunt for it)
Nick:
Totally Crazy right?
Miss Money Penny:
My dad cant sing, but he can dance with the best of them
RMH:
Its all too shocking
Michael C:
Yep! That would be the perfect date! Considering ya’ll share that birthday.
I KNEW it! I knew right away that you would say he looked like Tony Bennett!
I’ve always thought so. You have such a handsome Dad! Your mom is a lucky woman!
I love that he played along with the joke!
Hahaha, that is funny. He does look a lot like Tony.
It’s close, but your father is more handsome.
Terri:
My mom is a very lucky woman.
And my father is CLUELESS that he’s handsome.
He has NO IDEA how good looking he is.
Roshan:
My father is hysterical.
Momo Fali:
Aw. I will tell him you said that!
I can really see him doing this. I am going to ask him for his autograph
That’s too funny. Ron has always had such a great sense of humor.
That is a great story. I needed a laugh with the way things have been going with my non loyal customers!!!!!!!!
Loved it!!!!!!! Awesome writing – WTF are you doing here?
You are very talented, I felt like I was reading a page from a book…
Leslie:
You better do that. Ha. That will be hysterical.
Pammie:
Thats my daddy!
Keith:
I love when I make you laugh.
Ana:
Aw. Thank you. I dont know why I am in insurance.
*Damn this sure got around our office quickly!*
Now that’s awesome! I would have stood up too.
The resemblance is amazing… and so is your Dad 🙂
Excellent story! And your dad is a super good sport for going along with it. I imagine he had a good time with it.
Oh, by the way, there’s a little somethin’ somethin’ over at my blog for you. 😀
Diva:
Isn’t he the coolest?!
Dawn:
I will tell him you said so!
Lee:
Im glad you enjoyed this story!
A little something? For me?
Yay!
No wonder you are so gorgeous! Your Dad is a really handsome man. And you are right, he really does look like Tony Bennett.
Sweet Pea,
Tell Jennifer the REAL reason you are sooooo gorgeous!
Ha Ha Ha!
Hugs,
xoxoxoxoxoxo
That was an awesome story, and your dad is such a good sport!
Wow, that is really funny Meleah. I always thought your dad looked more like Frank Vincent (Phil Leotardo). Perhaps his next look alike moment?
Jennifer:
Thanks, but he’s my stepdad. No blood relation, although, my father and I have one too many simalarities, its almost as if we ARE blood.
MOM:
Its pretty because of YOU.
xxoo
🙂
Ingrid:
My dad is a GREAT sport. This is one of many Daddy Stories.
He is hysterical, and slightly insane. So…..
Ive decided to do an entire week of Daddy Tales.
Charlie:
OMG. When I first met my father, thats what I thought too!
HA HA HA