Everyday Canvas

Oldies

Prompt:
On this day in 1939, backed by trumpeter Harry James, American singer Frank Sinatra recorded his first single, From the Bottom of My Heart.
What do you know about Franks Sinatra? Do you have any favorite songs of his.? If not tell us about an older singer you like.

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Sinatra was a master. There's no doubt about it in my mind, but although the lyrics in the songs he sang were mostly emotional, he sounded on the dry side "to me", although I really liked I did it My Way. This may be because I like doing things my way, too, and he really sings that song as if each word in that song means something to him personally.

Before Sinatra, I was first awed by Nat King Cole. Autumn Leaves, Nature Boy, Unforgettable, etc., Nat King Cole got the feeling just right for me.

Among the oldies, I also liked Johnny Mathis, although he was overly emotional and stretched his vowels and syllables a bit too long. Then, of course, was Tony Bennett who sounded much better on stage than in LPs. He was such a fantastic singer, too. I say this because, way way back when, my husband (RIP) and I attended a concert of his and we were both mesmerized by his performance.

Among the other singers whose concerts we attended was Kenny Rogers who excelled on stage. In fact, not only him but many other country and folk singers I like the best, even much more than Sinatra and the other oldies of popular music, some of whose names I mentioned above. My favorite folk and country singers are too many to mention, but off the top of my head, here's a partial list, not in any preferential sequence:
Janice Ian, Judy Collins, Simon and Garfunkel (especially Simon), Pete Seeger, Glenn Campbell, John Denver, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson...and many others.

I used to have a huge library of LPs; however, I gave them away. Even the CDs that came later, I've done away with. Luckily, both my sons are appreciative of our collectibles...or "junks" as the newest generation could say. Then, I rarely listen to songs anymore because they make me sad, even if the songs are not sad themselves. This is because oldies like me have memories attached to them.

Nowadays, I mostly listen to classical music, with Beethoven and Chopin on the lead. Music without words has become safer.