A Frank Sinatra Concert Opener

If you attended a Frank Sinatra performance during most of his later years, you probably saw him open the show with I’ve Got The World On A String.  It was a great sentiment to get things underway.  The song also happened to be Sinatra’s first collaboration with his master arranger Nelson Riddle.

The song was originally heard in 1932 as part of the Cotton Club Parade, a musical production at Harlem’s famous Cotton Club, and it was introduced by Cab Calloway and Bing Crosby.  Over the years, it was recorded by artists including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Peggy Lee.  More recently it was recorded by Tony Bennett, Barry Manilow and Michael Buble.  And Celine Dion, an admirer of F.S.,  performed it in her Las Vegas show from 2002 until 2007.

And, needless to say, it’s still a great opener when you’re presenting a Frank Sinatra Tribute show for the audience as a Frank Sinatra Impersonator.

Becoming Frank Sinatra’s Opening Act

Tom Dreesen

In 1982, comedian Tom Dreesen was appearing with Smokey Robinson at Caesar’s Palace in Lake Tahoe while Frank Sinatra was working a few doors away at Harrah’s.  Tom wanted a chance to see Frank’s show up-close, so he called over to Harrah’s, where he had worked with  Sammy Davis Jr. and asked if he could watch the show from backstage.

When he arrived, he was called over by Harrah’s executive Holmes Hendricksen, who was standing with another man.  Hendricksen said “Tommy, this is Mickey Rudin”, who Tom recognized as Frank’s lawyer and manager.  Then Hendricksen said “Mickey, this is Tom Dreesen.  I think Tom would make a great opening act for Frank”.  Rudin, to be funny, said “Hey kid, if I gave you a week with Frank, would you want more than $50,000?”  Tom said “Let me put it this way, Mr. Rudin.  If you gave me a week with Frank, would you want more than $50,000?”  Rudin burst out laughing and said “I like this kid”. 

A few days later, Tom’s manager got a call, and before long, Tom was preceding Frank on stage in Atlantic City.  Following his second performance, Frank invited Tom to join him and his wife Barbara for dinner.  In the middle of the meal, Frank put down his knife and fork and said “I like your material and I like your style.  I’d like you to do a few other dates with me if you’re interested”.   

  And that led to an exciting job that lasted fourteen years, and a warm personal relationship that lasted  until Frank’s passing in 1998.   Tom and Frank are pictured together here.

For this writer and Frank Sinatra Impersonator, it’s great to have a friend like Tom Dreesen, a Sinatra confidant, and one of America’s finest comedians.

Performing With A Michael Jackson Impersonator

Joby Rogers on stage as Michael Jackson

 Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson never performed together, but a Florida audience saw a Frank Sinatra Tribute and a Michael Jackson Tribute on the same show not long ago when I performed my Frank Sinatra Tribute along with Joby Rogers as Michael Jackson.

Joby is a fine performer and has Michael’s look, energy and moves.  He got the audience involved and they loved it.  The combination of Frank and Michael was not a bad mix for a gathering with different age groups and tastes.  For audiences that will miss Michael, Joby will provide a very credible and entertaining re-creation.  

From Monty Aidem, pictured below.

Performing at the former Frank Sinatra Estate

Frank Sinatra – The Way You Look Tonight

An often requested song at my Frank Sinatra Impersonator show is The Way You Look Tonight.  It originally goes back to 1936 when it was sung by Fred Astaire in the movie Swing Time, for which it won the Academy Award as that year’s best song.  It was also a 60’s hit with nice harmonies by The Lettermen, and has been recorded many times over the years by various artists.

It was recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1964 with a chart by Frank’s favorite arranger Nelson Riddle, and popularized for a new generation in 1989 when that version was featured in a TV commercial for Michelob Beer.  Though that exposure generated many fan requests for the song, The Way You Look Tonight was never performed in concert by Frank Sinatra.

Frank Sinatra, Model Train Collector

Frank Sinatra's model train layout

From this Frank Sinatra Impersonator in Los Angeles:   I had the great experience of performing for a small elite group at the Frank Sinatra estate in Rancho Mirage CA, known to many as “The Compound”.  That same night, I was given a wonderful private tour of the property, where  everything is preserved the way it was when the Sinatras lived there. 

In addition to a main house and beautiful pool, there is a separate theater room and several guest houses named after Sinatra songs, identified with plaques in front of each one.  But one of the most memorable buildings is the Train Building, where Frank’s extensive model train collection is still set up.  Miniature tracks, train cars, buildings and tiny people fill the room on a huge table, surrounded by shelves on all four walls holding more train cars and other accessories.  On a hook on the wall hangs a bright red hat with an emblem and shiny black visor.  The whole collection is valued at more than a million dollars, and one of the most cherished pieces is a locomotive that was a gift to F.S. from the Vatican.  There’s every possible detail on the elaborate layout, it’s quite a sight, and as a matter of fact, it still runs.

Tom Dreesen, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.

Frank  Sinatra’s longest running opening act was a fine comedian named Tom Dreesen, who preceded Frank on stage for the last fourteen years that Frank performed.  But before he was with Frank, Tom opened for Frank’s pal Sammy Davis Jr.

As a young comedian, Tom had a lot of material about being a White guy growing up in a Black neighborhood south of Chicago.  He knew Sammy would love the jokes, so he became determined to get on a TV show Sammy had, called Sammy and Company.  But Tom wasn’t having much luck until one day when Bill Cosby cancelled and they needed somebody fast.  Tom got on at the last minute, and sure enough, Sammy loved him. 

After the show, Sammy surprised Tom, saying “You’re a funny man.  You’re coming with me”.  Tom said “Coming with you?  Coming with you where?”  Sammy said “I’m playing some theaters in the East in a couple of months and you are going to be my opening act”.   So Tom got a lot more than just the TV talk show  booking he had wanted.  He says going on the road with Sammy was the break that catapulted him into the big leagues, where the biggest stars traveled, eventually leading to a job with one of the biggest stars of all.  

From Monty Aidem and http://www.FrankTribute.com

Frank Sinatra and the 1961 Inaugural

Entertainment at the Inaugural Gala for John F. Kennedy in 1961 was under the direction of JFK’s most prominent supporter from the entertainment industry, Frank Sinatra.   But Frank’s two main Rat Pack pals were not there.  Dean Martin, who was not very political, was filming a movie, and Sammy Davis Jr. was absent due to  his bi-racial marriage to actress May Britt, which caused the Kennedys to fear that Sammy’s appearance would inflame conservatives.  It was a major disappointment to Frank, who was a civil rights advocate, but he decided to live with it. 

Inaugural entertainment included Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford, plus comedians Milton Berle and Alan King, dancers Juliet Prowse and Gene Kelly, and actors Sidney Poitier, Bette Davis, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh.  Also onboard were singers Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Ethel Merman, and Harry Belafonte, plus gospel star Mahalia Jackson, who sang the Star Spangled Banner.

Twenty years later, after switching from  Democrat to Republican, Frank organized the Inaugural show again, for Ronald Reagan.

From Monty Aidem via WordPress.com and http://www.FrankTribute.com

Frank Sinatra and Politics

As it’s widely known, Civil Rights was an important issue for Frank Sinatra, who intervened when he saw that African American entertainers were prohibited from staying at the hotels where they performed.  Sinatra worked to bring about equality, using his influence to integrate Las Vegas casinos and other venues.

In his early years, his loyalty was to the Democratic party, as an admirer of FDR and first lady Eleanor Roosevelt.  And of course, his friendship with JFK is well known, along with Sinatra’s vigorous efforts to help get Kennedy elected in 1960, making campaign appearances and singing a parody of High Hopes, turned into a campaign song.

In later years, however, Frank aligned with Republican candidates like Ronald Reagan, even though he had made negative remarks about Reagan previously.  I too identified with the Democratic party as a young man, but unlike Mr. Sinatra, I intend to remain a Democrat.  And so it was especially satisfying to see Barack Obama elected president.  But in voting for Senator Obama, I didn’t just cast my vote for a political party.  I saw three parts to my vote.  For the platform, which will try to find real solutions for our problems without satisfying ideals of fairness, attempt serious diplomacy before resorting to warfare, and restore America’s depressed standing in the world. . . .It was a vote for the man, who is intelligent, articulate, thoughtful, and incredibly disciplined, and measured in temperament. . .and it was a vote for the campaign, which was brilliantly executed and consistently took the high road.  Maybe that’s why the positive feelings for President-elect Obama and the prospects for our future are not just on the upswing in the U.S. but globally as well.  As an extra bonus, I believe that Michelle Obama will become an exceptional first lady. 

From Monty Aidem via WordPress.com and http://www.franktribute.com