Thursday,
May 15, 2008
They
The
ANNOTICO Report
Frank Sinatra Died on May 14, 1998, and the 10th
anniversary is being marked with a flurry of activity, including a new U.S. postage stamp
with his likeness, lavish new CD
and DVD collections, a major revival of his films on television
and high-profile media appearances by his children.
"There
The
Family is trying to be careful to maximize Sinatra
Ten
years after his death, Ol
By Geoff Boucher, Staff Writer
May 11, 2008
A
new era is beginning in the career of Frank Sinatra even if the Chairman of the
Board isn
The iconic singer died May 14, 1998, and the 10th anniversary is being marked
with a flurry of activity, including a new
This surge in all things Sinatra is more than just a fleeting commemoration,
however -- it
Late last year, the Sinatra heirs signed a pact with Warner Music Group Corp.
that will bring Ol
"Those are some of the things that have been discussed. We will see,"
said Tina Sinatra, the singer
What Sinatra offers to any venture is that most elusive of auras: eternal cool. Like Elvis Presley, James Dean or Marilyn Monroe,
Sinatra
"There
The venture, funded and operated by Warner, has two major advertising deals in
place and is close on two others. Dozens of other overtures have been turned
down. Edwards and fellow executive Gregg Goldman declined to say what products
will soon have Sinatra as an expensive salesman, but Goldman said the accounts
speak to Sinatra
The company
In recent months, for instance, Live Nation signed deals of $100 million or
more with Jay-Z, U2 and Madonna to bundle an assortment of their revenue
streams and ventures, both on stage and off. Faced with a diff used
marketplace, companies are trying to scoop up key superstars and bottle up all
their moneymaking power.
Financial terms of the Sinatra deal have not been disclosed. Edwards said the
plan is to be intensely selective. Next week, the company will relaunch and begin a methodical mining of "a
Sinatra archive that is enormous." A major documentary project is also
being pursued.
"The opportunities for this artist," he said, "are
unparalleled."
But there
"There is a lot of interest, and the hard part is deciding what is right
and what is wrong," Tina Sinatra said. "But people remai n fascinated by Dad. The truth is that his
image and his cachet has sustained and perpetuated him just as much as his
incredible talent. He is handed from one generation to the next. Things that
would suit him and his lifestyle make sense to me. But now I
Some apprehensions
Sitting in her sunny office on Olympic Boulevard, Tina
Sinatra was plainly proud while discussing the grand plans that the Warner deal
will set in motion, but there was also some apprehension in her voice. She was
particularly enthusiastic about discussions of a Sinatra film directed by
Martin Scorsese -- "He
"I
Tina Sinatra and attorney Robert A. Finkelstein have been the family
Tina Sinatra and Finkelstein represent the two family votes on the board of
Frank Sinatra Enterprises. Warner has two also: company Chairman and Chief
Executive Edgar Bronfman Jr. (who led the investor group that bought the
company from Time Warner in late 2003 for $2.6 billion) and Scott Pascucci, president of Warner
The Sinatra family itself has some considerable divisions. Tina has feuded with
her father
Frank Sinatra Jr., meanwhile, is busy touring and performing with the songbook
and arrangements he inherited from his father. The 64-year-old growled a bit
when asked about a feature film or a casino. "This is the first I
His legacy
After decades in the spotlight, Frank Sinatra
performed in front of a live audience for the last time in February 1995. The
final song was "The Best Is Yet to Come," but his health made a liar
of the lyrics. Two years later, his body giving out, he sent daughter Nancy to
accept a Congressional Gold Medal in his name.
In his final months, staring into the twilight, the music titan wondered how he
would be remembered. During one late-night conversation, Tina Sinatra remem bered, he said his legacy
might be as fragile as vintage vinyl.
"He said he thought it depended on who held him close to their heart in
their record collection and if they
This month, Sinatra
Tina Sinatra and Frank Jr. will appear on "The Today Show" on Tuesday
to talk about the new postage stamp, the same day as tie-in events in
All three Sinatra children have taped introductions and interviews for Turner
Classic Movies, which will be airing about four dozen Sinatra films this month
on Wednesdays and Sundays. Warner Home Video has four new lavish DVD
collections hea ded to
stores with 17 Sinatra films in all.
Nancy Sinatra said that the voice of her father has never really gone away and
that the fascination with it represents curiosity about the American journey.
It
Tina Sinatra said the Warner deal was needed because "none of us are
getting any younger, and the work is important." In the 1980s, she and
Finkelstein started dealing with counterfeit and unauthorized products by
getting in the business of licensing Sinatra products. She took her father
different proposals -- bobble-head dolls and hats, Franklin Mint souvenir coins
and music boxes -- and some made him chuckle, while others brought one of his
famous scowls. Back then it was small steps; now it
"We have been a little cottage industry until now, just holding on and
controlling what we can handle ourselves. It
geoff.boucher@latimes.com
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