December 10, 2006

•         Frank Sinatra Jr. Narrates 

  I just recorded in November of '06 Frank Sinatra Jr.'s narration of "McKnight's Memory" based on my novel.
  
  It was a dream working with Mr. Sinatra. I had heard his audio commentary on two of his father's movies on DVD, "Robin and the Seven Hoods" and "Oceans Eleven". His voice, articulation, as well as his respect for character actors impressed me, so he was approached to take the listener along on this conspiracy tale.
  
  Mr. Sinatra requested his recording be done at night as that is when most singers feel their voice is the best. He gave a concentrated performance, often coming up with changes in the text that were superior than the original.

  For example, there is a line that read, "The hitman was dead before his 200 pound body crashed to the floor." Mr. Sinatra changed it to:"The hitman was dead before his 200 pounds crashed to the floor."
  
  When I heard that, I was overjoyed that this subtle, but powerful change had happened. Then Mr. Sinatra said, "Okay fellas, I'll read it as written so that you'll have a choice." But I knew right then which reading I would use. This happened a few other times as well.
  
  I was in awe of Mr. Sinatra's annunciation and sometimes ending a paragraph in an upward tone, leaving it hanging as if more will come. I don't know what that's called, but I loved it.
  
  During our breaks, it was wonderful to talk with Mr. Sinatra about the sets that he visited of some of the now classic movies, such as "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "Them".
  
  He also explained why and how lounge acts disappeared from the Las Vegas casinos. It seems that when the headliners lost popularity and could no long fill the large show rooms they were moved to the lounge to entertain gamblers and provide music to the whole casino.
  
  But when the entertainers insisted that their act be curtained off from the casino, the owners decided that if the gamblers could not see or hear the acts, then why should they pay to have them in the lounge. Thus the lounge acts disappeared.
  
  The production's cast includes Robert Culp, Nancy Kwan, David Hedison, Henry Silva, Don Stroud, Barbara Leigh, Alan Young, Edd "Kookie" Byrnes, Gary Lockwood, and others. The production has full sound effects and music, like an "audio-movie".
  
  It's a mystery/thriller about a CIA deputy director that get's amnesia and for some unknown reason is marked for death by both the Mafia and the CIA. The woman he lives with, but can't remember, runs with him. But can he trust her?
  
  It will be avaliable on Amazon and AuthorsDen.
  
  This is my second full cast audio-book. My first was "Hard Rock Lovers" narrated by Rod Taylor. Performed by Russ Tamblyn, George Chakiris, Robert Culp, James Darren, Barbara Leigh, and Kevin McCarthy. 

  Click "Next 5" bottom right for more articles.
           
  

  • 11:33 pm
  • 1 Comment