Frank Sinatra Junior looks forward to centenary of legendary dad’s birthday

THIS year, we’ll see many celebrations of Frank Sinatra, marking a century since his birth but for millions, his music will live forever.

And it’s heartening to know his son, Frank Sinatra Jr, is about to tour the UK, telling new generations all about Ol’ Blue Eyes, and reminding us oldies just why Sinatra still gets under our skin.

With surely the greatest voice of all time, Frank Sr’s popularity hasn’t waned in the 17 years since he died, and his son is fiercely proud that the man he called simply Dad is still a musical giant.

“Dad was a total perfectionist,” says Frank Jr. “With musicians, he always had the best.

“I don’t know how to define for you what he had in his voice.

“Many years ago, someone asked the great concert pianist Arthur Rubinstein why Chopin’s music was so popular.

“Rubinstein told him Chopin’s music speaks directly to the hearts of people, and I think that is what Frank Sinatra’s music did, too.

“I can tell you that my father loved Britain, he always liked coming here and performing. But I don’t know if he had any favourite cities, I think he liked all of them!”

His father was at the peak of his powers when Frank Jr (born in 1944) was a kid, meaning he didn’t get to see his famous dad as much as you might think but he reveals that the great man had definite tastes in music.

“He wasn’t the type to come home and listen to records by Bob Dylan or The Rolling Stones!” he laughs. “He didn’t bring me up to listen to anything in particular.

“I was studying music myself, primarily with classical music beginning from about 1835 right up to the present day. Dad also liked Beethoven and Mozart.”

Clearly, it must have been tough, trying to break into the music world as a musician himself, with the very name Sinatra meaning people pre-judged him.

“Dad didn’t really warn me about going into music myself,” Frank reveals. “He wasn’t really involved in any decision-making when it came to my own career.

“Was there big pressure of expectation on me, because I was a Sinatra? Oh, yes, without a doubt! I dealt with it the only way I could, by fulfilling my own potential, learning all the time so that I could improve as a musical performer.

“Funnily enough, I don’t remember lots of stars coming in and out the family home. Somehow, people expect to hear that I did, but actually, we lived a rather quiet existence!”

It thrills Frank Jr to know that 100 years after his dad came into the world, his classic albums and singles still haunt and charm millions across the globe, of every nationality and age group.

He’d love to think that in another century’s time, In The Wee Small Hours, My Way and New York New York will still belt out of CD players or whatever they have then.

“It would be a very nice compliment to all of his efforts,” he smiles.

“On this tour, I’ll be singing the songs, but also talking about my father, with archive footage and photographs.

“One of the reasons I want to do this is to show how he had the best taste in picking out songs. That is part of the reason why I believe they have lasted so long.”

Those songs, of course, continue to sound huge and impressive, with the orchestration of Nelson Riddle and others, and the backing of legends like Count Basie and Duke Ellington, giving Sinatra classics their astonishing power.

Like many a musician of Sinatra’s era, right up to rock stars of the 1970s and later, Frank Jr wonders if this digital age, where they record singers onto computer systems, can produce such brilliant recordings.

That is, if they could ever find a man with a voice like Frank Sinatra to record in the first place!

“You’ve touched on something that the recording industry has been debating for more than 30 years,” Frank Jr admits.

“They say that the old analog sound, although technically less accurate, nonetheless is a much warmer sound. In fact, many albums recorded today are still recorded on analog tape.

“Many artists and musicians swear by that. I have also recorded in both mediums, and I think that if you have the correct engineering team, it’s pretty impossible to tell the difference.

“Unfortunately, the music industry has slowed way down, so that makes it harder to tell.”

Don’t worry, Frank. We can tell you for sure.

Your old man’s records sound better than anything recorded these days but then again, there is nobody on the planet with a voice like Ol’ Blue Eyes.

You can see the show, Sinatra Sings Sinatra on these dates.

June 27 Manchester Bridgewater Hall, 28 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 30 Birmingham Symphony Hall, July 2 London Royal Albert Hall.

Tickets, priced at £60-£40 except London £75-£45, are available at www.ticketline.co.uk and at venue box offices.