"If you believe in forever, then life is just a one-night stand." Little did the Righteous Brothers realize how true those lyrics would turn out to be. When Frank Sinatra left this world in 1998, he left us with his legacy of music forever. Yesterday, in a deal with the Sinatra family, Warner Music formed a joint venture to manage global licensing of Sinatra's name, likeness, merchandising, film and most importantly, his music, all of his music, including works from his own Reprise label. The 50-50 partnership was named Frank Sinatra Enterprises. When Sinatra died, his net worth was between $200 and $600 million. Sinatra's three children (Nancy, Tina and Frank Jr.) were given the rights to most of the pop icon's music catalogue. Under yesterday's deal, Warner gains a 50% stake in all things Sinatra including his Reprise masters. In 1963, Warner bought out Sinatra's stake in Reprise, with ownership in the masters going to the singer. His children received the masters when he died...
Although they were as far apart in music as you can get, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley are connected at the hip in 'Rock and Roll Heaven' although "Ol Blue Eyes' wouldn't like the rock and roll part. When Lisa Marie Presley sold her 85% share of daddy's estate to Robert FX Sillerman for an estimated $100 million at the end of 2004, the estate generated over $40 million a year. Sinatra will surely challenge that mark...
There have been three music icons in my lifetime: Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and the Beatles. Two of those three icons have taken care of their survivors forever and most of the survivors of the parts of the sum in the Beatles case either were or will be. "If you believe in forever, then life is just a one-night stand"...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1890] The military tradition begins: The first Army-Navy football game is played at West Point with the midshipmen of Navy stuffing the Cadets of Army 24-0...
- 1934] The NFL tradition begins: The Detroit Lions begin an annual NFL Thanksgiving Day tradition, dropping a 19-16 decision to da Bearsss. It was the first NFL game aired on national radio. Brent Mus-sorry, Graham McNamee doing the play-by-play...
- 1948] Debuted on this date: "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" debuts on NBC-TV...1953] American Airlines begins the first regular commercial NY-LA air service...
- 1963] Warren Commission: LBJ names Chief Justice Earl Warren as head of a commission investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy...
- 1975] What's your name, who's your daddy?: Bill Gates names the company he and Paul Allen started as Microsoft, formed to write the BASIC computer language for the Altair. Trivia question: What is Microsoft short for? Answer follows the Timeline Countdown. Letterman pays tribute to Bill Gates: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5NoGbLI3ePA ...
- 1976] There's a reason he's called 'The Killer': Jerry Lee Lewis accidentally shoots his bass player twice in the chest while aiming at a soda bottle. The bass player survives but Dick Cheney takes note...
- 1976] Call him 'The Straw': Free agent Reggie Jackson a.k.a. "the straw that stirs the drink", signs a 5-year deal with the Yankees, helping the Bombers win 3 AL pennants and 2 world series championships...
- 1980] Record-breaker: The Georgia Bulldogs end the season unbeaten and untied following a 38-20 win over Georgia Tech as Herschel Walker (http://youtube.com/watch?v=KyKLeXP2XOU )breaks a freshman record with 1,616 rushing yards. #1 Georgia will beat #2 Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl and Walker wins the Heisman Trophy two years later...
- 1981] "Happy Trails": Natalie Wood drowns in a boating accident off Santa Catalina Island at the age of 43. Natalie who was with husband RJ and Christopher Walken, could not swim...1986] Legendary leading man Cary Grant dies of a stroke at 82...2001] Beatle George Harrison (http://youtube.com/watch?v=n7DUfjlFyqA )loses his battle with cancer at 58. ..
- 1992] Gridiron tragedy: The Jets' Dennis Byrd is paralyzed after a neck injury suffered in a game against Kansas City...
Music Memories:
- 1959] Grammy Gold: Bobby Darin wins for 'Record of The Year': "Mack The Knife", seen here in glorious black & white: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CBTITHA8twI . Frank Sinatra has the 'Album of The Year': "Come Dance With Me"...
- 1964] Number One on this date: "Ringo" - Lorne Greene (http://youtube.com/watch?v=0V7ILiXurQg )...1969] "Come Together/Something" - Beatles...1972] "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" - Temptations (check out the 'do's' on the Temps and Don Cornelius): http://youtube.com/watch?v=xC5ThTsgJcE ...
Commentary:
Boos to the NFL for putting themselves in such a lousy situation by scheduling the biggest game of the NFC (10-1 Dallas vs. 10-1 Green Bay) on the NFL Network which will probably be seen by maybe 15 to 20% of available viewers because of the poor coverage of their network. Home-field advantage will play a major factor in the outcome of the game and unless you have Comcast, Direct TV or are currently in orbit around the earth, you're not seeing the game tonight. We viewers lose but the biggest loss will be suffered by the NFL and they deserve it...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Mariano Rivera (38), Don Cheadle (43), Kim Delaney (46), Howard Johnson, the former Mets player (47), Howie Mandel (52), Gary Shandling (58), Suzy 'Chapstick' Chaffee (61), Felix Cavaliere (63), Chuck Mangione (67), Vin Scully (80) and Minnie Minoso (85)...
Timeline Countdown: 6 days until Hanukah, 23 days until winter, 26 days until Christmas, 32 days until New Year's Eve and 37 days until NFL Wildcard Playoffs (ans. to trivia question: Miscrosoft is short for 'Microcomputer Software")...
