As I sit down to write this column every week, I think about the experiences I have had that may be of interest to the readers.  Most of the time it forces me to recall instances that were incredible yet jammed between other things going on that did not allow me to write about them right away.  So I make notes and refer back when needed.

And with all the Rock stuff I have going on, I treasure the “Heritage” acts that we present.  Those entertainers who, in their “hey-day” were part of the “Who’s Who” of entertainment during the 1940s, 50s and 60s.

I have mentioned on may occasions how lucky I know I am.  I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with not only those performers many fans revere, but also those show biz superstars who I see as musical heroes.  There are also those who I wasn’t fortunate enough (or young enough) to actually work with, but their legacies helped fulfill my fantasy of presenting them.

For example, even though I had a small part in a fund raiser for the Italian senior home, Villa Scalabrini about thirty years ago, I barely (and I mean barely) interacted with the star of the show, Frank Sinatra.  I was part of the crew that distributed the premium items to various levels of ticket holders.  The $100 ticket received a commemorative medallion, $250 got a Sinatra keychain and $500 received a brass paperweight.  As I was bringing the boxes in the rear door of the Auditorium Theatre, “The Chairman of the Board” was entering at the same time!  It was Ol’ Blue Eyes and young Brown Eyes locking together for a fleeting moment.  That was my big Frank Sinatra interface.  And since then, I have had a few more Sinatra interactions.

Nancy Sinatra, Frank’s eldest child famous for, “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’,” performed at our “Festa Pasta Vino” on Oakley Avenue in Chicago.  We got to be very friendly as she would contact me every time she was flying through Chicago.  I remember as I was doing this huge build-up of an introduction, she just walked out on stage in the middle of it without me knowing and came behind me and kind of mimicked me! She then gave me a bear hug from behind!  What a great lady.

Later I brought Frank Sinatra, Jr. in for a few shows.  He was always stoic, straight-faced and focused.  I remember one night, I took him and his entire band out to dinner.  A couple of Jack Daniels into it, he let his hair down and began doing Dean Martin impersonations!  He was pretty funny and wound up being quite supportive, even recording a congratulatory video for me when I was to receive some award in the community.

And speaking of Dean Martin, God blessed me with another working relationship that turned into family. Dean’s daughter Deana had become my “Big Sister” after several projects that we worked on together.   We even call my daughter Giuliana “Baby Deana” as she was born around that time and surprised Deana on stage when she was 5 years old!  A photo Deana still keeps on her piano til this day!  She and her husband John are definitely family…I even stayed at their house in Branson one year!

Louis Prima-another all-time favorite of mine! He was an unsung hero of Las Vegas in the 50s and 60s and one of the most talented and innovative performers ever to hit the stage.  His daughter Lena is not far from him in the talent department!  She captivates her audiences with a similar excitement and all around fun that her dad had on stage.  We have been very close for years.  I even managed her for five years.  An amazing talent who gave me a bucket list check-off when she took me to meet her mother, Gia Maione, the girl who performed with and married Louis after his divorce from the ever-popular sidekick, Keely Smith.  I trembled as she allowed me to hold the actual trumpet played by Louis Prima!

I was able to meet Tony Bennett on a few occasions.  But they were close to the end of his days and I never had much of a conversation with him.  But his daughter Antonia also came to be a sister-figure to me.  Very sweet, soft spoken and musically talented.  In her presence I still feel his swanky-cool and jazzy vibe.

I recently wrote about my experiences with the legendary Connie Francis.  We just lost her recently, and being with her was about as awe-inspiring as it would have been to be close to Frank Sinatra himself!  I shared some great conversations with her, all the while realizing what an icon she was, and pinching myself regularly!  She became an “Aunt” to me, always warm with that very distinct nasally voice.

Neil Sedaka, Paul Anka, Don RickIes, Debbie Reynolds, Engelbert Humperdink, Wayne Newton, Shirley MacLaine, Joan Rivers, Barbara Eden, Priscilla Presley, Ed McMahon, Patti Page, etc., etc.  I can’t believe this list, and it can go on and on.  Yes, fellow industry professionals are relatively unmoved by the presence of these heroes and legends.   But am still star struck! 

I am thankful to all of you who have come to our shows, especially at the Arcada.  It was YOU that gave me the privilege to work with these legendary performers.  And to Lester J. Norris who built the Arcada Theatre in 1926, I will forever be in his debt.  I have thanked him countless times as he still roams through the aisles of the theatre.  It’s when I hear, “You’re welcome” that kind of freaks me out a bit!