THE VOICE

They don’t come much cooler than Francis Albert Sinatra. Legendary singer, actor, and all around swinger, Frank Sinatra taught generations that you could still look tough while wearing a tuxedo and singing about girls. Beginning his career at 19, Frank was a chart-topping singer and award winning actor. He was the leader of the Rat Pack, dated just about every starlet in Hollywood, and even had mob ties. The guy was basically the king of entertainment for 50 years. There was a reason they called him “The Chairman".  Frank Sinatra could sing, act, drink, and dance like nobody’s business.  But he sure as hell couldn't paint.  After starting out painting sad clowns (for real), Sinatra’s paintings developed into hideous messes of garish colors, and weak lines. His paintings sell well (some for as much as $25,000) but it’s more for the novelty. People buy them for the little "Sinatra" in the corner. Even the guys who sell his paintings struggle to come up with ways to praise them. One seller raves that a Sinatra painting, “shows recognizable shapes from nature.” What do you expect. The guy did nearly everything else amazingly well; he had to suck at something.  So what!  He lived more lives then most men will ever  know. His RAT PACK ruled the LAS VEGAS strip, long before anyone cared about the fab four!  YES, YES, before there was even a KING JAMES (LeBron).  Standing In the LOBBY OF THE SANDS, WAS OLD BLUE EYES!  His range and tone set the standard for all that would follow him. His abilities with a camera lead to a ringside seat for the FIGHT OF THE CENTURY ALI/FRAZIER 1 at MSG 1971 those photos would be published in EBONY MAGAZINE. Like the greatest of all time,  he did some hoofing with some of dancings masters; SAMMY DAVIS JR, and GENE KELLY, in ANCHORS AWEIGH and ON THE TOWN! As the sun sets on another LAS VEGAS night I can hear THE SUMMER WIND!!!!!!!! THANK GOD FOR YOU AND THE VEGAS SANDS.