Tag Archives: The Rat Pack

25 Days Of Christmas Music: Day 12

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Francis Albert Sinatra was born 110 years ago on December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey. The singer, actor & entertainer known as “The Chairman Of The Board” and as a member of The Rat Pack, started his career as a big band vocalist in the swing era when he was 24 years old. In 1946 he released his debut album, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, which started his 52 year career in music, movies, stage & the small screen.

He won numerous awards & honors throughout his career including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Private Angelo Maggio in 1953’s “From Here to Eternity”. His songs reached the charts over 40 times including two #1 records-“Strangers In The Night” in 1966 and “Something Stupid”, a duet with his daughter, Nancy Sinatra, in 1967.

All that and his bigger than life persona gave him legendary pop culture status that flourishes today, more than 25 years after his death in 1998. He also remains a staple of the holiday season, having contributed several Christmas albums including two collaborations, one with Bing Crosby and Fred Waring in 1964 and another with the three Sinatra children in 1968.

Francis Albert Sinatra: December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998.

Frank Sinatra circa 1958. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack standing in the order they are listed on a Las Vegas marquee circa 1964. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Frank Sinatra’s three children joined him for this 1968 Christmas album (L-R): Tina Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra Jr. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

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

Frank Sinatra: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (1957, written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin).

Frank Sinatra: “The Christmas Waltz” (1968, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2025: Day 2

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

My mother introduced me to Elvis, but her mother introduced us both to the man Elvis wanted to be: Dino Paul Crocetti. That is Dean Martin, to those of you who did not grow up in a house where he was considered a saint (yes, I am Italian). A member of The Rat Pack who earned the nickname “The King Of Cool” thanks to his suave demeanor, handsome good looks and inimitable charm, Martin did it all-he was a singer, an actor, a stage entertainer, a TV host and the emcee for his legendary celebrity roasts.

Yet, his Christmas album remains my favorite of all his contributions because his voice & those songs continue to connect me to my childhood & the gift of family who passed their love for this man on to me like a cherished family heirloom. That is a priceless legacy.

Dean Martin circa 1960. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Dean Martin: “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (1966, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 12

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

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A lovely vintage Christmas card image found on Pinterest. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Francis Albert Sinatra-better known as Frank Sinatra, “Ol’ Blue Eyes” or “The Chairman Of The Board”- was born on December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, NJ. To this day, he defines an era of the lavish lifestyle in the glamour filled days of old Hollywood as an actor, singer, entertainer and a member of the Rat Pack.

He recorded today’s song 75 years ago in 1948 only four years after it was featured in the film, “Meet Me In St. Louis” where it was performed by Judy Garland. I have included both for you today for some his and her variety. And because both are spectacular.

“Once again as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Will be near to us once more“.

frank and judy

Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland from an undated photo circa late 1940’s or early 1950’s. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Frank Sinatra: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (1948, written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin).

Judy Garland: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (1944, written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

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!!!

Let’s Take A Moment Day 454

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

June 2021 blog

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

I have a soft spot in my heart for crooners and today’s singer is the reason why. No one did it like Dino Paul Crocetti, who was born on June 7, 1917 in Ohio. Whether he sang in Italian or English, whether he performed alone or with the other members of The Rat Pack or whether I watched him in his TV specials or on the big screen in movies like “Rio Bravo”, “Birds Do It” or “Airport”, Dean Martin was an entertainer in every sense of the word.

Today’s song, originally titled “T’ho voluto bene” (“I love you so much”) was one of my Grandma Mary’s favorite songs. Thanks to her, I grew up with this man’s voice in my life. And what an immeasurable gift that was.

“Please do not forget that our lips have met
And I held you tight dear
Was it dreams ago?
My heart felt this glow only just tonight dear”.

Dean

“The King Of Cool” Dean Martin circa 1960. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Dean Martin: “Non Dimenticar” (1962, music by P. G. Redi a.k.a. Luigi Pulci, Italian lyrics by Michele Galdieri and English lyrics by Shelley Dobbins).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

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!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2018: Day 17

Posted in Christmas, Music by

Hi, Everybody!!!  Welcome back to the countdown.

I follow a lot of unbelievably talented & creative women on Instagram, and since their pictures are so beautiful, I wanted to share a few with you.

real simple pic.JPG Photo courtesy of Debi @realsimplestyle

This one is from Debi Cook Rosin @realsimplestyle.   It may be simple to use her description, but I love the rustic elegance of it.  It is true authentic farmhouse style, not the staged type you can buy at a store.  That look is fine if that is what you want, but I prefer the real thing.  And Debi’s style reflects it so beautifully.  Her IG feed is lovely, so if you like this type of decor, give her page a look.  And thank you, Debi, for letting me share your beautiful photo!!!

Today’s song is by another New Jersey legend.  This one did it all.  He sang, wrote songs, acted, was a Las Vegas showman and went on to become and remain an iconic figure in American pop culture.  One critic labeled him the greatest singer of the 20th century.  I imagine all that led to him becoming Chairman of the Board.

He co-wrote today’s song  with his longtime musical associate Hank Sanicola & Dok Stanford in 1957.  Francis Albert Sinatra, we lost you 20 years ago, but we still miss you.  Ti vogliamo bene.  Buon Natale.

Sinatra

Frank Sinatra:  “Mistletoe and Holly” (1957).

The link above is to a live version showing Frank singing a shorter version of the song.  For the entire song, here is the full studio version.

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!!!