Mark Iampietro's Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mark Iampietro
Before the Beatles, before Elvis....there was Francis Albert Sinatra. He burst upon the scene in the 1930's as a member of Harry James' band. Moving quickly to the highly regarded Tommy Dorsey Big Band, Sinatra eventually set off on his own, dominating the recording industry, becoming a radio personality and soon, even becoming a film star. Through the natural ups and downs of the entertainment business, Sinatra always came back bigger than before. In the fifties, he won a supporting actor Oscar for his role As Maggio in "From Here to Eternity". When the Emmy Awards were introduced in the decade, Frank stared piling them up. By the end of the fifties, he had started his Reprise record label. Despite the British invasion, Sinatra soldiered on, with remarkable success, culminating in the mid-sixties with popular hits from his Strangers in the Night LP. Frank retired in 1971, but returned triumphantly two years later. Until he passed away, Frank Sinatra continued to record music and perform live before adoring fans around the world. Sinatra & Friends strives to present the popular hits based upon the great American song book featuring compositions by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Huesen and so many others. Sinatra only worked with the best musicians so you're guaranteed to hear only the best sounding music anywhere. In addition to FS, listen in for other great singers from the period such as Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Keely Smith, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis, Nat Cole and many, many others. You're invited along on our regular trip down memory lane. The program is hosted by radio veteran Mark Iampietro whose music library contains forty years worth of classics. He is looking forward to sharing with you on Sinatra & Friends, right here!
We mark the passing (July) of legend Tony Bennett. Born in August 1926, Tony enjoyed a long successful career but it was not always easy. We will look back at his life and his successes and failures and ultimately to his return to the top on this edition of Sinatra & Friends.
The best traditional and secular Christmas tunes are right here on our annual, one hour plus, limited commercial super, stupendous program!
Enjoy!
November is the birthday month of two remarkable composer/musician/arranger/band leaders, namely Tommy Dorsey and Billy May. In addition to all of the above, each gentleman was born and raised in Pennsylvania!
Enjoy our November Podcast.
This month, we'll spotlight the music and bio of Philadelphia's Al Martino. We will also hear some great tunes authored by songwriter extraordinaire Irving Berlin and oh yeah, listen to Frank Sinatra!
This month, we spotlight the moody, wonderful Grammy Award winning best album from 1965, "September of my Years".
We also say happy birthday to Mel Torme and Dick Haymes and we salute the genius of composer Gordon Jenkins, so join us!
Smack dab in the middle of the summer, let's cool things off a bit with a musical tribute to songwriter extraordinaire Sammy Cahn. Listen as Frank, Bing, Dino and others interpret the witty lyrics by this giant talent.
We will also pay a birthday tribute to Tony Bennett, Count Basie and Dinah Washington, so join us!
In addition to all of the great hits by Mr. S., we will pay tribute to two real popular crooners from the Golden Era, namely Billy Eckstine and Jerry Vale.
It's one solid hour of memories only on Sinatra & Friends with host Mark Iampietro.
Spring has sprung and with June comes a salute to Golden Era super stars Vic Damone, Dean Martin, Nelson Riddle and Cole Porter, all of whom were born this month. Crooners Damone and Martin performed consistently and greatly from the forties and also enjoyed success in movies and on TV.
Nelson Riddle became one of popular music's premier composers and in addition to helping craft Sinatra's comeback in the fifties, also worked successfully with other performers like Nat Cole and Peggy Lee.
Cole Porter was one of the wittiest wordsmiths ever to put pen to paper, the author of scores of show tunes and pop music classics.
Not only will we hear their contributions, but we will spend a little time learning about them, biographically speaking.
All that, and plenty from Sinatra, on a special 90 minute edition of Sinatra & Friends!
It's May and along with our usual salute to Mr. S., enjoy our salute to this month's birthday celebrants Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney and Perry Como. All three were wonderful contributors to popular music through the decades. Frank enjoyed a terrific relationship with each of them.
It's our monthly stroll down musical memory lane with your host, Mark Iampietro.
Frank and Ella Fitzgerald were great pals and this month, as it is Ella's birthday month, we will pay tribute to the greatest female vocalist in pop music history.
Join Mark on this walk down musical memory lane...
Sinatra & Friends!
Frank Sinatra's great long career covered live performances, recordings, motion pictures, radio and television. Beginning in the 1950 and continuing until the mid-nineties, Frank was a regular either as a guest, or on his own specials or even his very own weekly program.
This month we will feature performances from his shows and while we're at it, we will hear from other great stars like Ella Fitzgerald...
Safe to say that movie themes and popular music go hand in hand and this was especially true during popular music's "Golden Era".
Sit back and enjoy our look back, featuring movie tunes performed by Frank and friends.
Sinatra said it this way, "Sammy Cahn's words fit my mouth best".
Plenty of other singers also felt this way. As one of the businesses most prolific word smiths, Sammy worked closely with Jule Styne and Jimmy Van Huesen to provide the sound track of the mid-20th century. From Broadway to film, his music dominated.
We dedicate our first program of this new year to Sammy Cahn.
One hour of great Christmas tune with minimal interruption, just the way we like it. Play us in the background while decorating, wrapping gifts, whatever...
Enjoy and have a wonderful Christmas from your friends at Sinatra & Friends.
Duets featuring Pearl Bailey, Peggy Mann and Peggy Lee, plus an episode from his popular radio program "It's Light Up Time", sponsored by Lucky Strike cigarettes.
All that and much more!
Lot's of Frank, plenty from Ella, Sammy and a special visit from birthday boy Al Martino!