“Frank [Sinatra] is a singer who comes along once in a lifetime, but why did he have to come along in my lifetime?” — Bing Crosby (This quote may be apocryphal. But I like it.)
1. For about 8 years, I lived two buildings down from Sinatra’s birthplace in Hoboken. On the day he died – literally, within hours – the entire town was draped in purple and black bunting. It was as though an army of Oompa Loompas had been hiding in the bushes, holding baskets of purple bunting at the ready, waiting for the news. The beautiful old City Hall had deep purple bunting hanging from all sides. The post office was draped in purple bunting. Suddenly, within hours, black ribbons were tied around every lamp-post. And crowds had gathered outside the birthplace, two doors down, even though Sinatra did not live there, and had not lived there in 900 years. But people went to lay flowers in tribute. Seriously: this all happened within a couple of hours of the news breaking. The Italian population was still enormous in Hoboken at that time (this is no longer the case, at least in terms of Italians like FRANK was Italian.) When “Frank” died, there were still many people in Hoboken at that time who had probably known Frank’s family, or had been here when he was here. It felt like a strange somber honor to actually be there, two doors down, on the day he died.
2. It’s still hard to believe that this even happened, but it did:
3.
Here is a clip from the Dean Martin Show, featuring Frank, Dino and Judy. What we see here is so simply done that it might not be all that obvious how genius it is, and genius because they are genius.
The simplicity of the presentation, the sheer star power of the trio, the non-descript background which highlights them all the more because they are all that matters, and the almost rudimentary movements of the trio – rudimentary, perhaps, but thrilling because it’s THEM doing it.
They walk-walk-walk to the right, they walk-walk-walk to the left, arms linked, and then they walk downstage together and the audience erupts into applause as though it is a complicated kick-line done by 100 women.
Why do they applaud?
Because just being able to watch these people is a privilege.
There are so many little moments I love: Judy’s gestures, Dean’s little shrug, Dean’s whole body language on “you’re growing old …” The pointing back and forth at one another they all do, Frank being a tiny bit behind on some of the steps, but who gives a shit, he’s Frank.
4. This young YouTube reactor has exploded in the last year, and this was what got the ball rolling. At least it’s how he came on my radar, and I know that was true for many others. He listens to Frank Sinatra for the very first time – because his grandfather told him to – and … well, just watch what happens to him. Watch where Frank takes him. Old Blue Eyes still has it. He’ll never lose it.
5.:
My brother put Frank Sings Cole Porter on his “50 Best Albums” list. Bren’s essay here.
And finally:
I interviewed author Dan Callahan about his excellent book Bing and Billie and Frank and Ella and Judy and Barbra.
I don’t know if you saw the CBS special commemorating his birthday last week. I DVR’d so I only saw portions of the it. What struck me was the fact that all of the singers seemed pale and bloodless compared to the Chairman. There were some excellent singers there: Usher, Connick, Legend, even Tony Bennett and none of them conveyed the feeling and the outright “coolness” of Frank Sinatra. They simply weren’t up to the challenge. They knew the words and the music but not the soul of Frank (or Elvis or Judy or Dean).
“Charm has vanished.” Ain’t that the truth and not just in Hoboken. I was back home in the lower east side recently and I expected to be surprised at the changes but I didn’t expect to actively dislike my experience. Places like Hoboken, Jersey City, the Lower East Side – actually almost all of Manhattan and Brooklyn – are all starting to lose their charm. I’m not just talking about the ridiculous rise in prices of everything or the relentless physical changes (high rises on Ludlow Street, who would have thunk it) but the homogenization of people and culture. We’re losing something.
Carolyn – I didn’t see that celebration!
Yeah, Frank definitely had the star-quality thing – but more than that: Like Ella Fitzgerald, he uses himself as an instrument – he was one of the orchestra instruments – they weren’t playing backup to him. He was controlling it, but also submerged in it – You always got the sense – with Ella, with him – that they understood music – its intricacies and combinations – so so well. That’s one of the things really missing in today’s performers. They may be able to sing (and many of them can) but they don’t understand music like THAT.
Oh man, Lower East Side, yes. It’s really sad when these changes take away the spirit of a place. Hoboken’s bar scene now is one of the grossest bar scenes I’ve ever seen. The drunkenness has become a huge problem – and it’s all these entitled 20-somethings, who throw up on the sidewalk, get into (sometimes deadly) bar fights – and it’s all so rich white kid entitled that it actually feels quite dangerous. It’s actually kind of a horrible place now – no more charm – although the waterfront and how they’ve developed it is beautiful.
There are still a couple of holdout places – Italian bread joints – but not on the main strip. Even all the old “local bars” are gone. What you call “locals.” I had two “locals” while I lived there – old-school crummy bars, with tons of atmosphere, a friendly Cheers-ish vibe, and Trivia Nights, etc. Now, in the new bar scene of date-rape-drunken-shenanigans there’s no room for a gentle friendly “local.”
It’s such a bummer. I left just as the mood was really starting to turn.
What a beautiful tribute. I love him–I love Dean just a little more, but they each have a place in my heart. And it isn’t Christmas without “Mistletoe and Holly” and “The Christmas Waltz.”
When I first “got into” Frank Sinatra in my late 20s I went a little nuts because I felt almost cheated, like I had been missing out all those years when I thought he was just some old guy other old guys liked (which of course was my own fault). I remember trying to sing along with him and realizing I couldn’t, because his phrasing, his timing was so unique that I’d always be a beat or two off. Yet you hear him and it sounds so easy; but a lot of busting ass and tremendous talent went into making things look that easy.
That all said Judy does own that number in the clip!
Ilyka – I know, it’s funny, right? By the time I became aware of Frank Sinatra, he was already an old white-haired institution and I didn’t know what he was famous for, or what the big deal might have been. When I was in college, I started getting into him – and then that whole world of musicality and classic songs (which had seeped into the culture all around me) opened up to me.
I, too, love Dino a little bit more – there’s something about his “I don’t give a fuck”-ness, combined with talent so strong and sure and unbelievable – but he never ever looks like he’s working. I don’t know: he’s got magic in him.
I’m not as crazy about Frank as a “serious” actor – I like him best in musicals and the ridiculous Rat Pack movies.
Sheila, forgive me if I already told you this story-but I got to see Frank Sinatra in concert in 1991, at one of the outdoor concert venues outside of Chicago. My lovely sister had gotten us tickets, and we sat on a hillside, drank champagne and listened to the best concert of my life. He sounded absolutely wonderful, and it was just him on stage with his microphone, and it was one of the most magical experience of my life!
Maureen –
// My lovely sister had gotten us tickets, and we sat on a hillside, drank champagne and listened to the best concert of my life. //
!!!!!
That sounds like the best night ever! Envious! You are so lucky!
I started leaving a comment, and then I started getting long-winded so I made a post of my own. Thank you for this post, though! I never think to look up the birth dates of artists I love, for some reason. I need to start doing this!
Whereas I look up the birthdays of artists in my collection all the time, and I tend to play that music for a time. I have two Frank box sets, among other CDs.
Kelly – wow, I loved your post so much! Have we discussed Frank before? Maybe – we’ve been chatting back and forth for 18 years! at any rate – really loved reading your deep dive.
I love the video of the young man hearing Frank for the first time. A complete and perfect range of emotions: how can a person *not* shed a tear at that trombone solo? I believe it’s this same man who has a video of hearing the Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun” for the first time and his reaction, as different as the two performances are different, is equally perfect.
Yes – he loves music so much. He’s so OPEN. And now – because of quarantine – his twin brother is home from college – so the two of them “react” together. I love them.