It is about time America’s youth heard enough of the original soft crooner expressive story telling real singer that is the one and only Frank Sinatra. Not Harry Conic Jr. and not want-a-be Michael Buble. The original Frank who at times is surrounded by outdated orchestrations but his soft voice with interesting breath control and phrasing is still unmatched by any other singer that wishes to steal his style. We are 10 months away from celebrating what would have been Frank Sinatra’s 100^th Birthday. The celebrations by his still many fans are celebrating already.

Frank Sinatra wouldn’t have turned 100 until Dec 12, but fans of Blue Eyes will have plenty of ways to celebrate the anniversary until then. It will be a very good year for his fans. Why are tributes already popping up? Because the fans can’t wait 10 months. It is never too soon to celebrate the iconic mam.  Daughter Tina Sinatra says the Grammy Museum’s Sinatra: An American Icon exhibit-at New York’s Lincoln Center from March 4 through September 4, then touring the USA-shows more personal items than ever, including toys, cigarette lighters and personal things.

The “Sinatra 100” commemoration also includes: A free Frank Sinatra 100 mobile app, with updates on commemorative events and other Sinatra content for Apple and Android devices.   There will be a two-part HBO documentary premiering April 5. There will be new music collections to be released this year by Capitol Records, Universal Music Enterprises,  Sony Music and Frank Sinatra Enterprises. It is amazing on the amount of labels wanting to support this guy. He is still bankable after all these years and in demand.

There is published commemorative editions of many of Sinatra’s films from Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.  There will be events scheduled like panel discussions about Sinatra at Austin’s South by Southwest festival in March, at Monmoth University May 2 at Yale University in June and at the University of Southern California in December. What wonderful tributes planned all over the country. I think he would be so proud of his legacy and contribution to pop culture. The years he spent recording countless tunes with large orchestras in sound studios sealed his career. I always feel sorry for the Broadway performer who works every day performing 2 shows a day who could be giving the audience the performance of a lifetime and it is gone to being a memory in an instant because no one recorded or videotaped it. He has a recorded history as well a countless great nightclub acts gone to memories.

Starting Monday will be a display of Sinatra-inspired paintings by Peter Max at his New York studio. If you are interested in his colorful personal life that included wives with children as well as love affairs with movie stars, an exhibition of never-before-seen Sinatra family photos, called The Sinatra Experience, will be shown from March 5-26 at the Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York. Do you like to drink? Salute the man with Jack Daniels on the rocks when a special Jack Daniels Sinatra Select whiskey blend will be released. Put on one of his softer albums and sip the hot whisky chilled with ice and let it slither down your throat while spending the evening with your special someone.

All this attention comes some 18 years after Sinatra’s death. We see him in pictures from when he was a skinny teenager to his death. We all lived his life with him it seems. Tina Sinatra says his lasting appeal goes beyond “memorable music”- “It’s his style and swagger.” We need to thank his granddaughter   Amanda Erlinger  for being heavily involved in curating Frank’s artifacts throughout the years.  So, this year spend a night with Frank and say happy 100^th. Thanks for the music.