The Greatest Christmas Album of all time!

Today marks the birthday of one of America's greatest singers and performers, Frank Sinatra. While ole blue eyes left us 11 years ago -(Heather and I were actually in Sicily when Sinatra died-and we will never forget that day)-he lives on-especially during the Christmas Season. Matter of fact it wouldn't quite be Christmas for me without Sinatra. Growing up as an East Coast Italian American, Sinatra's music touched so many aspects of my life-but especially Christmas. When I think back to Christmas in Connecticut as a ragazzo I remember Sinatra warming up many a cold December night. I remember Streisand, the Chipmunks and Autry too, but they don't quite instill the nostalgia and ethnic pride in me as Frankie does! I am a romantic and I love tradition-especially cultural traditions-they keep a society and people together-and give them purpose (Hands in air-snap fingers-recall Tevye belting out "Tradition!" -I love Fiddler on the Roof). Every Christmas season I have my own traditions-especially when it comes to music and film-and the top 10 Christmas albums that I play over and over again-and never tire are the following-

1. The Sinatra Christmas Album
2. Christmas with Frank and Bing
3. George Winston-the Music of Vince Guaraldi
4. Christmas with Johnny Cash
5. The Christmas Song-Nat King Cole
6. The Chieftons-the Bells of Dublin
7. Bruce Cockburn-Christmas
8. New England Christmastide
9. Classical Christmas-Baroque Christmas
10. Swinging Big Band Christmas

What are you favorite Christmas albums and holiday tunes? And don't you just love those J-i-n-g-l-e bells?!

Start spreading the News!

It was 11 years ago today that I got the terrible news that one of America's greatest performers and one of the greatest Italian-Americans ever passed away. Ironically I was in Sicily at the time-the land that Sinatra's father (and mia nona) hailed from. Flags in Sicily were flown half masted on May 14, 1998. Many Sicilians approached us and offered their condolences. There will never be another Frank Sinatra. But there will be a Frank Sinatra movie--and I haven't been this excited about an upcoming movie since I caught wind of Walk the Line. Cash and Sinatra are two of my all time favorite singers. Anyhow, fellow Italian-American (and another great) Martin Scorsese will be making the film! I can hardly wait! Come fly with me!

Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?

To the great baseball diamond in the sky of course. And today, younger brother Dom joined him. Dominic DiMaggio died at his Massachusetts home today. He was 92. Dom was a class act and a great American and a great Italian-American displaying positive characteristics of his ethnicity. (There is way too much negative stereo-typing of Italian Americans in our culture).

Born to Sicilian-immigrants, Dom was one of nine children and one of the three DiMaggio Brothers baseball greats. He was a seven time all-star who holds the record for the longest consecutive game hitting streak in Boston Red Sox history. But beyond his baseball greatness was the way he lived his life off the field. A loving husband for 61 years, caring father, World War II vet, and philanthropist, Dom loved his country and his family. Read more about him here in this AP article.

Buon Compleanno Sr Rosellini!

Happy 99th Birthday Governor Albert Rosellini. "The Gov" is doing well and just celebrated his 99th birthday yesterday in Seattle. The first Italian-American governor west of the Mississippi, Democrat Rosellini entered politics in 1938 and served from governor of Washington state from 1957 to 1965. He is generally regarded by most historians, this one included as being one of the best governors this state has ever had. Along with Dan Evans, the Republican that beat him in 1964, they are in my opinion the two best governors this state has seen in a long time! One of the things that I greatly admire about Rosellini was his ability to get things done! This is something we Italians are known for and our current slough of Washington governors are not known for! We definitely need the likes of more governors and mayors like Rosellini, Giuliani, LaGuardia, Cellucci, and Cuomo. Their mottos can best be summed up by the very non-Italian Larry the Cable Guy- Get er done! Or as we succinctly say in Italian, "Andiamo!" I look forward to your centennial celebration, Alberto. Grazie mille for your outstanding public service.

(photo- Governor Rosellini in Olympia after winning the Nov 1956 governor's election. Photo by Nat Farbman courtesy of Life Magazine)