In the Muse has been under the weather lately, and would have otherwise paid timely homage to one of the twentieth century’s greatest entertainers. Francis Albert Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey on December 12, 1915. His long and storied career invited imitation and parody alike, but it’s hard to imagine popular music without his classy interpretive signature. This week’s Pic of the Week, from the William P. Gottlieb Collection, shows Sinatra at work with Alex Stordahl, the primary arranger for Sinatra’s era with Columbia Records.
Also celebrating birthdays this month are composer Elliott Carter (December 11, 1908) and iconic jazz pianist Dave Brubeck (December 6, 1920). Read the article, “Elliott Carter at LC,” which accompanies a collection of the composer’s manuscripts, here. Revisit last year’s birthday homage to Brubeck on In the Muse here.