In 1966 Gay Telese wrote an article for Esquire magazine called “Frank Sinatra has a cold.” She said, in part:

Sinatra with a cold is Picasso without paint, a Ferrari without fuel -- only worse. For the common cold robs Sinatra of that uninsurable jewel, his voice, cutting into the core of his confidence, and it affects not only his own psyche but also seems to cause a kind of psychosomatic nasal drip within dozens of people who work for him, drink with him, love him, depend on him for their own welfare and stability.

A Sinatra with a cold can, in a small way, send vibrations through the entertainment industry and beyond as surely as a President of the United States, suddenly sick, can shake the national economy.

Boy, that was heady stuff! Guess what Frankie said of his own voice? In an interview for TV he said he realized he did not have a great voice and it made him utterly ill before performances to realize that in an audience of 10,000 there were hundreds who were better.

The old “right place at the right time” syndrome was certainly in play.

Contrary to Norma Jean’s mistaken belief that she was not pretty, Sinatra knew the truth. Actually in the pure definition of a perfect voice his was not.

Still he is/was “The Voice” to me and I own most of his recordings.

I think we embrace singers at a certain time when it might not be so true another time. Take Bob Dylan. Who would say he has a good voice?

But, his overall persona and his on the edge poetry fit right in in the 60s. The same is true about Willy Nelson. I wonder what the response would be if Willy were introduced today?

I saw a headline once that said “Why is it that so many of our legends cannot sing at all?”

They go on to list, along with Dylan and Willy, the likes of Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Joe Cocker, etc.

They said the bad singing is a “style,” and that the general public likes them because it makes them feel better about themselves. Like, if they can do it anyone can. Sorry, I don’t buy that psychobabble.

The music and singers we like are just that. We like it. Wouldn’t it be boring world if the voice police were the final arbiter? In fact, have you ever noticed that the things foisted on us are usually not any good or fun. And, boring!

The voice is a muscle. It gets better with use. Sing, sing out! You will feel better and you will get better.

But, please, be in key.

Comments: grey@greybrendle.com