Sinatra! Meets “Little Red Riding Hood”
A Sinatra! Birthday Special (And a quick homage to Cindy Bitterman)
THE SOURCE OF THIS STORY: Thirty years ago somehow seems like it could have been a million years ago. When my book, Sinatra! The Song is You, was first published, back in 1995, this was so long ago that Sinatra himself was still on the road - or at least he hadn’t officially announced his retirement. And it was also so long ago that there was still such a thing as local talk radio. Even by this point, most such radio was done remotely - my publisher (Charles Scribner’s Sons) never actually sent me on a book tour, but the publicists lined up radio shows all over the country, all of which I did via telephone.
I tell you this to explain why I do NOT have any of the details to corroborate the following story: I am on a call-in show that I don’t remember in some city I don’t remember (because I wasn’t actually there) and a woman called in and told the following story. I wish I had been able to get her name so that I could call her afterwards and get some additional details. This was the day of Sinatra’s 80th birthday, December 12, 1995. And now the story:
The woman who called in tells us that she was also born on December 12. About 1960, she’s living in Los Angeles and she decides to go to Mike Romanoff’s famous restaurant for her birthday. Once they’re in the restaurant, they can tell there’s another party going on in the back room - waiters and busboys are moving between the two rooms.
She and her friends were enjoying themselves thoroughly, when, along about midnight, the waiter comes out and presents her with a magnum of champagne. He explains: “There’s a gentleman in the back room who is also celebrating his birthday tonight, and he wanted you to enjoy this.”
After she and her party drink hearty, she tells the waiter, “That was so kind of that gentleman. Do you think I might be able to tell him thank you.” The waiter gives her a look like that was something he had not expected - like she was a side dish he hadn’t ordered - but she persists, and agrees to go and directly ask the gentleman in question.
A half hour or so passes, and the waiter returns. “The gentleman says he would love to meet you. Please follow me.”
She gets up and starts to follow the waiter. As they pass through the door, he stops and turns to her and says, “I just want to let you know something - so you won’t be shocked or surprised - the gentleman in question is Frank Sinatra.”
And she is quick to respond, “yeah, sure he is!” and then she adds, “if he’s Frank Sinatra, then I’m Little Red Riding Hood.”
The waiter takes her to the table, and there, indeed, is Sinatra. (Here is where I wish I had more details, especially as to who was at Sinatra’s table. I would like to think that Sammy Davis, Jr. was also there - his birthday was December 8, and they always celebrated together. I would also like to think that Cindy Bitterman was also there. She dated Sinatra, off-and-on, for much of the immediate pre-Rat Pack period, and was also one of Sammy’s best friends; her birthday was December 9. Many years later, Cindy became a kind of mentor and second mother to both James Gavin and myself. Jim and I are like brothers from another mother, and that mother would have been Cindy.)
The woman is shocked, speechless even. Sinatra wishes her a happy birthday, and thanks her graciously for coming back to say hello, and kisses her chastely on the cheek.
The waiter then leads her back to her party. And, as they approach her table, he turns to her and asks, “Well, what do you think now, Red?”
Sing! Sing! Sing! : My tagline is, “Celebrating the great jazz - and jazz-adjacent - singers, as well as the composers, lyricists, arrangers, soloists, and sidemen, who help to make them great.”
A production of KSDS heard Saturdays at 10:00 AM Pacific; 1:00PM Eastern.
To listen to KSDS via the internet (current and recent shows are available for streaming.) click here.
The whole series is also listenable on Podbean.com; click here.
SING! SING! SING!
Sinatra! “The Man With The Golden Arm Revisited”
Guest-starring:
KURT ELLING, MELISSA ERRICO & ALLAN HARRIS
(SSS #126 2024-12-14)
download: <OR> play online
Sinatra! Highlights from the ABC TV Series, 1957-'58
(FS 2024 07 2024-12-10)
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Sinatra! Sings Cahn & Van Heusen
(SSS #125 2024-12-07)
download: <OR> play online:
Sinatra! Sings Burke & Van Heusen
(Day #2 of the 12 Days of Sinatra FS 2024 02 2024-12-03)
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John Kander & Fred Ebb - The Jazz & Pop MixTape
(SSS #124 2024-11-30)
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The Harry Warren & Johnny Mercer Songbook, Part 1 -
with Vanessa Racci & Robert Lamont
(SSS 123 2024-11-23 )
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"Uncle Sam Blues - The Best of V-Discs"
(SSS #122 2024-11-16 )
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SLOUCHING TOWARDS BIRDLAND is a subStack newsletter by Will Friedwald. The best way to support my work is with a paid subscription, for which I am asking either $5 a month or $50 per year. Thank you for considering. (Thanks as always to Beth Naji & Arlen Schumer for special graphics.) Word up, peace out, go forth and sin no more! (And always remember: “A man is born, but he’s no good no how, without a song.”)
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Slouching Towards Birdland (Will Friedwald's SubStack) is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
That’s a phenomenal story. I wonder how long “Red” decided not to wash her face and the kiss off.
Great stuff!!! Thanks!