Rick Michel's Blog

Every day spent living this crazy life with my wonderful wife Leslie is a gift; Valentine’s Day makes me realize this, of course, so this post is to serve as a gift for every Rat Pack fan out there - a trio of sure-fire tunes to put some heat in this often-cold February day, plus a bonus. Read More

I like to sculpt.  It’s probably not going to be what I’m remembered for, but I still enjoy and appreciate the talent involved with creating something as lasting as a sculpture of another living person.  One of the most famous American sculptors was Jo Davidson who would spend some time with a subject, then form an intense, realistic bust of that individual.  Davidson was commissioned to sculpt many important subjects; Franklin Roosevelt, John D. Rockefeller, James Joyce, Helen Keller, Charlie Chaplin, and Albert Einstein are just a few of the names.  Another is Frank Sinatra. Read More

Did you ever want your favorite movie star to live with you?  Maybe a wax version is what you need!  Seriously, for those celebrities you admire, it would be wonderful to have a photo taken with them as a memento, but that’s not an easy task for most people.  Even if they’re still alive, the chances of getting them to pose with you seems to decrease in probability with how big a star they are.  And if they’re no longer with us, you have an even bigger problem.  Enter wax figures. Read More

Frank Sinatra has been an influence on a lot; I’ve written about the many musicians that refer to  him as an idol and how he, as the ultimate American pop icon, has affected society as a whole.  Realizing the many facets of the man, this isn’t surprising.  Ol’ Blue Eyes “showcased peace, love, grace, positivity, honor, and valor.”  That last line is actually a quotation from another artist who Sinatra has influenced: a young rising star in the music industry, the rapper, Logic. Read More

This past Sunday was the 75th Golden Globe Awards.  Sxty years ago it was 1958 and the Rat Pack was there in full style with wit and humor and rarely an empty glass. Frank Sinatra was nominated that year for Pal Joey as Best Male Lead in a comedy or musical and he was a winner, but I want to look at who else was in attendance and who won in a few of the other categories.   Read More

Now that 2017 is in the rear-view mirror, it’s fun to reflect a little upon a very busy and rewarding twelve months. My tours for Sinatra Forever, Drinkin’ - Singin’ - Swingin’, Frank… A Musical Journey, The Rick Michel Variety Show, and my master class, Live on Stage, Don’t Die… Kill! took me to some very interesting parts of the globe, allowing me to meet some spectacular people. Life in a dressing room isn’t for everybody; there are times when it can be stressful, but I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t enjoy it. Read More

Can you imagine what some actual Rat Pack New Year’s Eve parties must have looked like?  They must have been some unimaginable clambakes!  With Ryan Baker, Doug Starks, and I partying at Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort Hotel and Casino through New Year’s Eve, I was reminded of the time The Dean Martin Show fell on New Year’s Eve and he invited a special guest to ring in 1971. Read More

Frank Sinatra's Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is on many top ten lists for Holiday songs. For Sinatra fans, his rendition is number one. Of course, he’s not the only singer to have recorded this Christmas staple and he wasn’t even the first. It’s a special song, full of meaning and emotion and The Voice’s version has a depth of smoothness to it that leaves you warm and toasty, with positive, merry feelings that enhance those already attributed to Christmas day. But maybe we should look at a few other recordings of this beautiful song. Read More

2017 is about to go out with a bang with my Las Vegas show, Drinkin’ - Singin’ - Swingin’ playing a five-night run at the Riverside Resort Hotel and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada from December 27th through the 31st.  We’re going to bring out the “laugh” in Laughlin along with a whole lot of swinging tunes. Read More

It’s early December and I have a busy show schedule for the month, which is the perfect time to break out a few Holiday numbers for the set list to give the audience that warm glow that goes hand-in-hand with these long-time favorites.  It’s the crooners like Ol’ Blue Eyes, Dean Martin, and Bing Crosby that I think of when the subject of Christmas tunes come up.  What do you think the top selling Christmas albums have been over the years? Read More