Issue 9

 Las Vegas had one of the biggest tributes for the icon of entertainment Frank Sinatra, since the early days of the Rat Pack.  Sinatra, who left us at the age of 82, had lived a life that most of us could only dream about.

The tribute, produced by Quincy Jones, was held at the MGM's new conference center on Saturday, May 30th.  Barbara Sinatra hosted the gala evening with Wayne Newton co-hosting.  Roy Firestone opened the gathering with a bit of improvised rapping, backed up by a montage of pictures and scenes from Frank's life.  This was no doubt a night to remember.

Some of the celebrity attendees included: Gregory Peck, Robert Stack, Richard Roundtree, Angie Dickenson, Robert Goulet, Mac Davis, Jack Lemmon, Joe Williams, Hal Linden, Joe Montegna, and Tom Dreesen.  Actors and performers were not the only ones to turn out to remember Frank.  Sports figures Scooter McGruder (New England Patriots), Bobby Anderson, Joe Theismenn, Larry Brown, and Olympic Gold Medalist Dan Jensen.

In speaking with jazz legend Joe Willams, his personal memories of Frank were very fond.

"I don't think we so much as lose people like Frank, in as much as his spirit and energy fused so much into those of us that were really into that kind of performance.   You could say spectacular music that raised the spirit of everybody that heard it...Sinatra will be emulated."

Willams, back in 1959, recorded "For You" a Sinatra tune and "Just as Thought You Were Here".  It was very good for his carrer as he recalls, in fact Willams and Sinatra often sat down to lunch together during rehearsals.

"He was a very special cat.  He really enjoyed being in charge.  He was The Chaiman of the Board."  He reminced, "I told Frank one afternoon, be cool.  I said to him, what you do is get somebody close to you and when you want something done whisper to them in a conversational tone.  You don't sit here and yell up there on stage."

What Joe was refering to was Frank's desire to be everywhere and do everything.   He was almost asking too much of himself, especally when peformance time came around.

Comedian Tom Dreesen, another good friend of Frank's, who traveled extensivly with him fondly remembers many nights with the legend, "The song I remember most about Frank is the 'Wee Wee Hours of the Morning', some of our best conversations were during those times."

One of the most prolific statements this writer will remember came from Gregory Peck.

"Frank's music traveled to the moon, 'Come Fly With Me' was the first music played by man on the moon."

Ending on a happy note, Robert Goulet and others sang up a storm at the Brown Derby.   Folks like TV host Robert Stack, whom couldn't be found by the spotlight, "Tonight, I'm one of the unsolved mysteries."