This weekend I’m taking a break from the album countdown to showcase Frank’s work with the man who was, perhaps, his most influential teacher: Tommy Dorsey.
From 1940 until the Fall of 1942, Sinatra was a member of Mr. Dorsey’s Orchestra and it was during this time that the polish on his craftsmanship began to shine. He studied TD’s breath control and phrasing on his trombone, in the process fashioning what was soon called The Voice.
Frank also got to work with some of the finest musicians and arrangers, such as Bunny Berigan, Buddy Rich, Sy Oliver, Ziggy Elman, and the man who would be by his side throughout his solo career at Columbia: arranger Axel Stordahl.
Frank may have been the star vocalist of the Band, but he was joined by Connie Haines and Jo Stafford and The Pied Pipers, who had talent up the kazoo.
You can’t celebrate the life of the greatest singer and performer of our age, Francis Albert Sinatra, without a look at the sweet music he made with the Sentimental Gentleman Of Swing Tommy Dorsey.
The Top Ten Album countdown will return next week, but, for now, let’s journey back to the early years of the 1940’s and follow the Trade Winds, East Of The Sun and West Of The Moon, down the Street Of Dreams…
-No need to come back at all…
-Now in a cottage built of lilacs and laughter
I know the meaning of the words ‘Ever after’…
-Then I’ll reach for your hand…
Just as though…just as though you were here…
-I’ll never laugh again…
-We’ll wait for you, even ’til eternity…
-…You can bet your life I do…
-Papa, you know…
-Over and over again…
Marvelous.
See you next Weekend as we resume the Top Ten Album countdown by taking a short helicopter-hop again to Bobsville.
Don’t forget to also keep checking out
Pundette’s Sinatra 100 countdown,
Ms Evi’s Sinatra Celebration,
& Mark Steyn’s Sinatra Songs Of The Century.
It’s a ring-a-ding world.
If you’re having trouble tracking down any of the recordings on this List, contact me at Robert[dot]Belvedere[at]gmail[dot]com and I might be able to help you.
