See Paul McCartney at Monday's Frank Loesser tribute -- first photos and report!

October 26, 9:22 PMBeatles ExaminerSteve Marinucci

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     Paul McCartney at the Actors Fund celebration of the music of Frank
     Loesser Monday night in New York City. (Photo by Bob Gan

Paul McCartney was one of the performers Monday night at "Chance and Chemistry: A Centennial Celebration of Frank Loesser" Monday night in New York.

Here is the first of two accounts from audience members (the second is in the second slide show) and the first of two slideshows of pictures by Bob Gannon, who also took many of the pictures we ran during the American McCartney tour.

(See more photos:

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

Here's Bob Gannon's account:

Well gang, always great to see Paul think out of the box. I took an opportunity to se him perform a song that he probably would never have done anywhere else. Except here at the Minskoff Theater in New York City at the Stage Actors Fund Benefit paying tribute to Frank Loesser. Numerous Broadway actors ran through Loesser's more famous numbers. Such known songs as "Some Like it Hot", "Once in Love with Amy", "The Inch Worm " performed by Phyllis Newman-John McMartin, Abby Cadabby, Elmo, and Cookie Monster who claimed he had been hanging around the green room eating "C-O-O-K-I-E-S!! with Paul McCartney. He then screamed back stage for Paul to save him some C-O-O-K-I-E-S!!. Other notable songs "sit down you're rocking the boat", "What are you doing New Year's Eve?", "Baby, it's cold outside", "Luck be a lady", Adelaid's Lament" and finally "On a slow boat to China" performed by Sir Paul McCartney.

Paul told a story at being a child and having family get together at their house and his dad at the piano playing many of the songs that he later found out were Frank Loesser's songs. He thanked Frank Loesser for all of the great family memories of the family singing the songs in the front parlour. Song started with Paul walking up to the band conductor and asking him if he knew "On a slow boat to China" to which he shook his head. Paul shrugged his shoulders and walked away and then the band started. As soon as he started singing it, I instantly recognized the song. It was a really nice, sweet rendition of the song which was done impeccably.

A song followed by Jo Sullivan Loesser and then John Stamos and then they all came out for a final bow. Art Garfunkel who had performed "Two Sleepy People" left right after performing and was not there for the final bow. Security was tight and cameras were quickly acted upon. It should be noted that Paul's company MPL owns the rights to the songbook of Frank Loesser and he was a co-chairman for this event.