“My Way“ is a song popularized in 1969 by Frank Sinatra…..while Its lyrics were written by Paul Anka….and set to the music of the French song “Comme d’habitude”….which was co-composed and co-written with Jacques Revaux….and performed in 1967 by Claude François….while Anka’s English lyrics are unrelated to the original French song. The song was a success for a variety of performers including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Sid Vicious. Sinatra’s version of “My Way” ….as seen in this video herewith….spent 75 weeks in the UK Top 40, a record which still stands.
Frank Sinatra began singing professionally as a teenager….but he learned music by ear and never learned to read music. He got his first break in 1935 when his mother persuaded a local singing group, the 3 Flashes, to let him join. Fred Tamburro, the group’s baritone, stated that “Frank hung around us like we were gods or something”, admitting that they only took him on board because he owned a car and could chauffeur the group around. Sinatra soon learned they were auditioning for the Major Bowes Amateur Hour show….and “begged” the group to let him in on the act….whereby with Sinatra, the group became known as the Hoboken Four….and passed an audition from Edward Bowes to appear on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour show….for which they each earned $12.50 for the appearance….and ended up attracting 40,000 votes and won first prize pf a six-month contract to perform on stage and radio across the United States. Sinatra quickly became the group’s lead singer….and, much to the jealousy of his fellow group members, garnered most of the attention from girls. Due to the success of the group, Bowes kept asking for them to return, disguised under different names, varying from “The Seacaucus Cockamamies” to “The Bayonne Bacalas”….which was just the beginning for the star that would be Frank Sinatra.
Jimmy Connors (born September 2, 1952) is a retired American world # 1 tennis player….who is often considered among the greatest in the history of the sport…as he held the top ATP ranking for a then-record 160 consecutive weeks from 1974 to 1977….and a career total of 268 weeks.
By virtue of his long and prolific career, Connors still holds three prominent Open Era men’s singles records….109 titles and the only man to win 100….1535 matches played….and 1256 match wins. His titles include eight majors….including five US Open….two Wimbledon….one Australian Open….three year-end championships….and 17 Grand Prix Super Series. In 1974, he became the second man in the Open Era to win three majors in a calendar year….and his total career match win rate remains in the top five of the era. Although he reached his last major final at Wimbledon 1984….in which he lost to John McEnroe…. he continued to play on the tour until the 1990’s….which included a run to the US open semifinals in 1991 aged 39….when he retired in April 1996 aged 43.
This video is just tribute to an incredible tennis player…..an awesome song that speaks to “individuals” every where….and a singer for the ages.
