Sinatra and Me: In the Wee Small Hours

Sinatra and Me: In the Wee Small Hours

  • Downloads:8162
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-06-03 11:31:11
  • Update Date:2025-09-07
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Tony Oppedisano
  • ISBN:1982151781
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

An intimate, revealing portrait of Frank Sinatra—from the man closest to the famous singer during the last decade of his life。

More than a hundred books have been written about legendary crooner and actor Frank Sinatra。 Every detail of his life seems to captivate: his career, his romantic relationships, his personality, his businesses, his style。 But a hard-to-pin-down quality has always clung to him—a certain elusiveness that emerges again and again in retrospective depictions。 Until now。

From Sinatra’s closest confidant and an eventual member of his management team, Tony Oppedisano, comes an extraordinarily intimate look at the singing idol。 Deep into the night, for more than two thousand nights, Frank and Tony would converse—about music, family, friends, great loves, achievements and successes, failures and disappointments, the lives they’d led, the lives they wished they’d led。 In these full-disclosure conversations, Sinatra spoke of his close yet complex relationship with his father, his conflicts with record companies, his carousing in Vegas, his love affairs with some of the most beautiful women of his era, his triumphs on some of the world’s biggest stages, his complicated relationships with his talented children, and, most important, his dedication to his craft。

Toward the end, no one was closer to the singer than Oppedisano, who kept his own rooms at the Sinatra residences for many years, often brokered difficult conversations between family members, and held the superstar entertainer’s hand when he drew his last breath。

Featuring never-before-seen photos and offering startlingly fresh anecdotes and new revelations that center on some of the most famous people of the past fifty years—including Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Sam Giancana, Madonna, and Bono—Sinatra and Me pulls back the curtain to reveal a man whom history has, in many ways, gotten wrong。

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Reviews

Debra Pawlak

I received an advanced reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley。com in return for a fair review。 There have been many books written about legendary singer Frank Sinatra and I have read several of them, but this particular book stands out for me。 Tony Oppedisano was a member of Sinatra's inner circle for decades。 As a much younger man, he met the older Sinatra through Jilly Rizzo--Sinatra's best friend for many years。 After Jilly's untimely death, Oppedisano took his place as Sinatra's pal I received an advanced reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley。com in return for a fair review。 There have been many books written about legendary singer Frank Sinatra and I have read several of them, but this particular book stands out for me。 Tony Oppedisano was a member of Sinatra's inner circle for decades。 As a much younger man, he met the older Sinatra through Jilly Rizzo--Sinatra's best friend for many years。 After Jilly's untimely death, Oppedisano took his place as Sinatra's pal and confidante。 As a result, Oppedisano had a first-hand, up close view of the life Sinatra led in his later years。 He shared many highs and lows, as well as his experiences not so much with Sinatra the singer, but Sinatra the man。 According to Oppedisano, Sinatra always retained some of the traits he picked up as a child--his quick temper and his readiness to deck someone who crossed him--or at least if he perceived that they crossed him。 On the other hand, Sinatra was extremely generous to family, friends and even strangers。 He often performed many acts of kindness on the Q。T。--never wanting anyone to be indebted to him or to think his generosity was a way to gain publicity。 He honestly did it from his heart。 Oppedisano talked about his own experiences with Sinatra and it wasn't always easy being his friend。 He expected companionship 24/7 and many of his intimate pals devoted their own lives to him--Oppedisano was no exception, but he had no regrets and would do it all again。 It was an interesting read and one of the better books I've found about the Chairman of the Board。 Thanks to Oppedisano, we get a glimpse of what it must have been like。 If you are a fan of Sinatra, you won't want to miss this one! 。。。more

Casey Wheeler

This book is another attempt to make some money off of a relationship with Frank Sinatra。 I found it to be borderline boring without a great deal of new information that can be found in more qualitative biographies of Frank Sinatra。 As I am a fan of Sinatra, I keep getting suckered into reading these types of books。 After this one, I am done。I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodrea This book is another attempt to make some money off of a relationship with Frank Sinatra。 I found it to be borderline boring without a great deal of new information that can be found in more qualitative biographies of Frank Sinatra。 As I am a fan of Sinatra, I keep getting suckered into reading these types of books。 After this one, I am done。I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog。 。。。more

Wendy Salazar

I have been a Sinatra fan for many years and I was concerned another biography would reiterate what I have already read about him。 It seemed what was recounted consisted of what happened that Tony was a witness to and I can appreciate that。 It was not boring and read nicely。 I’m sure there were more successes and failures that weren’t presented but it was a great read about an iconic musician。

Gail O'Connor

This memoir of Mr Oppedisano's history with Frank Sinatra was extremely entertaining and gave the reader an insight into Sinatra's personal life。 Keeps you mesmerized until the final page。 A great read if you are a Sinatra fan。 This memoir of Mr Oppedisano's history with Frank Sinatra was extremely entertaining and gave the reader an insight into Sinatra's personal life。 Keeps you mesmerized until the final page。 A great read if you are a Sinatra fan。 。。。more

Nathan

Captivating from start to finish and mandatory reading, in my opinion, for anyone seeking to understand Sinatra at length。 Truly, much has been made about the man and his off-stage endeavors (for better and worse)。 Where you end up regarding The Chairman is your own adventure, but I think that Oppedisano and Ross’ work here is laid bare for your consideration。 Does it cover every single solitary scandal and triumph? Of course not。 The author appears to just be commenting on what he knew/was witn Captivating from start to finish and mandatory reading, in my opinion, for anyone seeking to understand Sinatra at length。 Truly, much has been made about the man and his off-stage endeavors (for better and worse)。 Where you end up regarding The Chairman is your own adventure, but I think that Oppedisano and Ross’ work here is laid bare for your consideration。 Does it cover every single solitary scandal and triumph? Of course not。 The author appears to just be commenting on what he knew/was witness to during his time with Sinatra。 Focusing more on the latter stages of his career, we get a very intimate look on how one of the best in show business—or any business, for that matter—dealt with changes, whether they emerged from cultural shifts, old age, and tragedies。 It makes some people look pretty good in hindsight, but one person, despite Tony O。 making numerous concessions to give the benefit of the doubt, simply doesn’t get out of this with an improved reputation。 The chapters are parsed crisply and cleanly, demarcated to focus on his friends, music, women, etc。, with little call-back to other parts of the book。 You don’t have to be a Sinatra super-fan to know who’s who; furthermore, and to the authors’ credit, you don’t get too far without also sharing in the sorrows and triumphs。 It was stated that this work was meant to separate myth from reality, and, in that regard, it’s stupendously valuable。 Comparing it to other Sinatra biographies, it definitely reads more smoothly (i。e。 it doesn’t come off as too academic), and I say that because I know of some fellow readers who get quickly turned off by something bogged down with a lot of citations。 Beyond its unique insight into Sinatra’s inner circle, I believe it also grants new power to the man’s music, especially his work from the mid-1970s and on。 It’s not a salacious tell-all, but an earnest, warm tribute from a friend。 Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the advance read。 。。。more

Patricia Becker

My mom was the ultimate Sinatra fan and to her dying day had a huge poster of young Frank hanging on her closet door。 My father had a passing resemblance to Frank, and I grew up with Frank singing throughout our home。 Every birthday, Mother's Day, or Christmas, someone gave mom a book about Frank, a biography, a new coffee table book, whatever was out there。 She loved Frank。And so, I had to read this book。 I totally enjoyed Tony Oppedisano's reminiscences about his time with Frank。 At times I co My mom was the ultimate Sinatra fan and to her dying day had a huge poster of young Frank hanging on her closet door。 My father had a passing resemblance to Frank, and I grew up with Frank singing throughout our home。 Every birthday, Mother's Day, or Christmas, someone gave mom a book about Frank, a biography, a new coffee table book, whatever was out there。 She loved Frank。And so, I had to read this book。 I totally enjoyed Tony Oppedisano's reminiscences about his time with Frank。 At times I could smell the cigarette smoke and taste the whiskey; it felt like you were right there。 Loved the descriptions of Jilly's and the scenes there。 There's just so much here。 Deeply honest and heartfelt, this book is a must for anyone with a love for or an interest in Frank Sinatra。 Love the man, love the music -- great book。Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read Sinatra and Me。 。。。more