Frank Sinatra, Erin and Me...

Frank Sinatra is the greatest American singer. Anything else I say is irrelevant and superfluous. I was lucky to see Frank perform several times over the years, and he was an amazing performer.

The first time I saw Frank was at a charity benefit in 1987 at the Capitol Centre in Landover, Maryland. I was excited to see this legendary singer. The tickets were $500 for a pair (a princely sum in 1987), and included a pre-show cocktail party with Frank in a private suite. I bought the tickets and called my friend Robbie to tell him the news. Robbie's dad knew Frank and I wanted to get some insight on my potential meeting with Frank. Robbie told me that while Frank knew his dad, "Just tell Frank you're good friends with Kenny Venturi, he plays golf with him all the time." I had met Kenny (former US Open golf champion and noted golf broadcaster) several times at Robbie's family's house, so this was not totally untrue, but a stretch.

Tom Waits: The Heart Of Saturday Night (1974) Waits’ dystopian homage to Sinatra — ***Tom Waits: The Heart Of Saturday Night (1974)*** Waits’ dystopian homage to Sinatra

I went through my Sinatra collection and select eight or so of my favorite Frank albums in hopes of a signature. I decide to give Erin four, and I take the rest. I tell her if you only get one, have him sign In The Wee Small Hours, a transcendent collection of torch songs released in 1955, inspired by the (eventual) demise of his marriage to Ava Gardner. An iconic album and cover, artists like B.B. King, Tom Waits, Patti Smith and Marvin Gaye have cited it as a major influence. It also has the best artwork: a forlorn Sinatra, cigarette in hand, fedora pushed back, necktie slightly askew, on a lonely, late night street awash in blue and green light. It doesn't get more desolate, and yet hopeful, as you know Frank Sinatra, however lost in his thoughts, will emerge triumphant.

In The Wee Small Hours (1955) close up of Frank’s signature — ***In The Wee Small Hours (1955)*** close up of Frank’s signature

The day of the show, Erin and I put on our finest and we go to the cocktail party to meet Frank. I wear a suit, Erin wears a shimmering black cocktail dress with decolletage. Ample decolletage. We are the youngest couple there by several decades. An hour passes at the reception and there is no sight of Frank, although we see Tip O'Neill, then Speaker of The House. Finally, Abe Pollin, host of the reception and the owner of the Washington Capitols, Bullets, and the Capitol Centre, issues an apology to the 200 or so guests, “ I’m sorry that Frank won't be able to attend the cocktail party because his private jet was late. But he has graciously invited us all backstage for a moment before he begins the show." Herded backstage, we form a circle and await Frank's entrance.

Surrounded by a phalanx of bodyguards, Frank comes out and breaks through the circle of guests into the middle. He is shorter than I thought, ruddy complexion with a hesitant gait. His bodyguards do not look menacing; they are well dressed in expensive suits and blazers. Frank makes his way around the circle, waves ands says hello to fellow guests from a safe distance. When he nears me, I say, 'Hey Frank, I'm good friends with Kenny Venturi.' He looks directly at me, blue eyes piercing, "That's great, I'm playing golf with Kenny next week." I show him Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely - a great album released in 1958 and my personal favorite with the greatest saloon song of all time "One For My Baby (and One More For The Road)." Frank, will you sign this? "Sure" he says and starts walking toward me. He is about to take the album and sign it, when almost magically and mysteriously, I am fifteen to twenty feet away from him. A bodyguard, slighter than I, has quietly, swiftly and with no show of force, glided me away from Frank. I still do not know how that happened.

Erin sees my failure, and approaches Frank with In The Wee Small Hours album. The bodyguards do not intercede. Frank looks at Erin, looks at the album, then looks at Erin again. Frank signs the album. Decolletage wins. Always. Then, Ol' Blue Eyes bids adieu to the crowd and leaves. Erin gets the only autograph and for good reason.

Frank Sinatra always did it his way. They didn't call him The Chairman Of The Board for nothing.

Patti Smith: Horses (1975) photo by Robert Mapplethorpe, insouciance by Patti — ***Patti Smith: Horses (1975)*** photo by Robert Mapplethorpe, insouciance by Patti

When we did the cover of "Horses," I wasn't making a big statement. That's just the way I dressed. It was an image I was looking for. Robert shot the picture, a mix of (French poet Charles) Baudelaire and (Frank) Sinatra, the casual throwing over of the coat. The confidence. I wasn't thinking male or female or gender-bending.
Patti Smith

Choice Frank Sinatra Cuts (per BKs request)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiPUv4kXzvw

“In The Wee Small Hours” In The Wee Small Hours 1955

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkRVAXqEujA

“One For My Baby” Sings For Only The Lonely 1958

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg6txU5Vv-U

“Send In The Clowns” piano duet 1973

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7BEN_GdvVo

“Ol’ Man River” The Concert Sinatra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w019MzRosmk

“My Way” Madison Square Garden, NYC 1974

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSGUSALBWN8