Tag Archives: The Chairman of the Board

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2022: Day 12

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music, Christmas by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 12 2022

A picture of an adorable vintage Christmas figurine found on Pinterest. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Today we honor the legendary entertainer who put New Jersey on the world’s musical map nearly 60 years before Bruce Springsteen’s “Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.” reaffirmed the state’s place of honor. Francis Albert Sinatra was born December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, NJ. His career as a vocalist began when he was a teenager but his first album was not released until 1946. Five years earlier he made his film debut as a big band singer in 1941’s Las Vegas Nights. He went from being the heart’s desire of bobby soxers across the country to becoming a member of The Rat Pack, “The Chairman Of The Board” and “Ol’ Blue Eyes” in a career that spanned over five decades before his death in 1998.

For my maternal grandmother Sinatra was all those things and the definition of Christmas. Every December of my young childhood, his Christmas music began the festive season. It was as comforting to me as the smell of the real tree she had in her apartment every year. She listened to other Italian singers each holiday season as well (most notably fellow Rat Packer Dean Martin), but Frank was the one who started all the fun. My grandmother’s collection incliuded his first holiday album, “Christmas Songs by Sinatra” from 1946, his second one, “A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra” from 1957 and the one he made with his three children, “The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas” from 1968.

Today’s song is from his second holiday record and has been one of my favorites for as long as I can remember. Sinatra helped write this track as well and it is one of the few songs that is not played to death each December. On the contrary, it is not played nearly enough.

“Then comes that big night
Giving the tree the trim
You’ll hear voices by starlight
Singing a yuletide hymn“.

Sinatra album

Sinatra studio

Top: Sinatra’s 1957 Christmas album. Bottom: The Chairman Of The Board in the recording studio circa 1960. (Images found online. Original sources unknown.)

Frank Sinatra: “Mistletoe and Holly” (1957, written by Hank Sanicola, Frank Sinatra and Dok Stanford).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

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25 Days Of Christmas Music 2021: Day 21

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 21

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This year the iconic Tony Bennett announced his retirement at age 95 after a 70 year career. To say this news left an enormous hole in the hearts & minds of his fans, not to mention the music industry, is an understatement. Despite his age the magic of his glorious melodic expressive voice never waned. That fact rings true in today’s song which he recorded in 2008.

When Frank Sinatra called Bennett “the best singer in the business”, it put him at a place of honor that no one else could ever compare with. But even without The Chairman Of The Board’s declaration, one listen to any performance by Bennett proves his skill, talent & worth. We owe an incredible debt to him for what he gave us over the years not only in music but in artistry, humanity, history, pop culture and grace. Thank you for everything, Anthony Dominick Benedetto.

“It’s that time of year
When the world falls in love
Every song you hear seems to say
Merry Christmas“.

Tony

Tony Bennett circa 2010. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Tony Bennett: “The Christmas Waltz” (2008, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2021: Day 15

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 15

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

December 12th marked the 106th birth anniversary of Francis Albert Sinatra. A singer, an actor, a member of Hollywood’s Rat Pack and an overall entertainer & artist, the man was a legend who continues to enthrall fans with his towering reputation and existence. No one had a life like Sinatra.

Today’s tune may technically be considered a children’s Christmas song and Sinatra’s fellow New Jersey-ite Bruce Springsteen may have a more popular version in the rock genre. But The Chairman Of The Board turned this classic into a sophisticated big band grown up track that endures nearly 75 years after its original recording in 1947. It is still Frank Sinatra’s world and we are all just living in it. How lucky are we?

“He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake“.

Frank

Frank Sinatra circa 1955. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Frank Sinatra: “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” (1947, written by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 12

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Welcome back to the countdown!!!

Hello from me and this adorable snow couple!!!  I LOVE that they are wearing mittens!!!

day11

Found on Pinterest (original source unknown).  

When the right song and the right singer find each other, it is magic.  When that combination becomes so successful it not only produces a hit record but it also becomes the artist’s signature song.  Most artists have only one song that easily defines them.  For others, there are several.  Today’s artist falls into the second iconic category.  Some of his signature songs include “Everybody Loves Somebody“, “Volare“, “That’s Amore” and today’s Christmas classic.

He recorded it twice, first in 1959 and again in 1966, for two different Christmas album collections.  One of his fellow Rat Pack buddies recorded his own version first in 1950.  Despite the fact that the buddy was Frank Sinatra himself, the most loved and well known version of this song is attributed to the King of Cool.  One glimpse of this incredibly handsome man performing in his smooth, suave debonair demeanor with his wide easy smile and lush baritone voice and it was easy to see why he was awarded that nickname.  And to earn that honor as a member of a group that included the Chairman of the Board, well, that put him in a league all of his own.  Well done, Dino Paul Crocetti.

Dean.jpg

 

Dino Paul Crocetti a/k/a Dean Martin:  “Let It Snow!  Let It Snow!  Let It Snow” (1959 & 1966, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne in 1945).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  🙂

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!