Frank: A Musical Journey

Blog

08/11/2016
Frank Sinatra did a number of pop covers in the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's and some worked, while others didn’t quite resonate with the audience or fit his voice and style. I’ve written about the rather strange choice with Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” and today the subject is another potentially odd selection - “Both Sides, Now.” (...)
08/05/2016
Summer is in full swing and that means plenty of hot weather, days by the water with lots of great food, and music, either outdoors or bathed in priceless air conditioning. The Rat Pack had many summer hits; it’s the season that revolves completely around love and relaxation. For me, music is the most important part of every summer recipe and I find myself drawn to a few staples that may have slipped your mind that I’d like to share. (...)
07/28/2016
With a few shows under our belts, everyone involved with the Sammy’s Showroom 50th Anniversary Celebration is getting more comfortable with each other, which means even more fun and natural clowning around. As our chemistry continues to click, I become even more aware of the ease the Rat Pack had on stage because they were such good friends and that camaraderie is most apparent with the comedy they delivered with such ease. They all had an innate gift for joviality and, if you look closely, you can even find evidence of Frank Sinatra’s penchant for fun in some of his songs. (...)
07/20/2016
My run at Sammy’s Showroom, Harrah’s Reno has barely begun, but I’ve already noticed that there’s definitely a special atmosphere working this stage immersed in all the history amassed during the 50 years we’re celebrating. Sammy’s story is legendary and he worked incredibly hard to make it in show business, but it took a team to accomplish as much as the Rat Pack did, not only here in Nevada, but globally too. This famed group with a somewhat motley reputation broke down doors to make America a better place for everyone, no matter what their skin color, religion, or anything else. (...)
06/30/2016
Frank Sinatra was the first pop music icon - he essentially invented those over-the-top displays of teen angst we are now so familiar with as manic kids scream and swoon over their favorite music idols. The Beatles came along in the 1960's and took the world by storm, creating their own version of pandemonium among a new generation of teenagers, following in the footsteps of Frank and, after him, Elvis. With the longevity of The Voice’s career, the two superstar entities were bound to cross paths, so how did they get along? (...)
06/16/2016
A lot can happen in a year. It was a mere thirteen months ago that I wrote about The Riviera Hotel and Casino closing its doors and now, in the early morning hours of June 14th, 2016, the building, a corpse of the being it once was, was ceremoniously sent to its grave by implosion. The casino’s opening ribbon was cut in 1955 by its first resident performer, Liberace and it served the Las Vegas strip faithful for 60 years before shutting down. (...)
06/09/2016
I’ve written before about how much I love the traveling that comes with the territory of my job and my love affair with discovering both the intimate little gems off the beaten path and the larger-than-life establishments so often crowded with tourists wanting to experience the ghostly remnants of some magical past event, so this week, inspired by my upcoming return trip to Hammond, Indiana, just outside of Chicago, I think a short jaunt through Sinatra’s Windy City is in order. (...)
06/03/2016
It was nearly a year ago that I brought my Las Vegas show, Drinkin’ – Singin’ – Swingin’ to the Wolf Lake Pavilion in Hammond, Indiana with a 12 – Piece Big Band and June 18th I’ll be back, but with an additional twelve strings to present Sinatra Forever. The people at The Pav are great, which inspires me to make this performance something truly special. (...)
05/26/2016
Frank Sinatra was “The Chairman of the Board,” Elvis was “The King,” Prince was “The Artist,” David Bowie was “The Thin White Duke,” and James Brown was “The Godfather of Soul.” Iconic musicians get the best nicknames, often pertaining to royalty or authority to denote their place at the top. James Brown and Sinatra may not be two people you think of in the same breath, but there were similarities that become apparent with a little reflection. (...)