More Paul McCartney photos and another report from Monday's Frank Loesser tribute in New York

October 26, 9:41 PMBeatles ExaminerSteve Marinucci

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     Paul McCartney onstage at the Frank Loesser tribute Monday night
     in New York City. (Photo by Bob Gannon.)

Another report and more pictures from Monday night's tribute to Frank Loesser at which Paul McCartney performed. More photos are in the slide show at the bottom of the page.

• Also: See Paul McCartney at Monday's Frank Loesser tribute -- first photos and report!
• Additional Paul McCartney photos from Monday's tribute to Frank Loesser

Here's Randy Dry's account:

Paul took the stage at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre (home to The Lion King) at 10pm ET, near the end of the second act. He looked relaxed and happy in black suit, white shirt, no tie. He was introduced by Audra McDonald, who noted that she was jamming to The Beatles Rock Band earlier that afternoon.

Paul said he was "honored to be here" and said a few words about how he fondly remembered listening to the songs of Frank Loesser as a kid in Liverpool in the 1950s during New Year's Eve parties, when his family ("aunties and uncles") would roll back the carpet and sing these "great old songs." "You never really knew who wrote them in those days," he said, "but as I grew older I came to learn that many of them were written by Frank Loesser." Paul said he derived much of his early love of music from these songs.

Then Paul treated the audience to his first-ever live performance of Loesser's "On a Slow Boat to China" from the 1949 MGM film Neptune's Daughter. Backed by a terrific big band orchestra, Paul crooned the song with ease as he danced around the stage - and even did a bit of scatting. He was clearly enjoying himself, and the crowd loved it. After a few minutes, the song was over and he introduced Jo Sullivan Loesser, who thanked Paul profusely and commented on how fabulous he had been backstage, posing for pictures and granting autographs.

At the end of the night Paul returned briefly on stage to take a bow with all of the show's performers, including Art Garfunkel, John Stamos, Mario Cantone, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Nia Vardalos and Michelle Lee.

One funny note: During the first act, there was an appearance by Cookie Monster, who joked that he was hanging in the green room backstage, eating cookies with Paul McCartney. "Save me a cookie, Paul!" he shouted.