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On the evening of Thursday May 14th, 1998, America and the world lost the most iconic, beloved entertainer of the twentieth century. Sadly, it has been twenty years since the passing of The Chairman Of The Board. William B. Williams assigned that name to Francis Albert Sinatra on his WNEW Radio program a half century ago, and it stuck. No performer either before or since has had the cultural impact of Sinatra. Singer, Actor, Director, Dancer, Painter, Producer, and Social Activist, Frank Sinatra remains the single most influential multi media artist in show business history. On the anniversary of his passage into both history and legend, we take a look back at his remarkable career and commemorate more than one hundred years, as well as one of The Greatest Stories Ever Told, with this retrospective and commemorative celebration of the life and times of Frank Sinatra. He became my hero, and my idol nearly sixty years ago. May His immortal soul rest ever so sweetly in music, in legend...and in peace.
www.gullcottageonline.com/SinatraAllTheWayFilmBio.html
Steve Vertlieb
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For the record, Sinatra and Judy Garland were very close personal friends, and Liza looked upon him as a surrogate father. She always referred to him as "Uncle Frank." They toured together for many months toward the end of his career.
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Posted: |
May 16, 2018 - 3:43 AM
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By: |
Jim Doherty
(Member)
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Steve,
I have to say that your lengthy survey of Frank Sinatra's career is possibly one of the best things you've ever written.
I had the opportunity to see him at The Chicago Theater somewhere around 1984. I had already purchased tickets for my parents, my girlfriend, two of her relatives and myself, and then saw him on TV, singing at the unveiling of the recently restored Statue of Liberty. Perhaps due to the vagaries of the open-air acoustics, he was noticeably off-key at times, and I remember thinking "Did I make a big mistake in buying all these tickets?" The answer to that question was a giant "NO!" His appearance at The Chicago Theater was an absolutely thrilling event. He gave his all that night. His voice was wonderful. I feel it was a privilege to have been there.
I consider his 1981 LP, SHE SHOT ME DOWN, to be the greatest of his later works, giving him a last chance to work with his best arranger/conductors Gordon Jenkins and Nelson Riddle.
Speaking of Gordon Jenkins, his great score for the Sinatra film THE FIRST DEADLY SIN (1980) is an overlooked gem very worthy of CD release.
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Thank you, Jim. That is very kind of you. Frank Sinatra has been my idol, and life long hero, for fifty eight years. He has been, and continues to be, my role model and my inspiration. I wanted to write a definitive piece about his career that would honor him, as well as his profound influence, not only upon my life, but upon the lives of countless millions of admirers and fans around the world. If my work has achieved but a tiny fragment of that decidedly lofty goal, and if my efforts have touched your heart, then my tribute to "The Man And His Music" has successfully performed its task. This article was...and is...a labor of love. Thank you sincerely for finding meaning in these genuine, if humble, efforts.
Steve
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My work was not written as a mournful remembrance of Frank Sinatra's death but, rather, as a joyous celebration of his life...and that is the way that I hope these writings will be perceived.
Steve
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