Ole Blue Eyes

I recently heard on NPR ( National Public Radio) that we are fast approaching the centenary of the birth of Frank Sinatra. Francis Albert Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey on the 12th of December 1915. His impact on American popular music and the canon that is referred to as the Great American Songbook is immeasurable.

Frankie actually had a connection to my family.  My mother's first cousin was a classmate of Frankie in elementary school.  It seems the teachers loved to have young Francis sing the opening songs at every school assembly.  His peers, at that time, were not so supportive, and Mom related that her cousin and her pals would roll their eyes and snicker that he was the "teacher's pet".  Now since all involved are no longer with us, it is difficult to prove the provenance of this family folk tale.

There is no dispute that Sinatra was the singer of his generation.  My parents preferred the music of Glen Miller, but Frank was a constant presence on New York radio through out the 50s and 60's.  Frank's voice failed him in 1950; he hemorrhaged his vocal cords while singing at the Copacabana and did not sing for over a year. His comeback was bolstered by his appearance in the Burt Lancaster-Deborah Kerr film, "From Here to Eternity" for which he won an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor.  Trivia note here: When Turner Classics decided to colorizer this classic black and white film, their colorist gave Frank brown eyes, a faux pas that was quickly corrected.

Everyone has their favorite Sinatra song or two. I do like his ode to lost love and lost time, "The Summer Wind" and am hoping to have it played as I am laid to rest. I have heard it was also one of Frank's favorites. It always takes me back to my summers in Connecticut with my family and summertime friends. It brings back memorable days past and love unrequited.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIltgDzgvk8


Others may prefer one of his saloon songs.  He did those quite well. This is probably one of his most memorable: "One for My Baby"....of course, nowadays...he would not be driving after having one more for the road; hopefully the bartender would be calling him a cab.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m121tmJzcAc


Another Sinatra classic has to be "All the Way"...it sort of sums up his work in the decade between 1950 and 1960. He had fabulous breath control. He developed this as a young man by conscientiously swimming laps to learn how to control his breathing and making a breath last longer to hold the notes steady and clear. He was a true craftsman at his art.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4LiAfyQ0TE&feature=youtube_gdata

In the sixties Sinatra succumbed to some questionable musical decisions, but, hey...it was the 60's. But I wonder who convinced him to actually record this one, and it's on his own label!  I don't get it now, and I didn't understand it then. Everybody may have been twisting, but Frank, you did not have to sing about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDCjBC6DvqE&feature=youtube_gdata


Perhaps his finest hour in in later career was his ode to living ones life in a manner true to one's self.
I remember a priest that I know told us that he was taken aback when one of the blue-haired ladies, a stalwart of his urban church community, had this anthem of fully living life played as she was taken from the church to her final resting place.  Got to admire her chutzpah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egY8rUpxqcE


But the one Sinatra tune that always brings a tear to my eye is a tune penned by Eubie Blake in the 1930's.  When I hear it I can close my own baby blues and with my mind's eye, see those who have gone before dancing to this classic...and the metaphor of "...a rosary of tears" is such a touching phrase.  Enjoy Franks striking version of "Memories of You", and another sweet interpretation from Bette Midler:
Frankie first: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkKeUiaji3o&feature=youtube_gdata
Then Bette's: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ726TMtRHY