Sinatra and Me
In the Wee Small Hours
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4.3 • 78 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
This intimate, revealing portrait of Frank Sinatra—from the man closest to the famous singer during the last decade of his life—features never-before-seen photos and new revelations about some of the most famous people of the past fifty years, including Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Sam Giancana, Madonna, and Bono. “If you are a Frank fan, buy this book” (Jimmy Kimmel).
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 that offers “new information on almost every page” (The Wall Street Journal). 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.
“Frank Sinatra fans, pull up a chair and let longtime confidante and road manager Tony Oppedisano regale you with tales from the entertainer’s inner circle” (Parade magazine)—Sinatra and Me pulls back the curtain on a man whom history has, in many ways, gotten wrong.
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Oppedisano debuts with a remarkable look at the final years of one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. The author was in his early 20s playing gigs at jazz clubs in New York when he met Frank Sinatra in 1972, "in the middle of his self-imposed (and short-lived) retirement," and became part of the singer's entourage. By the mid-'70s, he'd joined Sinatra's comeback tour as road manager. Throughout, Oppedisano describes countless late-night sessions spent talking and drinking with the notorious night owl, reminiscing about the singer's past glories performing with friend and prankster Dean Martin (who once gave Sinatra a mood ring so he could "know whether I'm addressing Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde"). In a moving recollection of the singer's final concerts, he recalls Sinatra's decision to wind down his performances after returning from a tour in Japan in 1994: "He wasn't willing to perform as a shadow of his former self." As Sinatra's health deteriorated, Oppedisano became a trusted aide to his daughters, Nancy and Tina, and to Sinatra's wife, Barbara—the only other person with him when the singer, whom Oppedisano "loved like a second father," died. This fascinating and intimate account stands out among the dozens of books written about the celebrated legend.
Customer Reviews
Sinatra fan who never saw a show
I was going to see Sinatra at New Jersey before he stopped performing but the shoe was cancelled. I was so disappointed. Love his music and movies. This book is a delight and very heart warming
Didn’t want to finish
This book is by far the best biography I have ever read. I loved reading Tony O’s book and could imagine I was there with them, laughing, chatting, drinking. He pulls the reader right into the stories.
I learned a lot about one of the greatest, Frank Sinatra, through this book, some I didn’t like, some I loved, I’m just thrilled to be let in on some of the intimate moments between friends.
When reading about Frank’s passing away, I bawled my eyes out. I almost felt like I’d lost a friend.
I didn’t want the book to end, a little bit like Frank not wanting his last performance to end.
Alas, it had to happen.
I would recommend anyone who likes Ole Blue Eyes, to read this book and immerse themselves in the stories. You won’t regret it.
Tony O is great!!
Very moving tribute to Frank Sinatra by the man who was with him to the end! Sad to read about Barbara and Frank’s two “daughters” always arguing over Frank’s things. Too bad none of them ever learned to make their own money! Great book!