My love for Frank Sinatra and the great American songbook
- Written by Richard Shelton
When I was about 6 years old, I was leafing through a magazine and came across a photo of Frank Sinatra as a child. “Who is Frank Sinatra?” I asked my mother. “There’s a photograph of him here as a boy and it could be me!” My mother skeptically looked at the picture before her eyes grew wide and she said, “So it could!”
Little did I suspect the significance that moment heralded for a lifelong synchronicity between Sinatra and me.
My father’s love of swing, jazz and big band music meant I grew up immersed in it. Count Basie, Oscar Peterson and Dave Brubeck were always played but it was Sinatra who really grabbed me. Aged 14, I listened to his ‘My Way’ album far more than my father ever did and would sing every song into a spare drumstick lying around from my fathers practise set, imaging it was a microphone. I instinctively understood the lyricism, melody and cadence of his voice.
Fast-forward into adulthood and after a detour in the hotel business I changed careers aged 32, pursuing my childhood dream to become an actor. A few years later, I changed again, spending some years on the jazz circuit and making my dream to sing professionally into a reality.
Then the perfect combination of acting and music came into my life and I was offered my dream role to play Frank Sinatra in the hard-hitting drama, ‘Rat Pack Confidential’ on the London stage. This resulted in the tremendous honour of being nominated as ‘Best Actor in a Leading Role’. The role called for me to explore and evoke the dark side of his character –the highs and lows, the anger which sometimes seeped out of every Sinatra pore, the sadness evoked by his doomed love affair with Ava Gardner. As Nelson Riddle said, ‘Ava really taught Frank how to sing a torch song.’
Inhabiting his emotional side gave me insight into how he brought the music to life. When I sang ‘In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning’, I understood the context of the breakdown of their marriage and what makes the song so dark. The story goes that when he recorded it, he had a photograph of her in the booth and sang it to her image.
The Nelson Riddle period is my favourite – Riddle implicitly understood what was required musically to make Sinatra’s vocals shine. ‘I just got out of the way,’ he said.
Sinatra’s implicit understanding of the lyric really takes you on the journey with him. When you hear, ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ or ‘Come Fly With Me’, you’re up there right alongside. When he sings ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’, you sizzle. And when he sings, ‘One For My Baby’, you can feel the heartbreak in that small bar in the wee hours.
Sinatra’s magnificent phrasing is legendary. His ability to hold a note, bend it and hold it just a little longer, combined with an implicit understanding of the lyric makes him an untouchable interpreter of the Great American Songbook.
This material is commonly divided into standards and classics, meaning the songs transcend our everyday life and inspire us to dream.
For me, the other great interpreter of this material is Ella Fitzgerald. I had the great pleasure and privilege of standing on stage with her when I was just 19 years old. She sang in concert with Oscar Peterson at the London hotel where I was working and needed assistance getting off the stage. At the curtain call I handed her a rose plucked from a flower arrangement and said, ‘Miss Fitzgerald, this is for you with all my love’. ‘Thank you, darlin’, she replied and held my hand for about half an hour afterwards.
Her performance that night blew me away. My favourite recording of hers is ‘Mack the Knife’ recorded live in Berlin. She forgets the lyrics and the result is joyous!
My favourite Sinatra album is ‘Live in Australia’ when he performed in Melbourne with the Red Norvo Quintet. It’s Sinatra as his most relaxed in the prime of his life. There’s a real fluidity about the energy – he was obviously having a fabulous time and it shows!
My life has many, many unfurling coincidences with Sinatra and which keep on happening. I’m very grateful and it’s a privilege to keep his message and the music alive.
About Richard Shelton
Multi award-nominated actor and singer, Richard Shelton, is perhaps best recognised for his ‘Best Actor in a Leading Role’ nominated portrayal of Frank Sinatra in the hard hitting drama ‘Rat Pack Confidential’ on the London stage.
UK TV audiences know him for playing the charming yet murderous series regular, Dr. Adam Forsythe in TV’s Emmerdale. In the US, Richard is known for playing Mr Benson in ‘House of Lies’ and Arnaud in ‘Jane the Virgin’.
Richard’s early life began in the international hotel industry. But aged 32, he gave it up, pursuing his childhood dream to become and actor and opened the Bridewell Theatre in London, with his own Theatre Company ‘Breach of the Piece’.
West End, TV and film roles followed. Eventually, Richard took some time out of acting to pursue his love of jazz and swing music, forging an independent singing career. He recorded his big band swing album ‘Top Cat’ at Abbey Road Studios with a 65-piece orchestra.
Richard has performed by invitation for HRH Prince Charles, Sir Elton John, with the BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Big Band, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, at the world famous Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London, and countless theatres and jazz clubs internationally as well as acting in films and on TV.
Richard has toured his sell-out show ‘Sinatra and Me’ to audiences across the world, taking Sinatra’s very own tuxedo with him, which literally walked into his life and fits like a glove. It’s just one of the truly incredible synchronicity’s which exist between the two of them and which he discusses in the show.
Currently resident in LA, Richard recorded his debut US album called ‘Richard Shelton’ in Capitol Records in Sinatra’s studio B alongside Sinatra’s living band mates. The album comprises original, standards and adult popular music in swing and jazz tones.
Richard is an advocate of living in the moment. ‘If you never have a dream, you can never have a dream come true’, he says. ‘If I ever wonder about doing something, I’m reminded of the sobering fact that you’re a long time dead. Just do it!’
www.richardshelton.co.uk
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Richard Shelton on The Titchmarsh Show Performing "That's Life" from Richard Shelton on Vimeo.
Richard Shelton is a Los Angeles-based British film, TV and theatre actor and acclaimed singer with a successful solo career based. In the UK, Shelton is best known for playing the charmingly murderous role of Dr Adam Forsythe on British TV's long-running drama Emmerdale (ITV) and for his Best Actor in a Leading Role portrayal of Frank Sinatra in the award-winning drama Rat Pack Confidential in London's West End.[1] Shelton has recorded solo albums at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles and Abbey Road Studios in London. He is also a familiar voice on BBC Radio 2 and 4 with many live international appearances to his credit.
ActingWith a long acting career spanning film, TV and theatre, Shelton was nominated as 'Best Actor in a Leading Role' for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Frank Sinatra in the hard-hitting drama, 'Rat Pack Confidential' in London's West End. Shelton has appeared as the series regular, Dr Adam Forsythe in one of the UK's most watched long-running drama's Emmerdale. In the US, Shelton has guest starred in 'House of Lies' and 'Jane the Virgin'. International movies include 'My Week with Marilyn', 'Joker Game', 'I Capture the Castle', 'iCommit', 'The Rehearsal' and 'Brash Young Turks' (nominated as Best Film, London Film Awards). In the multi award-winning horror film, 'Do Not Disturb' Shelton received two nominations as 'Best Supporting Actor' from the London Horror Film Awards and the Chicago Horror Film Awards.
Film and TVShelton is best known to audiences in the US for his portrayal of Mr Benson in House of Lies (Showtime) starring Don Cheadle. In the UK, Shelton is a household name after playing the charmingly murderous Dr Adam Forsythe between 2005 and 2006 in the long-running drama Emmerdale on British TV. His confused character, Adam, was welcomed into the community, where he charmed them and cared for his long-suffering wife, Stephanie Stokes, played by Lorraine Chase. In the most-watched episode on British TV at the time, Adam murdered his brother-in-law and was caught trying to escape, which led to his arrest and ultimate demise.
Shelton also played Inspector Rossi in Eastenders (BBC) and Nick in Family Affairs.
Shelton's film work includes playing Monsieur Harvey in the Academy Award-nominated film My Week with Marilyn (Harvey Weinstein), the Crooner in I Capture the Castle, Nick in The Wrong Stuff starring Josh Duhamel, Leonardo in Checkmate, Dr Fulton in Stuck, Conrad Holmes in Brash Young Turks, Howard Marks in the WW2 Japanese cult movie Joker Game, Trigorin in The Rehearsal and Nick in Swinging with the Finkles. His very first film acting role was as the embodiment of death in the 1980s low-budget classic Dance of Death, in which he played a mysterious and evil black-hatted dancer whose appearance and subsequent scary dance resulted in the rapid death of whomsoever witnessed it, in the style of 'The Ring'.
TheatreShelton's Best Actor in a Leading Role-nominated performance as Frank Sinatra in Rat Pack Confidential, (West End, London) brought him to the attention of the British nation. Shelton's expansive theatre credits include Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar, Launcelot Gobbo in The Merchant of Venice, Sebastian in The Tempest at the Bridewell Theatre, London, where Shelton was a co-founder. Shelton's break-through role was as Young Scrooge in Scrooge the Musical at the Dominion Theatre (London, West End and international tour) playing opposite Academy Award winner Anthony Newley as Old Scrooge. Shelton also played the title role of Jumping Jack Flash in the rock musical Carnaby Street (Arts Theatre, West End, London). Other roles include Sandy MacKendrik in Whisky Galore (Nottingham Playhouse/UK Tour), Harry Bright in Mamma Mia (international tour) when he performed for His Serene Highness, Prince Albert of Monaco, Captain Compass in The Magic Boat (Polka Theatre), Teddy Bompass in How She Lied to Her Husband (Edinburgh International Fringe Festival), Tim in Last Time a King (La Bonne Crepe) and Hindlay in the international tour of Wuthering Heights. Shelton took his sell-out one-man show iCroon to the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival for two consecutive years.
MusicShelton is quoted as saying "Music is my passion. A life without music is inconceivable to me."
As a solo artist, Shelton recorded his most recent album An Englishman in Love in L.A. at the world-famous Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, featuring 13-tracks including the title track by 'BBC Young Composer of the Year' Alex Rudd and lyrics by Jenifer Toksvig. Other songs include the original ballad "Over Like the Roses" by Martin Newell, a ballad version of "It's Not Unusual", "Smile", "Young at Heart" and "She Loves Me".
Shelton also recorded his album Top Cat at London's Abbey Road with a 65-piece orchestra featuring classics including 'My Way', 'From Russia with Love', 'Bring Me Sunshine' and original songs 'Grenadine and Blue' and 'Autumn in Soho Square' by Martin Newell.
Shelton has performed by Royal Command for Prince Charles at Windsor Castle, Sir Elton John at the White Tie and Tiara Ball, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at The Colliseum Theatre in London, home of the English National Opera, the BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Big Band on Friday Night is Music Night, headlined at the world-famous jazz club Ronnie Scott's in London and countless live national and international TV and radio performances. Shelton's impression of Neil Diamond in Celebrity Stars in their Eyes was one of the most watched Christmas shows on TV.
Frank SinatraShelton is widely acknowledged as one of the world's leading interpreters of Frank Sinatra. Following his acclaimed performance in Rat Pack Confidential, he has performed with orchestras and bands across the world, evoking the charisma and musicality of one of the world's greatest icons.
Following his sell-out The Main Event concert at London's Cadogan Hall with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Shelton is producing a festival of music called A Very Good Year with the US Grant Hotel, San Diego in June 2015 celebrating the centenary of Sinatra's birth by presenting three evenings of Sinatra music. In Behind Those Blue Eyes Shelton is joined by Sinatra's musicians including Mike Lang (piano), Chuck Berghoefer (bass) and Gregg Field (drums) and in a masterclass session, Shelton presents what it takes to 'become' one of the greatest singers and an Academy Award-winning actor while the musicians discuss what it was like to work alongside Sinatra and other greats. The second evening Franks Way focuses on the saloon music of Sinatra. The Main Event-Our Way is a 16-piece big band special and recreates the energy of Sinatra's post-retirement comeback show at Madison Square Garden, New York in 1974.
In August 2016, Shelton produced and starred in the critically acclaimed, 4 and 5-star reviewed sell-out show, 'Sinatra and Me' at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Interwoven with song, the show examines the 20 incredible synchronicity's between him and Frank Sinatra.
CharityShelton is a tireless fundraiser for breast cancer charities, since his mother died of the condition when he was 12 years old. Shelton has sung with the BBC Big Band and BBC Concert Orchestra for the Moon Walk Breast Cancer Charity in London's Hyde Park and for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and 'Tickled Pink'. He also organised a big-band fundraiser event for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, raising tens of thousands of pounds. His connection to MND is through his step-mother, who was living with the condition until 2006.
Early lifeThe son of a self-made builders merchant from Wolverhampton in the middle of England, Shelton's early show-business interests were forbidden and he was instructed to 'get a trade'. Shelton trained in international hotel management and before becoming an actor, Shelton had a very successful hotel career, eventually working as commercial director of sales at InterContinental Hotels.
Shelton also writes motivational workshops for clients, including Microsoft, Corus (British Steel), InterContinental Hotels Group and has presented many corporate events nationally and abroad. He recently wrote and directed an adaptation on a Harry Potter theme for the world-leading pharmaceutical company Phadia.
