[Amy L]

Does anyone know if Mr. S and Mr. C ever recorded together? I know they performed together at the White House in the 70's...Also can anyone shed light on the two and their relationship???Thanks...Amy

[Ronald Sarbo]

They made no recordings together.

Perry was on RCA Victor from 1943 until 1987?

Sinatra was on Columbia, Capitol, and Reprise during that time span.

[Amy L]

Thanks Ronald...Too bad...two great italian crooners...

Did they ever guest star on each other's shows in the 50's?

[Ronald Sarbo]

Yes. Perry was a guest on Sinatra's first TV series in 1951-2.

Sinatra hosted Perry's show in the early 50s when Como was sick.

Sinatra and I believe Perry were on "Some Of Manie's Friends" the tribute to Emanuel Sacks, the legendary record company executive who was so instrumental in the careers of many great singers.

[victor m.]

Frank giving an award to Perry dont remember what it was for, but Frank came out saying, I think I just swallowed a shot glass. might have been a Humanitarian award. Perry was a very Spiritual Person I heard. Thanks, Victor M.

Victor, with the latter, perhaps what you have in mind is when Sinatra introduced Perry Como to the Hall of Fame Awards in January 1990. Sinatra also starred in a December 1987 tribute gala held in honour of Como.

Various charity concerts and shows aside, there were some joint appearances on TV. Ronald has already mentioned the "Some of Manie's Friends" show from 1959 (which Como co-hosted). Most remarkably, Como was Sinatra's guest on the very first edition of Sinatra's own TV show (The Frank Sinatra Show) in October 1950.

Sinatra also showed his respect for Como's work by playing quite a few Como records during his twice-a-week NBC radio series "To Be Perfectly Frank" in 1953/54.

Yes, two "Italian" giants. Both of them caught a lot of falling stars in their career.

Bernhard.

[Ronald Sarbo]

Perry sang "Young At Heart" in tribute to Sinatra when Sinatra was a Kennedy Center Honoree.

In connection with another thread about Sinatra's career decisions Perry always said that Sinatra's striking out on his own gave him and others the courage to do like-wise.

Perry also did not believe in re-recording his "hits" despite RCA's entreaties for him to re-make his hits from the 40s and early 50s in stereo.

He chose to return to them on his TV show instead.

Perry also eschewed "live" performance from 1948-1969 in deference to his TV audience.

[victor m.]

Always a pleasure to here Your tremendous insight. its a pleasure to have You here, Youre a wealth of Knowledge when it comes to Frank. Bvo, How many F.S. concerts did You go to and which one did You like the best. Thanks, Victor M.

a great singer.......

Interesting that he didn't want to re-record his hits in STEREO. He would have done well doing that as his voice aged rather beautifully......

Nat King Cole did that in 1961 and I (much) prefer the STEREO versions as they're faithful to the originals but of course sound lusher.

Steve

[Tricia]

That's-a-nice. I love to hear that Frank had friends, like Perry Como, who were also kind hearts. Another honest man with an easy spirit, was Perry Como.

Thanks Ron, Bernhard and Victor So lovely to see how each of these fine men gave each other tribute and honor along the way and even subbed for each other.

I loved the Perry Como broadcast's from the Holy Land for his Christmas specials. Seems like he did them several times.

I don't know much about Mr. Como except that he had been a barber and that I liked him very much.

Fun to see that Sinatra and Como connected.

**** Bvo, How many F.S. concerts did You go to and which one did You like the best. ***

Hi Victor,

the first Sinatra concert I attended was in Italy (Milano in September 1986), afterwards I saw him again in Italy (Verona in 1987), at The Ultimate Event (1989), twice in London (1990 and 1992) and of course all five concerts held in Germany in 1993.

Hard to pick which I liked "best", on all occasions, Sinatra left me somewhat mesmerized after the show. The most impressive surrounding for sure was the Royal Albert Hall in London (in 1992), and Sinatra did a gorgeous version of "This Is All I Ask" there which he dedicated to Gordon Jenkins, which was among the best Sinatra moments I ever witnessed in person.

The most memorable one for me is Verona (june 1987), it was raining cats and dogs all day and while sitting in the open-air arena long before showtime, we were starting to bet that the concert might be called off. It wasn't, and FS gave a hell of the show. And we yelled our heart out for him doing so. I had traveled overnight by train to Verona to see him, and had been thinking "Verona=Italy=summer=sun" so had no rain clothes with me. I was soaked even before the concert started. After the show, I took a night train back to Germany (and had to stay in bed for almost a week with a very bad influenza).

The most touching one was the last one I attended, Cologne/Germany, on 6-6-93. Open-air beneath the Gothic Cathedral. Hot summer evening. FS was incredible. Home run. He brought down the place. He had a good night, almost none lyrical fumbling, great and relaxed voice, he even improvised occasionally, seemed as if he was pushing himself to heights as the show went on. I still see him before my eyes standing on that stage and embracing the ovations. How great he was still there to receive them. There was some emotional connection between him and the audience that night, that (other FS concerts aside) I have never experienced anywhere ever since. And I will forever be thankful that I had the chance to be part of it.

OK I better stop - this thread was supposed to be about FS & Como, no?

Bernhard.

[Canela]

I had the good fortune to have many dealings with Mr. Como since he was a Frequent Flier in the airline I worked for..
He was a kind man and always the gentleman...
We actually voted him "The nicest celebrity passenger" on our airline...when we told him this...He was thrilled!!

Elba