Rick Michel's Blog

Are you one of those people that prefers popping a vinyl record on a turntable and sitting back to enjoy the sounds of Ol’ Blue Eyes or Dino over the convenience of a CD or even streaming the music over the Internet?  You’re not alone.  And it’s not an age thing either; in fact, millennials have embraced vinyl as an art form, something pure and unmolested that can be savored like that aged whiskey that should always accompany a Sinatra album. Read More

The song’s gotta come from the heart.  That’s the advice Jimmy Durante gave Frank Sinatra in the 1947 movie, It Happened in Brooklyn.  Of course, even though Frank was still pretty young, he had clearly figured out the need to connect with the music and lyrics of a song, but it never hurts to be reminded about an important truth.  Ol’ Blue Eyes and The Schnoz aren’t necessarily two names that you saw beside each other often, but they genuinely seemed to enjoy it when they did perform together. Read More

When we’re moved by someone special, we want a way to be remember that feeling and be a part of who was responsible; that seems to be the reason why we want something connected to the stars we love, a piece of memorabilia to give the impression they’re intimately present in our lives.  I like to obtain photos with the celebrities I meet; a glance at a past connection instantly allows me to travel back to that time and place.  There are lots of Frank Sinatra collectables available to his many fans out there, but they aren’t usually cheap.  Here’s a glimpse at some of them. Read More

A third date is an important milestone in any relationship, just check the Internet if you don’t believe me, so I was very happy to find out about my third engagement for Sinatra Forever at the Pavilion at Wolf Lake in as many years.  I guess this means we’re going steady, as the kids would say (about 50 years ago, if memory serves).  And one of the keys to a long-lasting relationship is keeping it fresh, which is why I’ve slotted thirteen new songs into the setlist for June 17, 2017 in Hammond, Indiana. Read More

President John Kennedy has been in the spotlight recently because the 100th anniversary of his birth happened May 29th.  PBS just aired JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala, highlighting all the stars that came out to usher in our new president and a new era - all under the leadership of Frank Sinatra, who worked tirelessly to support a leader he believed in.  Frank’s influence undoubtedly helped Kennedy’s presidential victory.   Read More

I happened to see some of the Incredible Dog Challenge on CBS Saturday - those dogs are amazing to watch - and one pooch in particular caught my attention for reasons that will be obvious as I write about him. The competition, taken very seriously by owners and pups alike, is great not only because it gives us a chance to see some canine athletes in action, but because it raises funds for Tony La Russo’s Animal Rescue Fund, an entity he created to help homeless cats and dogs. Read More

Last week CBS broadcast a special one hour I Love Lucy Superstar Special and it lived up to its name. Lucille Désirée Ball was a trailblazer, much as Frank Sinatra was. She was hugely talented and was the first woman to run a major television studio, Desilu Productions. Her confidence came across in everything she did and it’s fitting that she’s best known by most for her television program that bears the name that described exactly how America felt about her, I Love Lucy. Read More

In addition to performing live, on stage - which happens to be my first love - I’ve found myself drawn to another calling over the years: passing on the knowledge my decades of experience in show business has sown by teaching others with an interest in being at the top of their game, be it in an actual entertainment setting or in this journey we call life. I would have loved the opportunity to sit down with a successful, seasoned professional when I was starting out, so this has become a way to give back to the industry that has been my source of so much pleasure and to honor all those that have helped me over the years. Read More

Frank Sinatra had a very real connection to Brazil. Of course, he connected everywhere, but when you single out that sultry-hot, glistening South American country that’s alive with music everywhere, you notice Ol’ Blue Eyes seemed to think that place was pretty special. Now, in the middle of my own Brazilian tour, I can attest to just how amazing Brazil is to perform in. Read More

I wrote about songs that reference Frank Sinatra before, there are many, but I was recently listening to a couple of other very interesting mentions of Ol’ Blue Eyes by two very different, but significant song writers, Lou Reed and Suzanne Vega. The two songs have decades between them, but both, just like both of the artists, are very relevant today. Let’s have a look at “New Age” by The Velvet Underground and “Frank & Ava” by Suzanne Vega. Read More