Fight Songs

The names Frankie Randall and Frank Sinatra will always be somewhat connected, regardless of the outcome of a lawsuit filed earlier this year in Riverside, Calif., by Frank Sinatra Jr.

The younger Sinatra is demanding the return of musical arrangements Randall claims the elder Sinatra, his friend of almost 40 years, gave him the year before the legendary singer died in 1998.

Onstage, Randall (who is not an impersonator) pays tribute to Sinatra by singing some of Sinatra's songs and talking about their social and business relationship, as he will do when he performs at the Suncoast Thursday through New Year's Eve. His music conductor is Vinnie Falcone, Sinatra's musical director for 10 years.

Last week Randall returned from his third "Sounds of Sinatra"-themed cruise engagement aboard a ship in the Caribbean Sea. The voyage coincided with Sinatra's birthday on Dec. 12.

Meanwhile Randall awaits a judge's decision about whether the issue raised by Sinatra Jr. should go to trial.

Las Vegas Sun: Can you discuss the lawsuit?

Frankie Randall: My attorney, Gerald Margolis, says the case is without merit. But he said I can't talk about it while it's still pending.

Sun: Can you discuss it in general terms?

FR: They're trying to say I can't do (Sinatra's) music but, again, I can't make too many comments about it.

Sun: What's the motive for the suit?

FR: I don't have a clue. I don't know what would be the motivation. If I were an enemy of the family, of the father, I could understand.

Frank used to tell me he was happy guys like me would be carrying on his music when he (was) gone. I do a very positive portrayal of somebody I liked and admired. I can't take the wildest guess what this is all about. It's got to be money, I would think, but I don't know.

Sun: How did the lawsuit develop?

FR: In Frank's will, there is one line in it -- they had to furnish us with everything his son's case consists of -- one line states (Sinatra Jr.) gets his father's sheet music. A month or so after his dad died, I got my first letter.

This thing has been in progress for a while. Who knows where it is ultimately going to wind up? But I'm happy to say I was a friend of Frank's. I did the show during his lifetime and he never had a problem with it.

Sun: What happens if you lose the suit and have to return the arrangements?

FR: The important thing to recognize here is that of the songs that are associated with Frank Sinatra, he had no part in writing them anyway. All of them were written by Sammy Kahn or Jimmy Van Heusen or some of the other greatest songwriters in the world. We're not talking about anything that anybody has a real claim to. It won't affect my act at all. I will still sing the songs and talk about Frank.

Look at what David Cassidy is doing with "The Rat Pack is Back." How do you keep people from singing "The Lady is a Tramp"? It's available to the public.

Sun: How does being sued by your friend's son make you feel? Are you angry? Are you disappointed?

FR: I'm trying to place my focus everywhere else but (on) this issue. I hope what's right will prevail. Our democratic judicial system was tested (recently during the presidential election), and I hope the legal system will work (in this case).

The arrangements were released to me by Frank Sinatra through his librarian. They were something he gave me. How the court is going to find it, and why Junior feels they are his, I don't know.

Sun: Were you close to Sinatra's son?

FR: Not close to him, but certainly around him a lot. I used to be at Frank's house sometimes four or five nights a week. He used to love to have first-run movies flown down from L.A. and invite a couple of friends over, anywhere from two to 20, and sit around with a plate of macaroni and watch the movie and enjoy each other's company.

Sun: How did you become acquainted with Sinatra?

FR: I tell all this on stage. I met him in 1961 or '62 when I was working at Jilly's in New York. Jilly (Rizzo) was Frank's closest friend. Frank liked the way I sounded and opened the door for me in Las Vegas. I lived here from '68 to '75 and then bought a home in Rancho Mirage (California), just around the corner from Frank. I've lived there almost 26 years, and I've got a home here (in Las Vegas).

In '82 I went to Atlantic City to work three weeks in a lounge at Steve Wynn's Golden Nugget and wound up being the entertainment director. That always cracks me up. After that Wynn signed Sinatra to a three-year contract. I used to travel around with Frank a lot on business, doing customer development parties (for the casino).

Sun: Are you on good terms with the rest of Sinatra's family?

FR: The suit is strictly Frank Jr.'s. I'm on very good terms with (his widow) Barbara ... (Daughter) Tina called me with regard to the Frank case right after it was filed. She's not a part of this.

Sun: Is all of the trouble worth it?

FR: After receiving Frank Sinatra's music and doing tributes to him and seeing how well he is received all over the world, from Italy to Manila, I've found that everyone wants to hear Sinatra. Do I want to do the songs anymore? Not really -- but people just love it.

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