JOSE CASTILLA

FOLLOWING THE FRANK SINATRA FOOTSTEPS

Which person has not proposed to himself a target in his life?. Who has not had a dream which has wished to become truth?.
I had a project, a dream, a target, very important for me, in which I used all my effort to reach, but, however it was not possible to conquer.
This target was to become a popular music singer, if not so good like Frank Sinatra, at least a good pupil.
All began a summer evening of the year 1.966 (I was then 18 years old). I lighted the radio and then I heard a new song which title was STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT, and was interpreted by the famous singer and actor Frank Sinatra.. For me, this singer was unkonwn. When he finished I exclaimed: “He is a marvellous singer. Never before I have heard such a voice, and the song is really fantastic”. From that moment my admiration for Frank Sinatra music has increased. But what in the beginning was just admiration, soon this feeling was convered in a wish to be like him.
Always I liked to sing, and after hearing to Frank Sinatra, the idea of being a singer has been in my mind. I took a decision and at the end of that summer I decided to study music, I also started to learn English, because I wanted to sing in original version the Frank Sinatra songs.
After three years of music and two years of English, I thought I had the basis enough to make a record. Really that was what a did. I got in touch with a pianist friend and recorded in a local channel three songs: STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT, MOON RIVER and WHY DID I FALL IN LOVE?. I sent the mentioned record to RCA Victor, Hispavox, and some other records company without any success. I was then 21 years old and I had to go to the militar sevice.
During the time I was in the militar service, the idea of being a popular singer, of course, in the Frank Sinatra line, was bigger and bigger. I came to the conclusion that nobody better than Frank Sinatra to understand me, but the problem was: How to reach him?. The best thing a thought was to send him a tape.
When I finished the militar service I decided to go to another city with more musical means which was Barcelona.
Once there, I prepared a repertory with five songs: SOFTLY, AS I LEAVE YOU; HEY, JEALOUS LOVER; THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN; DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES and STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT. I made a contract with a pianist and a recording studio and I recorded the mentioned songs. The next step was to send the tape to Frank Sinatra, as I had the hope that it could reach him, and that case, I could have his help.
On May 27th 1.974, I sent the tape to Frank Sinatra. From that moment I had a lot of fantasies in my mind. I saw to myself become a great artist thanks to his help. But the dream collapsed when in the beginning of July 1.974, I received back the tape without any signal that Frank Sinatra could have heard it.
That was a hard hit, but not enough to let me out of combat. I thought that if I colud not follow the Frank Sinatra footsteps, at least, could play his songs serving me of a musical instrument like the piano. That was I did. I followed studying music and I started to study piano. I am not an excellent pianist, but I can play quite good my favorite songs like: My Way, Begin the beguine, I´ve goy you under my skin, Strangers in the night, …
Sometimes when I play these songs my imagination runs far away from the place where I am: my home in Burgos (Spain), so far like the Vegas Caesar Palace, or any other club of that famous city.
In that fever, one night I dreamt that I was in my room playing the song I´VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN. Suddenly, I could hear a familiar voice far away which was singing this song. Little by little, the voice became more nitid and I felt it in my back. I turned my head and I exclamed astonished:

- It is incredible. You can´t be here Frank¡. How has you come?.
- That it is not important boy , let´s finish the song, you do it really good –answered Sinatra.

I could not believe what my eyes had seen. I was astonished. I did what Frank Sinatra told me. I turned over the keyboard and I continued playing I´VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN and at the same time I heard his magnific voice.
In the moment I finished my song the alarmclock rang, it was the time to go to my work. I said to myself: “What a pity, it has been just a dream”.
But my assistance to Frank Sinatra concert given in Madrid, the night of September 25th 1.986, was not a dream. The day before the concert something marvellous and unforgettable happened. Frank arrived at the hotel Palace after the training concert. I was just at the hotel door and when he went through the door I could shook his hand and at the same time I said to him: “You are the best”.
The Frank Sinatra concert was unforgettable and marvellous. I could satisfy
one of my dreams: listening to Frank Sinatra in person.
Frank Sinatra showed once more his extraprdinary voice and artistic talent. He played the last song and it was lapsed more than one hour, but it seemed to me just a minut. Nobody wanted him to leave. Frank Sinatra and us were very happy and with great emotion. The applauses sounded with force and sincerity. Frank Sinatra thanked all of us several times and in view of our insistence he played another song. When he finished it, all the audience standing up dedicated him a warm and enthusiastic ovation.
But we could not retained any longer the Old Blue Eyes. Frank Sinatra had to leave. He thanked all once more and then back to the audience in a few seconds he left the stage. The stadium was empty bur our hearts were full of happiness for the unforgettable concert.