Career
Tolentino sings and plays music from "between the World Wars" regularly at numerous Dallas venues as a solo (accordion) act, as leader of a four-piece ensemble called The Matt Tolentino Band, as leader of a seven-piece polka band called The Royal Klobasneks, and most notably as leader of a full eighteen-piece orchestra called The Singapore Slingers, which has been named the "Best Pre-Swing Jazz Orchestra" and the "coolest, quirkiest, retro jazz group" in Dallas. Tolentino"s fascination with jazz-age music began at age 8, when a neighbor gave him a cassette tape recording of the Coffee Club Orchestra (as featured on radio"s A Prairie Home Companion). He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 2003.
A musical autodidact, Tolentino sings lead vocals and plays many instruments, including clarinet, tuba, bass saxophone, ukulele, banjo, piano, and accordion.
In early 2014, Tolentino was profiled in connection with his brainchild annual Jazz Age Sunday Social concert event at Dallas Heritage Village. A photo spread of his home and its period decor was also featured.
In late 2014, Tolentino was recognized by the Dallas Observer as number 42 among the 100 most creative people in Dallas.
