Ole' Blue Eyes would have been 100 years old on Dec. 12.
That was Francis Albert Sinatra, 'Frank', Chairman of the Board and 'The Man'.
What can we say about his history, his career, his music, his messy personal life and the decidedly manic depressive personality which drove away as many people as were intrigued by his charm and his mercurial nature....and oh yes, the talent.
How about Superb. And well done, and ring-a-ding-ding (one of his pet phrases)
But the music, Man that was the thing. The music which could fly you to the moon; mourn a lost love at 3 a.m. or put your world on a string tied to a rainbow, or give one reflection on his/her life and how it had been lived.
To see him in person was a real treat, whether it was in the confines of a Vegsas theater, a wider concert venue...or a late night trip to a New York or Chicago saloon where he held court till the wee small hours of the morning, surrounded by his small and loyal entourage.
Always the entourage...whether at home, out on the road. Frank Sinatra hated being alone. And everybody loved being around 'The Man.'
We knew his personally, and up close for awhile.
Him and his small entourage and his beautiful -then fiance- and then wife Barbara were the source of much entertainment and love and just plain fun.
Something a lot of people never knew about Frank is that he was a well-read man, and very intelligent and that his favorite piece of music was the musical score of "Madama Butterfly."
There are several places where one can go this weekend and hear the imitators -and some of them are good- doing the Sinatra song book.
But forget that...go the the Hub, that saloon on the corner of Polk and Franklin...it's the kind of joint he would have hung in late in the evening...and go to the juke box and play the Sinatra CD. until the wee small hours of the morning.
And have his favorite drink Jack Daniels. Three rocks, two inches and a splash.
Well done Mr. Sinatra, Ole Blue Eues/ Frank, Chairman of the Board and The Man.
Ring-a-ding-ding.
