My Christmas Music Playlist Is At Full Throttle Now!

Every year, I like to play my favorite Yuletide music hits at Christmas time!

 Of course to me, the best Christmas music is the one that brings back memories of long ago, when I was a kid waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve. (Yeah, that long ago!)   These are the songs that take me back to those bygone days when the spirit of Christmas was quite different from today,  so you won't find any songs by Michael Bublé, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Justin Bieber or any of the other current pop stars here!

Now This Is What I Call Christmas!!!!

MY TOP TEN ALL-TIME BEST CROONERS LIST

With the passing of Tony Bennett, this past July 21, one of the last remaining male singers from the great Golden Era of Pop Crooners was gone. I've always had great admiration for singers, especially since I can't utter a single good note with my vocal chords. In honor of Tony Bennett and all of the rest, I've compiled my personal list of great crooners, starting with number one, the top of the line and personal favorite, Frank Sinatra!

                                                              1) FRANK SINATRA

2) NAT KING COLE

 

3) DEAN MARTIN

4) BING CROSBY

5) SAMMY DAVIS JR.

6) TONY BENNETT

7) ANDY WILLIAMS

8) MATT MONRO

9) HARRY BELAFONTE

10) JACK JONES

As of this time, Jack Jones is the only performer in this list who is still with us. 

May he long continue to be so!

FRANK SINATRA'S WORLD

This is WIKIPEDIA's entry on Frank Sinatra:
Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer, actor and producer who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide.

So much has been written about Sinatra, it is quite redundant to say anything more here. 
His legacy in popular music is well known and his recordings are still heard all over the world in some form or another. Movie makers frequently rely on Frank's recordings to score parts of their films and his presence is felt in other singers' arrangements of classic tunes previously recorded by him.

                  

Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, where he's still regarded as the greatest singer of the 20th Century, which he most certainly is. 
His recordings will continue to delight future generations for many years to come. 

He was the original pop star.

                        

He invented the Concept Album.

He was a style icon.

His music is constantly rediscovered.

               

He inspires intense devotion across generations.

 

But first and foremost, he did it all his way.

Today is his 104th birthday and I will remember Old Blue Eyes by listening to some of his songs, which I enjoy not only on his birthday but all year round!

                     

                                                       

"It's Frank's world, we just live in it." - Dean Martin, member of Sinatra's legendary Rat Pack.

Cartoon by Pete Emslie

"May you live to be 100 and may the last voice you hear be mine." - Frank Sinatra.

And have a Merry Sinatra Christmas! 

Check out this clip from the Dean Martin show where you can appreciate the camaraderie between them  and their joyful approach to the songs.