Frank Sinatra memories keep coming
Wow. As of this morning 160 of you have shared personal stories of your connection with Frank Sinatra in response to the cover story in the magazine this weekend. (Click here to read our original blog post and share your own memories, or here to read the cover story in the magazine.) It's amazing how many of you saw him personally, or included his music in special moments in your lives. I understand completely. I was born in Kearny, N.J. — not far from Hoboken, Sinatra's home. My mother tells tales of being in high school, waiting in long lines to get tickets to see Sinatra at venues in New York when he was a teen hearthrob. My father, born and raised in Jersey City, had blue eyes and perfect pitch and could sing all of Sinatra's songs without missing a lyric, I swear, from memory. So it was fitting that we played nothing but Sinatra at my father's memorial service. I grew up with Sinatra on the hi-fi and, later, the stereo; I could sing High Hopes at the age of 6. I never met Sinatra, but I did interview his Rat-Pack buddy, the now deceased Joey Bishop, whose stories of their time together were fascinating.
Click here to add your comments to the original Who's News Sinatra remembrances posting
Comments (2)
In the 1990's I remember an article about Sinatra hit the wire. (I might have read about it in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and/or the St. Paul Pioneer Press.) Anyway, it was about a high school teacher (a real fan of Sinatra music) in the Chicago area who doled out detention times in 1/2 hour increments of listening to Frank Sinatra songs. The students dubbed these detentions "Franks." A student might commiserate with another student by asking, "How many 'Franks' did you get?" The wise teacher knew that HE might as well enjoy the detention time, and expose misdirected students to good music. :) I've wondered in the 2000's if the teacher is still doling out "Franks."
I've been a fan since I can remember. As the article referred to the comment from the hip record store owner, Sinatra never goes out of fashion. I hate hearing young singers i.e. Michael Bublay (sp?) referred to as "young Sinatras." He has rhythm and a pleasant voice but is definitely no Sinatra, no emotion, no feeling. Sinatra had it all. There are many fine singers past and present but they shouldn't be compared to Frank. They have their own voices and styles. But Frank will always be No. 1.