Sinise: Military Shows Are Terrific

CSI: New York leading man Gary Sinise (Mac Taylor) enjoys playing music for American troops with his Lt Dan Band.

The Lt Dan Band is named after the character Sinise played in Forrest Gump. The band is composed of 12 musicians that do shows for military men and women. Over the past five years, the band has travelled around the world and performed for thousands of troops. “The military shows are always terrific, because it’s a totally appreciative audience,” Sinise told Las Vegas Weekly. “Sometimes we’re playing for folks that haven’t had any entertainment for quite some time. So they’re really up for it and ready to go.”

Sinise and his band cover a broad spectrum of songs in their performances. “It’s all over the place,” he explained. “The mix just keeps coming at you, and by the end of the show you’ve heard so many good tunes that you have made you feel good that it’s very hard to walk away from our show not feeling energized.”

Performing for American soldiers is a passion for Sinise, but it’s not a source of income. “CSI: NY is my job, and, thankfully, it’s also fun. I’ve been fortunate in my life to do what I love,” Sinise said. He added that 75% of the Lt Dan Band’s shows are USO tours or charity concerts. “The band is something that I don’t really make money on. If I break even at the end of the year, I’m happy.”

The Lt Dan Band is a source of pride for the actor, and music is also an escape. “When I was a little kid I wanted to be a baseball player and then I wanted to be in a rock band,” Sinise explained. “It’s come full circle. There was a time when I fancied myself up on stage rocking out, and now we play for thousands of people.”

The original interview is from Las Vegas Weekly.