® January 2018
In Conversation
JoAnna Michelle
Grammys 2018
A Cultural Shift
Keeping The Essence Of Los Angeles Alive
InHollywoodland
Golden Globes Coverage Oprah’s Timeless Speech
4 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
Publisher/Editor IN CHIEF Prather Jackson VICE PRESIDENT Bernice Harris Michael D. Coxson
Dear Readers,
MANAGING EDITOR Prather Jackson
Happy New Year! I hope you brought it in safely and with optimism. Hollywood Weekly is here to guide you, in hopes that we can lift your spirits and work towards a better tomorrow. 2018 Marks the year of CHANGE. Dark times have hit this nation indeed, and Hollywood is feeling the sharper edge of that double-edged sword. With moguls running delirious, and scandals being brought to light, my staff and I have come to realize our responsibility as journalist, & take pride in our “no gossip strictly entertainment” philospohpy. This Issue focuses on new direction, with a fresh layout, exciting stories and original content. Our feature article focuses on a up and coming singer named JoAnna Michelle, who is only 17 years old but has the artistic vision of an old-soul. Bringing together people of all walks of life in her videos and music, we decided she would be the perfect fit for our cover. Her story helps paint a picture that illustrate ideas of unity, and positivity. After reading her story we hope that you will be as impressed with her talents as are we. We can not move forward without reflecting back a bit, so we take it back to the essence of Hollywood in this issue. We had the incredible opportunity to interview Caroline Barris and Xavier Clemente, two people with a business called "INHOLLWOODLAND", who license original photos of Marilyn Monroe. How do they have ownership of these original, golden, Marilyn Monroe photos ? Well, you’ll just have to read to find out. We’re also pleased to introduce a new section called “Timeless Interviews”. In this issue, we feature an incredible story about legendary Nancy Sinatra. Most importantly don’t forget to check out our coverage at the Golden Globes and be sure to attend our 2018 Grammy’s event. Finally, I would just like to say we are always looking for our next story. If you would like your story to be part of our magazine please reach out to us on social media or contact our office.
MARKETING and SALES Launy Rhem
Sincerely,
- PRATHER
AFRICA OPERATIONS Egor Efiok Award Winning Filmmaker and Director General Of Callywood Studios +447932399204 / +2348063167990 ASIA OPERATION Joyce Penas Pilarsky HWM Asia Ambassador Email: info@joycepilarsky.com Bench Bello HWM Asia Operations hollywoodmagazineusa@gmail.com Mobile +639273895559 FEATURE EDITOR Adrienne Papp ASSOCIATE EDITOR Nitara Osborne MUSIC EDITOR Dick Michaels LIFE and STYLE DIRECTOR Niki Shadrow-Snyder RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT Alberto Arellano PRODUCTION MANAGER Alberto Arellano FEATURED WRITER Nitara Osborne, Jenny Werth Christian P Lopez WEB DESIGNER Prather Jackson
JACKSON
ART DIRECTOR Karina Pacheco GRAPHIC DESIGNER Christian Patrick Lopez CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Dre Kahmeyer
KEEP UP WITH HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY AT www.hollywoodmagazine.com
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DISTRIBUTORS MADER NEWS GOLD KEY MEDIA NEWS INFLIGHT, INC HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 5
Marilyn Monroe ©George Barris Lic. By IHL | INHOLLYWOODLAND
"No Gossip, Strictly Entertainment" FEATURE
JoAnna Michelle
Not Just In Kansas Anymore By Jackson McQueen Pg 8
ART INHOLLYWOODLAND Where It All Happens By Xavier Clemente Pg 14
FILM A Speech For The Ages Golden Globes 2018 Oprah’s Moving Words By Christian Lopez Pg 18
MUSIC Coachella Time
Headlining The Post-Modern Woodstock By Christian Lopez Pg 22
A Cultural Shift Grammys 2018 By Christian Lopez Pg 26
Cydni Lauper
On The Road With Rod Stewart By Christian Lopez Pg 28
TIMELESS INTERVIEW 1 on 1 With Nancy Social Media, Frank Sinatra Promises and More By Alison Kugel Pg 30
Feature Pg.8
Art
Pg.14
Film Pg.18
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 7
JoAnna Michelle Not Just In Kansas Anymore by Jackson McQueen
JoAnna Michelle cover photo by Dre Kahmeyer 8 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
C
FEATURE
aught up in a whirlwind of success, pop princess JoAnna Michelle is soaring high at tornado speed; as she drops her new single “Blaze the Dance Floor.” Infiltrating DJ booths and dance radio, JoAnna Michelle’s “Blaze the Dance Floor” is picking up speed as it sweeps across continents from the U.S. to Europe to Asia. With just the right amount of teenage sass, the blond pop star from Witchata, Kansas clicked her heels and followed her passion. Now, JoAnna Michelle is at the threshold of becoming the next Hollywood “It Girl!” Hollywood Weekly has been swept up in JoAnna’s Michelle’s cyclonic rise and we know our readers will happily jump up and take a twirl with us too. We were lucky to snag an exclusive interview with the music prodigy, just after the debut of her new music video for “Blaze the Dance Floor”—which we just love! The video is EVERYTHING! The fiery new single has also been remixed, under the artistic direction of the fabulous Jimmy D Robinson, by some of the biggest DJ names on the scene and is now impacting the Billboard Charts and radio everywhere. Teen scene disrupter JoAnna Michelle could be referred to as an old soul for her unique musical palate, her pointed career direction, and her urbane attitude. She’s smart, super-cute, confident, witty, driven, multi-talented, and she loves Joan Jett! She’s got us. We’re fans forever now and you will be too. Enter the world of JoAnna Michelle; the next pop music icon. HW: I know you have been traveling extensively lately. What our readers want to know is: what do you love
most about Hollywood? JM: Hollywood has so much energy. Hollywood is exciting! You never know who you are going to run into in Hollywood! There is so much history of Rock n’ Roll. Hollywood is about grit and Rock n’ Roll and art. HW: Any plans to move to Hollywood? JMI: I would love to have a home in Hollywood, or near Hollywood. L.A. is constant movement and energy. California is amazing and I do love to travel. I can’t see myself staying put anywhere really. I would like to have multiple homes and definitely one in California. People in California are very motivated and positive. HW:What has been your most memorable
"It is important to keep creating" experience traveling? JM: During a recent trip to New York City I was listening to other artists speak and explain how the world needs art. It is important to keep creating it. Artists are kind people, often bullied and most likely the ones to change the world in positive ways. I really do believe that. Art creates emotion; the world can’t survive without music and different forms of art. HW: What do your classmates and friends at school think of your burgeoning music career? JM: My friends are very supportive and are my rock when I am feeling down. I have a blast with them and couldn’t do any of this without their love. I know that some classmates, who
JoAnna Michelle photo by Dre Kahmeyer HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 9
are not supportive, are probably not supportive of anyone. I know who my true friends are and I am very lucky to have them. HW: Have you encountered any standout experiences with fans yet? JM: During an all-school track meet in Kansas, the opposing competitors I was up against in the high jump were singing my song. [Laughs] That was really cool! It was very flattering to hear girls singing my lyrics. I have become really good friends with those girls now. HW: Do you have any hobbies outside of music and performing? JM: I love boxing and playing volleyball, soccer and any type of physical activities. I interview local talented teens and absolutely love meeting creative people. I love painting and drawing and creating fused glass at my school. HW: You are so busy. Are you dating anyone right now? JM: Let’s just say that I am very happy right now. I spend as much time as I can with who I truly care about. I have someone who is supportive and builds me up and is part of my inspiration. You have to have trust and have faith in each other that you will keep in constant contact, so that there aren’t insecurities. Love is the most important emotion in the world. You have to value the other person’s time and feelings. Besides, I think if anyone had to be around me 24/7 they might tire of me. It’s best that I have a busy schedule.
JoAnna Michelle photo by Dre Kahmeyer 10 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
HW: I don’t think anyone could ever tire of you! Your video for “Blaze the Dance Floor” is quite colorful and exciting. Any JoAnna Michelle photo by: John Doe
special tips those South Beach Miami drag queens gave you? JM: They gave me one tip for sure; keep going and don’t look back. Don’t stop doing something you love because of haters. Oh, and I learned so much about glitter and glue. They know more about makeup and beauty and positive vibes than anyone! They know how to perform and they helped me with that also. They taught me the real meaning of the word “WERK!” HW: Did any of the drag queens offer to be your drag mama? JM: I want all of them to be my drag mamas! HW: What excites you more, the costumes or the hair and makeup? JM: Oh, definitely the hair and makeup, but, I’m a girl who loves to play dress up. That’s what it’s all about, having fun and dressing up. But the clothes aren’t anything if you don’t have your hair and makeup looking fabulous. HW: What female artists have inspired and perhaps influenced your style? JM: Pink is absolutely amazing. I absolutely love her. Beyonce, I mean, I can’t be like any of the music superstars, and I don’t want to try and be. I want to have my own style. Like Joan Jett—now this chick totally rocks! HW: Who are your favorite designers? JM: I love Versace, Moschino and Gucci. I like clothing that is different and not basic. HW: You dedicated “Blaze the Dance Floor: to your
friend named Blaise. Can you tell us a little bit about that relationship? JM: Blaise was a great family friend. Blaise was from St. Lucia. He was unique and a very special human being. He experienced people’s negativity on a daily basis and always remained positive and caring of others. My parents really liked that he spoke Italian to me and I was able to understand him at a young age. That is pretty much how he entered our lives. He told my parents he used to take care of his sister and could help them out with me. Blaise was an opera singer and sang while he did everything. He would sing while cooking, or while walking with me to get ice cream—every moment of the day he sang. He truly made life a better place. I think his singing to me for those years had a huge impact on my wanting to do music. He was very passionate about his music and followed his dream of joining the L.A. Grand Opera. He came back to visit me several times. Unfortunately, after Blaise moved to New York, he became very ill. He spent some time in the hospital with pneumonia and unfortunately passed away. Blaise was different, he never judged people, he always wanted to help children. He was so alive and always singing and dancing. He is definitely “Blazing the Dance Floor” in Heaven! I hope he is proud of me! I am convinced he is my angel. HW: Are you working on any new songs? JM: I have a song called
JoAnna Michelle photo by Dre Kahmeyer “She’s Suspect.” That is a more of a rap song about a break up. I recently recorded two new songs with Josh Harris in St. Louis. “Too Late to be Sorry” and “Forget about Yesterday” are both about love. Well, just about all songs have to do with love in some way.
HW: Do you enjoy recording in the studio or prefer to be on stage performing? Or do you love the whole process? JM: I love the whole process. But, I love being on stage the most. I love looking at people’s reactions and that is the most important part of this. Being on stage and making
"I am a really emotional person so, acting is very natural for me"
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 11
JoAnna Michelle & friends photo by Dre Kahmeyer people happy is what I want to do. The feeling of being on stage is indescribable. I want to inspire some type of feeling in people. HW: What is your favorite type of movie you love to watch? JM: I love to watch really scary movies. I like to jump and scream and be completely freaked out. HW: Do you have any desire to one day take up acting for film or TV? JM: I am a really emotional person. So, acting is very natural for me. I work with 12 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
an acting coach and she is so fabulous and spiritual. She taught me how to pull emotion from experiences. I love acting and would love to be in films and TV shows. HW: Where do you see yourself in the next few years? JM: Hopefully, on a tour bus performing all of the time. I want to be all over the world traveling and performing. HW: Do you have anything you would like to share with our Hollywood Weekly readers on your recipe for success and
standing out from the pack? JM: I think that working hard is the key to success. My focus will always be on music and performing. All musicians are constantly trying to get better. I want to become a better singer, drummer, keyboardist, bass player. I want to play every instrument and play them all well. I want to be Tommy Lee playing the drums upside down while singing. I want to be the girl who can do all of that. HW: You can do all that and more JoAnna.
Thanks you so much for spending time with Hollywood Weekly. We look forward to following you everywhere! JM: Thank you so much! It was a pleasure. JoAnna Michelle is currently finalizing her next single release, “Forget About Yesterday,” with an epic music video, which was shot on location in Puerto Vallarta with director Wes Quinn during the Christmas 2017 holiday. Visit www. joannamichellemusic.com for everything JoAnna Michelle!
JoAnna Michelle & friends photo by Dre Kahmeyer HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 13
INHOLLYWOODLAND Where It All Happens by Xavier Clemente
Caroline Barris (left) and Xavier Clemente (right) "INHOLLYWOODLAND"owners . shot by Phillip Amaro 14 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
ART
D
o you remember the Golden Age of HOLLYWOOD? Before those four letters L-A-N-D were taken and removed from the Hollywood sign. I am sure you heard the stories and walked over the stars of those that paved the way to make Hollywood what it is today, one star in particularly you might of seen with flocks of people hovering over it is "Marilyn Monroe". Marilyn may have still been Norma Jean with or without the cameras but one thing is for sure it is the sparks and the flickering cameras that showcased her to the world. Photojournalist George Barris who recently passed away in Sept 2016 was best known for taking the most iconic photos of Marilyn Monroe’s most intimate moments. In fact on her rise to super stardom. George told the editor at Fox that he has a gut feeling that’s she’s the next Super Star and had to cover her where they met in 1954, on the set of "The Seven Year Itch" when Billy Wilder called for a media circus!, it was the rise of an ICON. Today, we want you to meet Caroline Barris (daughter of George Barris) and his mentee, actor Xavier Clemente, two great people who are keeping the legacy of Marilyn Monroe and George alive through their new found company entitled "INHOLLYWOODLAND". A couple of months before Xavier Clemente had met George Barris, Xavier was working at a studio and living in Westwood Village. "I did not know I was living across the street from Marilyn Monroe’s grave" he says and soon enough destiny came into play. He met Caroline at a company boat party on the 4th of July of 2014 and she said: "you are an old soul, you have to meet my father". Soon enough Xavier and George met and bonded and a couple hours later he said "We Have To Work Together"! (Before mentioning to Caroline "Is he somebody?" that is). It was New Year’s Eve at the Roosevelt Hotel poolside on the diving board in Hollywood where Marilyn took some of her first modeling shots ironically enough that is where "IHL" was born why
"the rise of an ICON" Marilyn Monroe ©George Barris Lic. By IHL | INHOLLYWOODLAND HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 15
Marilyn Monroe ©George Barris Lic. By IHL | INHOLLYWOODLAND
"the stars aligned
INHOLLYWOODLAND, "because that’s where it all happens", in fact "Where It All Happens" is their company slogan, and George Barris was there for it all. In order to understand Xavier and Caroline Barris you must really understand George... and who he is. George Barris is best known for his photos and friendship with Marilyn Monroe, in particularly the last photos taken of her on July 13, 1962 before her demise on August 5th But before that they just wrapped up a book of Marilyn entitled "Marilyn: Her life in her own words" Imagine from the Giancana’s to the Kennedy’s all in a relative circle and after her death, George moved to France and 33 yrs later he released the book. He also photographed many celebrities in Hollywood’s Golden Age from the 1950’s to 1960’s including assistant Steve McQueen before he was famous on the set of "The War Lover". He funded Steve McQueen in New York City, and became a mentor to him before he was the Steve McQueen. McQueen acted as an assistant to Mr Barris and soon enough Barris was McQueen’s photographer on the set 16 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
of "The War Lover". George is also known for shooting the Cosmopolitan cover of Elizabeth Taylor on the set of "Cleopatra" and shot Clark Gable, Sofia Loren, Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Charlie Chaplin and the cover of Chubby Checkers’s Album, The Twist. With the company "INHOLLYWOODLAND" rolling into full effect thanks to George’s daughter Caroline and Xavier Clemente, they are not only carrying on the legacy of Marilyn Monroe through George Barris’ work, but the art form of photography and the personalities we come accustomed too because of it. The stories these two shared with us are amazing, the intimate details Caroline Barris shares of her father and Marilyn are enough for a great book read. She talks of how Marilyn loved "Emilio Pucci", George would run out and buy Emilio Pucci for her to wear and shoot in the Hollywood Hills. They also talk about Marilyn’s Genius and how no one gave her enough credit for her talents. She was one of the first female’s to have her own production company entitled "Marilyn Monroe Productions Inc". However the highlight story she told
was of how Monroe knew how to go out in public unrecognized and incognito.... classic. "Norma Jean could be Marilyn if she wanted" Caroline says, "she just had to put up her hair and do the walk and she was Marilyn Again". Xavier Clemente today now ironically lives across on the 9th floor in his high rise in Hollywood, Ca where Gene Harlow used to live, the woman who inspired Marilyn Monroe’s look, she (Gene) also had a mole on the opposite side of her face and was Hollywood’s first "Platinum Blonde". Caroline says "all this, meeting Xavier and creating “INHOLLYWOODLAND” the stars aligned; Marilyn is with us". They have since collaborated with Emilio Pucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Universal, Vogue, and much more. The story is definitely inspiring and assures us that destiny plays its part for everyone. IHL products include Art, Apparel, Photos for sale to the public, limited edition posters signed by George Barris, and much more. They are also looking to collaborate with designers and artist for the new IHL collection. You can visit their website at www.inhollywoodland. com for more info.
Marilyn Monroe ©George Barris Lic. By IHL | INHOLLYWOODLAND
Marilyn is with us"
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 17
Stedman Graham (left) Oprah Winfrey (right) Getty Images ©
A speech for the ages Golden Globes 2018 Oprah’s Moving Words by Christian Lopez
It is a dark time in Los Angeles, and the Golden Globes has come together to bring light to the situations coming about. The setting of the Beverly Hilton where the awards ceremony is being held this year feels different. Stars have come together to dress in all black. Familiar faces aren’t smiling the same. The ones who we watch and look up to now seem all very vulnerable. We watch the same stars on t.v every year, and discover new faces as well, but now the room where everyone is sitting waiting to participate in this years ceremony feels very small. Their is a elephant in the room, and people are poking at it. Comedian Seth MacFarlane does his best to ease tension with his monologue but it seems to hit us in a way where we knew those punchlines were coming. With every actress and actor giving thanks to the people that helped put them on stage and giving love to their families, the audience seems to yearn for a bit more substance. In comes Oprah with her shining glow, lifetime achievements and a speech that makes everyone stand to their feet. We’ve put together those words here today which should be saved and torn out of this paper. It is safe to say Oprah saved the day and put our minds to ease with her accpetance speech of the Golden Globe Cecil B. Demile award, and to that we want to say here at Hollywood Weekly what everyone was thinking "Oprah for president in 2020". The following pages begins and end with Oprah’s speech. Enjoy. 18 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
I
FILM
n 1964, I was a little girl sitting on the linoleum oor of my mother’s house in Milwaukee watching Anne Bancroft present the Academy Awards. She opened the envelope and said ve words that literally made history: “The winneris Sidney Poitier.” Up to the stage came the most elegant man I had ever seen. I remember his tie was white, and of course his skin was black, and I had never seen a black man being celebrated like that. I tried many, many times to explain what a moment like that means to a little girl, a kid watching from the cheap seats as my mom came through the door bone tired from cleaning other people’s houses. But all I can do is quote and say that the explanation in Sidney’s performance in “Lilies of the Field”: “Amen, amen, amen, amen.” In 1982, Sidney received the Cecil B. DeMille award right here at the Golden Globes and it is not lost on me that at this moment, there are some little girls watching as I become the rst black woman to be given this same award. It is an honor it is an honor and it is a privilege to share the evening with all of them and also with the incredible men and women who have inspired me, who challenged me, who sustained me and made my journey to this stage possible. Dennis Swanson who took a chance on me for “A.M. Chicago.” Quincy Jones who saw me on that show and said to Steven Spielberg, “Yes, she is Sophia in ‘The Color Purple.’” Gayle who has been the de nition of what a friend is, and Stedman who has been my rock -just a few to name. I want to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press Association because we all know the press is under siege these days. We also know it’s the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption
and to injustice. To -- to tyrants and victims, and secrets and lies. I want to say that I value the press more than ever before as we try to navigate these complicated times, which brings me to this: what I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have. And I’m especially proud and inspired by all the women who have felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories. Each of us in this room are celebrated because of the stories that we tell, and this year we became the story. But it’s not just a story affecting the entertainment industry. It’s one that transcends any culture, geography, race, religion, politics, or workplace. So I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue. They’re the women whose names we’ll never know. They are domestic workers and farm workers. They are working in factories and they work in restaurants and they’re in academia, engineering, medicine, and science. They’re part of the world of tech and politics and business. They’re our athletes in the Olympics and they’re our soldiers in the military. And there’s someone else, Recy Taylor, a name I know and I think you should know, too. In 1944, Recy Taylor was a young wife and mother walking home from a church service she’d attended in Abbeville, Alabama, when she was abducted by six armed white men, raped, and left blindfolded by the side of the road coming home from church. They threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone, but her story was reported to the NAACP where a young worker by the name of Rosa Parks became the lead investigator on her case
and together they sought justice. But justice wasn’t an option in the era of Jim Crow. The men who tried to destroy her were never persecuted. Recy Taylor died ten days ago, just shy of her 98th birthday. She lived as we all have lived, too many years in a culture broken by brutally powerful men. For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up.I just hope that Recy Taylor died knowing that her truth, like the truth of so many other women who were tormented in those years, and even now tormented, goes marching on. It was somewhere in Rosa Parks’ heart almost 11 years later, when she made the decision to stay seated on that bus in Montgomery, and it’s here with every woman who chooses to say, “Me too.” And every man -every man who chooses to listen. In my career, what I’ve always tried my best to do, whether on television or through lm, is to say something about how men and women really behave. To say how we experience shame, how we love and how we rage, how we fail, how we retreat, persevere and how we overcome. I’ve interviewed and portrayed people who’ve withstood some of the ugliest things life can throw at you, but the one quality all of them seem to share is an ability to maintain hope for a brighter morning, even during our darkest nights. So I want all the girls watching here, now, to know that a new day is on the horizon! And when that new day nally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magni cent women, many of whom are right here in this room tonight, and some pretty phenomenal men, ghting hard to make sure that they become the leaders who take us to the time when nobody ever has to say “Me too” again.
Oprah & her relationship with the Golden Globes •
1986 - Oprah is nominated for best supporting actress for her role in the “The Color Purple”.
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2018 - Oprah is honored and awarded with the Golden Globe Cecil B. Demille Award HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 19
Actress, Penelope Cruz Red Carpet 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Actress, Alicia Vikander Red Carpet 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Actress, Sarah Jessica Parker Red Carpet 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Actors/film-makers James Franco and Seth Rogen Inside 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Actor Doug Jones, Actress Octavia Spencer Inside 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
75th Annual Golden Globes
75th Golden Globes
photos courtesy of Getty Images ©
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Actor, Timothee Chamalet Red Carpet 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
20 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
Actor Doug Jones, Actress/filmaker Angelina Jolie Inside 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Actors Tom Hanks, Actress Franco Rita WIlson and Chief Executive Officer of Amazon Jeff Bezos Inside 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
T.V personality Gayle King Oprah Winfrey and director Ava DuVernay Inside 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Actress Nicole Kidman and Jessica Chastain Inside 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Actor Daniel Kaluuya Inside 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Singer Ricky Martin and artist Jwan Yosef Inside 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Actress Helen Mirren Inside 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards
HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 21
Coachella Time Headlining the Post-Modern Woodstock by Christian P Lopez
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The Weeknd Friday April 13 and 20
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Beyonce Saturday April 14 and 21
Eminem Sunday April 15 and 22
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Age-27 years old Hometown-Toronto, Canada Nickname - "Starboy" Biggest Hits-"I Can’t Feel My Face", "Starboy" , "Acquainted" Reasons to attend-To witness a legend in the in the making and to sing along to fun songs. Fun Fact-Legend has it, The Weeknd can’t here the feedback in his earpiece on stage at his concerts because the fans are so loud.
Age-36 years old Hometown-Houston, Texas Nickname-"Queen Bey" Biggest Hits-"Formation", "Drunk in love" , "Single ladies" Reasons to attend-As a newfound mom it is hard to catch "The Queen" performing now. Fun Fact-"Queen Bey" was suppose to perform and headline Coachella 2017 but she was pregnant with twins at the time.
Age-45 years old Hometown-Detroit, Michigan Nickname-"Marshall" Biggest Hits-"Love the way you lie", "Stan" , "Rap God" Reasons to attend-Eminem definitely has a few suprises in stored with his new album being out. Fun Fact-He was given a chance to perform at the Oscars but said no when they wanted him to perform a clean version of "Lose yourself"
For more info visit Coachella.com
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Grammys 2018 By Christian Lopez
26 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
shift
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MUSIC
anuary 28, 2018 marks the night of the 2018 Grammys being held at Madison Square Garden. Their seems to be a big difference between this year’s Grammys as far as cultural diversity goes in nominations than their has been in previous years. Hip hop artist seem to be dominating this year and finally getting the recognition they deserve. Hip-Hop Artist Jay-z, Childish Gambino and Kendrick Lamar are all up for Album of the year, as well as Record of the year. The Music mogul "Jigga man" himself seems to be shooting for redemption in his wife’s honor (Beyoncé) after losing to Adele’s "25" LP in 2017 for Album of the year. Just in case you have been living in a bubble we at Hollywood Weekly are here to fill you in as to why these Artist are up for nominations and why it is important to know about them. Jay-z leads the Grammy’s this year with 8 nominations, the most nominations of any artist this year. His 2017 album is entitled "4:44" and is an ode to his growth, maturity and new come struggles of a middleaged man. At 48 years old Jay-z has matured from a troubled youth from Marcy Projects, Brooklyn, New York, trying to justify his wrongs from his drug dealing past, and vocally express’s himself as an established successful business man and Master in his art form. He speaks on issues that resonate with everyday people, such as struggles in marriage in his self-titled song "4:44", investing your money smartly in "The story of O.J", and his love for where he came from in "Marcy Me". In his genre he becomes a President of sorts someone your forced to listen to as his gives direction, and puts everything in order with his verses which can be looked at as speeches. "Nobody wins the Family Feud’s" is the most important lyric on this album from the song "Family Feud", Jay-z is standing up for peace, and wanting to do right as well as making himself vulnerable to the world through putting his personal problems on record. With samples from The Clark sisters, Nina Simone, and Donny Hathaway, played over smooth instrumentation by producer "No I.d" (also nominated for Grammys this year) this album makes for a soulful easy going listen. A breath of fresh air and one that needs listen. Also, up for Grammys with 7
nominations, is Kendrick Lamar. With the release of his album "Damn" A more inclusive Rap album, that is fun, self-conscious and speaks on topics such as love, violence, and spiritual revelations. Bono from Coldplay, makes an appearance on a song entitled "XXX" which speaks on violent-culture in America and the darker issues we tend to ignore as human beings such as gangs and injustices towards minorities. "You close your eyes to look around" U2’s frontman Bono sings complementing Kendricks gritty raps. The single entitled "Humble" which is up for song of the year is a fun song to sing to anyone being out of line, with the catchy hook that goes "Be Humble ... Sit down" repeatedly we are wishing Kendrick Lamar good luck. Also, up for 5 Grammy nominations are artist SZA and Childish Gambino. R and B artist SZA also on the same label as Kendrick Lamar entitled TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment) leads as the female with the most nominations this year. The R and B sensation is up for "Best New Artist" and "Best R andB song". Childish Gambino with the release of his new album "Awaken My love" an experimental funky mix, is well deserved for his nomination. His hit single "Redbone" is a funky tune which takes you back to a groovy America, in a futuristic "today" kind of way (if that makes sense). It is well deserved and everyone here is rooting for you Childish Gambino. One must question why now are people in Hip-Hop finally getting their recognition. Though their has been controversy over the years as to why not enough people of color get nominated or win in general, I believe the real answer this year has nothing to do with the color of these artist skin or backgrounds but the quality of the music that was produced by them. That is the most beautiful thing about this. This year I heard hip hop/R andB records being played on non-hop radio stations, and by DJ’s who would normally play pop and electronic tunes. Collaboration is at an all-time high in music and that is the most beautiful thing. It was Jay-z who once said "music brings people of all races together and can be the one thing that ends racism". It’s a new time, It’s a new age... it’s time to embrace it.
Hip-Hop/ R and B Albums/Artist nominated for 2018 Grammys Jay-z “4:44”
Kendrick Lamar “Damn”
SZA “Ctrl”
Childish Gambino “Awaken My love”
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28 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
MUSIC
CYNDI LAUPER On The Road Again With Rod Stewart Staff Writer
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inger/Songwriter Rod Stewart, the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-music icon, today announced plans for an extensive North American summer tour. Following the incredible success and rave reviews for their 2017 summer tour, Stewart has invited the legendary Cyndi Lauper to again join him as the tour’s special guest. Produced by Live Nation, the 22-date tour begins June 25 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA with performances scheduled at some of the most storied venues across North America including Madison Square Garden in New York on Aug. 7, Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Aug. 1, Budweiser Stage in Toronto on Aug. 10, Shoreline Amphitheatre in San Francisco on Aug. 29 and more (complete itinerary below). Cyndi Lauper is a Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning artist who, after 30 sterling years and global record sales in excess of 50 million albums, has proven that she has the heart and soul to keep her legion of fans compelled by her every creative move. With her first album, She’s So Unusual, Lauper won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist and became the first female in history to have four top-five singles from a debut album. With a string of unique follow-ups, Lauper has continued to push her own boundaries, exploring electronic dance music, American standards, the Memphis blues and, with her latest studio album Detour, country classics from the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s which features collaborations with some of country music’s most-celebrated artists including Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, and Alison Kraus. In recognition of her ongoing contribution to music, Lauper was inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015. Pre-sales begin Tuesday, January 9 at 10:00 a.m. local time; tickets will go on sale to the general public starting Friday, January 12 at 10:00 a.m. local time via www.livenation.com. For complete details on presales, ticketing and tour information, please visit: https://fanclub.rodstewart.com/, LiveNation.com or CyndiLauper.com. Citi® is the official presale credit card for select markets of the Rod Stewart with Special Guest Cyndi Lauper tour. As such, Citi® cardmembers will have access to purchase pre-sale tickets beginning January 9 at 10:00 a.m. local time until Thursday, January 11 at 10:00 p.m. local time through Citi’s Private Pass® Program. For complete pre-sale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com. *American Express® will hold a presale for tickets to the Hollywood Bowl concert only, visit
Cyndi Lauper photo by Chapman Baehler
Cyndi Lauper photo by Chapman Baehler HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 29
1on1 with Nancy Social Media, Frank Sinatra Promises and More by Alison Kugel
Editors note* This Article was chosen by the editor for our “Timeless Interview” Series because we thought it was a classic story that you would enjoy. The article compliments our direction of this months issue paying tribute to “The Golden age of Hollywood.
Nancy SInatra Staff photo 30 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
TIMELESS INTERVIEWS
Younger than springtime are you; softer than starlight are you…," the Chairman of the Board crooned to his eldest daughter Nancy Sinatra in 1967 as he serenaded his first born in Sinatra’s acclaimed television special, Movin’ With Nancy. Movin’, an Emmy Award winning hour-long television special with appearances by Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Sinatra’s beloved musical collaborator Lee Hazlewood and, of course, dad, was progressive and ahead of its time. The special was the first of its kind, featuring a gorgeous platinum blonde Nancy Sinatra styled in the trendiest that the fashion of the day had to offer while performing in a series of seamlessly strung together musical vignettes, both solo, and with her iconic co-stars. The television special established Nancy Sinatra as more than just a child of the highest musical pedigree; it made her official acquaintance to the public as a multi-talented variety performer, recording artist and the "it girl" of the day. Nancy Sinatra’s mini theatrical accompaniments featured in Movin’resembled what MTV would later coin as the "music video," and it was that pioneering spirit in Nancy, combined with undeniable sensuality which prompted Rolling Stone Magazine to describe Nancy Sinatra as "groundbreaking, heartbreaking and eternally cool." Sinatra’s focused gaze and spirited nature echo that of her late father, Frank Sinatra, while her ethereal voice has the ability to send listeners unlike any vocals of present day. In decades past, Nancy Sinatra made a name for herself with her effortless combination of provocative style (including those trademark boots) and gentle, poignant vocals. From the bluesy "Sugar Town" to the hypnotic sounds of the songs "The End" and "Sand," and the defiant attitude of her legendary single "These Boots Are Made For Walkin’," Sinatra’s natural swagger is coveted and emulated by many of today’s brightest young female recording artists and starlets. In spite of her own accomplishments and lasting mark on the cultural landscape, Sinatra has lamented that her lineage as Frank Sinatra’s daughter has prevented some from fully embracing her work over the years. "I’ll never make the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," she was once quoted as saying. "They’re never going to let me in." These days, Nancy Sinatra is dedicating her time to running an online forum that offers the public all things Frank Sinatra, and diligently keeps fans up to date on the happenings of the entire Sinatra clan (SinatraFamily.com). In addition to managing her father’s legacy online, Nancy Sinatra is instrumental is keeping decades of Frank Sinatra recordings at the forefront of American culture with her twice weekly Sirius XM radio show, Nancy For Frank, and releasing compilations of her own recorded singles (2009’s Cherry Smiles: The Rare Singles) to Nancy Sinatra fans around the globe. My conversation with Nancy was introspective, revealing, humorous, and at times, nerve-wracking when she pointed
out in a direct manner that she didn’t care for one of my questions regarding the pitfalls of her super-star lineage; though she complied and answered me. Oddly enough, that moment marked the turning point in our conversation from polite to familiar. She began to open up about mourning the loss of her father, her feelings for ex-step mother, Mia Farrow, and her undying support for United States veterans and the charitable work she continues to contribute for all veterans’ causes. What began as an interview evolved into a cherished conversation with a woman I greatly admire. AK: I know you’re a huge Twitter user! NS: (Laughs) AK: Your career has been marked by a series of comebacks, including one musical resurrection in the mid-nineties and then several years ago, around
"the lack of respect from my peers is probably because I’m his daughter" 2004. But at the same time the public has a nostalgic attachment to you and your music. Is that a strange dichotomy for you to live with? NS: No. The songs are timeless and I was lucky enough to be the one who sang them. It was just, maybe my karma. Maybe I did something good in a previous life. I was lucky enough to be the one to put voice to some of that great, great stuff. AK: For your digital album, Cherry Smiles: The
Frank SInatra & Nancy SInatra Courtesy of Nancy Sinatra HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 31
Nancy SInatra Performing in “The Whiskey” in L.a Courtesy of Nancy Sinatra
Rare Singles, is that a lot of old recorded content that had previously never been released? NS: Yeah, I guess you could call it that. Well, Dolly and Hawkeye was never released, Ain’t No Sunshine was never released, but some of them were [previously] released. AK: Why were some of those great songs shelved back when they were originally recorded? NS: When you don’t have the support of a label you can record until you turn blue and nothing will come out. It’s the curse of the artist who isn’t Barbra Streisand or Tony Bennett. AK: Is that how you felt throughout much of your musical career, like an underdog? NS: Yeah, I think that’s fair to say. I had the contract at Reprise for a long time and a short deal at RCA, and then another shorter deal at Elektra. Some of my most important recordings, to me, were on Private Stock. And with that label, the owner Larry Uttal died, and his wife had an attorney contact me to ask if I would be interested in buying my masters, and I said, "Yes!" I got most of them, except for one session that I would really love to have, which was produced by Charlie Calello, and another one by Snuff Garrett, two great producers. And those Nancy SInatra Night Of A Thousand Sinatra’s Courtesy of Nancy Sinatra
masters, I don’t know where they are. It’s just sad that these things get lost over time. And my fans, they don’t care if it’s old, new or what. I guess they prefer new, but they are very grateful to have the old stuff as well. They’re a very dear, wonderful group of people who really support my music. AK: You seem to have a very personal and interactive relationship with your fan base, as well as with people who are fans of the entire Sinatra family. Was that a conscious decision, or did it just evolve and wind up that way? NS: That was a conscious decision. I heard Barry Diller talking about his laptop and he said that his life changed when he got his laptop. I thought, "Wow, ok; sounds pretty interesting." I got a [laptop] and I took it over to my dad’s house. I used to sit on his bed with him and show him what was going on. In those days we just had a little [online] guestbook instead of the Sinatra family website that’s now so huge. AK: Your father was around to see the first inklings of the power of the Internet back in the late 90s, shortly before he passed. What did he think of it? NS: He was thrilled. He would read the questions that people would write in, and then he would tell me what to say in response to their questions, and he said, "This is great. Please keep in touch with my supporters." And I said, "I promise." I have ever since. AK: For your Sirius XM radio show, Nancy for Frank, how do you go about scripting each show, and how do you determine what Frank Sinatra stories should remain private and what stories about your father you care to share with the public? NS: It’s all up to the music. We’re recording a show tomorrow and the album we’re playing is the Strangers In The Night album. I haven’t seen a script yet. I send the songs to my producer and he takes the songs and puts them into a script that includes the composer, lyricist, and if possible, when it was recorded originally. Whatever nerdy kind of technical information we can get, we put it into the script. If there are any stories, they come about as a result of a song. AK: So it’s typically Frank Sinatra stories that center around his music and the intricacies of where, when and how each song was recorded… NS: Yeah, it’s about the music. For me, it all boils down to the music, whether it’s the websites or my own work, or whatever. It’s all about the written note and the written word. And that is what seems to be of interest to our listeners. AK: Your sister Tina does a great deal as far as managing, I guess what you would call the Sinatra brand. Is that an equal three-way partnership between you, Tina and Frank, Jr., or does Tina take the lead with business matters pertaining to your father’s work? NS: Tina’s a producer, so we rely on her for that sort of thing. We are all absolutely involved, of course. We all meet once a month, or once every two months if we’re traveling. We discuss the projects that are coming up and what we are going to do about them, and who’s going to do promotion. I liken it to a family farm. The products are
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usually recordings, sometimes films, and you take them to market and market them as best as you can. It’s not easy anymore. The music business is pretty much history. It’s generally via downloading, and mostly the younger people don’t want to pay anything for music. There are also so many expenses involved in putting out CDs, and you have to be very sure that everything you put out is of quality. If there is a mistake at the printers or there is someone along the way who misspells a composer’s name or puts in a wrong date, we get clobbered by the Frank Sinatra fans who know every detail. When that happens it’s embarrassing for us, but we can’t be there every second of every day with this stuff as it goes through. We can license and hope (laughs)… that they do a good job and not let us down. AK: Have you, Tina and Frank, Jr. had recent meetings about the Frank Sinatra feature film that’s currently in development with Martin Scorsese attached to direct? NS: Of course, several meetings. It’s all about the script. Again, it’s the written word and it all boils down to that. Right now, there’s sort of a script that nobody’s really happy with. AK:: Is there any actor in the world that you know of whom you think could capture Frank Sinatra’s essence? NS: Personally, I think Simon Baker (The Mentalist, CBS) could do it. But I’m not involved in the casting. I see his smiling and his twinkling eyes and I see my dad. I don’t think anybody’s ever mentioned him and I certainly haven’t mentioned him to my sister or to Marty [Scorsese], and I wouldn’t because that’s not my job… but in a meeting I might. AK: In the 1960s you first emerged as a singer and famous personality in your own right. It’s interesting because as I looked at a lot of old video clips of you, your wardrobe, your hair and makeup, obviously the boots… you were quite a sex kitten. Was that "look" all self-created? And what did your father think of your public image at that time? NS: I don’t know how my father felt about it, but he was delighted that I was successful. I had a lot of help along the way. I was a brunette in the early 60s. I was doing a photo shoot with the incredible photographer Milton Greene in 1964 or 1965 and [his wife] Amy was with Glamour Magazine, and she did the first real makeovers. She said, "Nancy, I want to take you over to Kenneth." Kenneth in those days was the hairdresser in New York, and the colorist there did my first highlights, and that was the beginning of the "look." Then I went to London and I fell in love with Mary Quant, and I bought a lot of stuff there and started wearing her clothes around LA and New York. AK: But did you feel sexy at that time in your life?
NS: I didn’t have any thoughts about it. I just thought the clothes were great. I think that was probably what my appeal was, that I didn’t try to be sexy. If I was sexy it was just because it happened. When I did Movin’ With Nancy in 1967 I went to the place that I had worked at for my very first job when I was fourteen years old! It was a place called Jax. I went back to them at twenty-six and said, "I need you to do my clothes for my TV show." That’s where those great, real iconic clothes came from. I just thought the clothes were cool. I didn’t think of sex. AK: You sang a beautiful duet of the song Things with Dean Martin on your television special, Movin’ With Nancy, many years ago. What was your relationship like with Dean and with Sammy Davis, Jr.? Did they look at you as a colleague, or more of a younger sister or a daughter? NS: Certainly not a sister because they were so much older than I, but definitely family, like a daughter. We were very, very close, all of us. Nancy SInatra But that duet was not really Courtesy of Nancy Sinatra sung as a duet. It was Dean’s record of Things with a vocal group singing the parts that I later sang. I just asked him if I could please take it into a studio and remove the vocal group and put my own voice on it so we could use it on the show, and he said ok. AK: Another landmark moment that aired on Movin’ With Nancy was an interracial kiss that you and Sammy Davis, Jr. shared on camera, and it was a big deal at that time. It’s been reported by online sources that the kiss was planned ahead of time. NS: The kiss [was] one of the first interracial kisses seen on television and it caused some controversy then, and now. [But] contrary to some inaccurate online reports, the kiss was unplanned and spontaneous. AK: What has the process been like with organizing and listing the entire Frank Sinatra music catalog? You’ve mentioned several times that it’s taken years to organize and you’re still not finished with it. NS: We’re just starting! All we have right now is albums. We haven’t done the V-discs or the singles or the radio shows, or any of that stuff, and it’s going to take years and years to build this [Frank Sinatra] discography. There’s so much material from every country in the world. But it’s really wonderful and I’m so happy it’s out there. AK: Do you happen to know how many songs your father recorded, in total, throughout his career? NS: I know it’s well over a thousand. I don’t remember exactly. It could be fifteen or sixteen hundred. I’m not really sure, but we’ll certainly know when we get all this work done. HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY • 33
AK: Two of your older singles, Sand and your cover of Bang Bang (originally recorded by Cher), were recently used in film soundtracks. Bang Bang was featured in the opening of the film Kill Bill, and Sand was featured in a short film starring Kate Moss for Longchamp. How did that come about? For Kill Bill, did Quentin Tarantino contact you directly to inquire about licensing the song Bang Bang? NS: He did not contact me directly. I still haven’t met the man. I was all set to see him at the Friars Club roast [in Los Angeles] a year or so ago and then his editor died, so they cancelled the roast. Then they put it back together again a few months ago but I couldn’t go because it was at the New York Friars Club. That was my hope of meeting him (laughs). AK: And what about Kate Moss? Had she told you she was setting the promotional film Faraway, for her Longchamp collection, to your song Sand? NS: I have no idea how that came about. I heard about it after it was done. I met her when she was with Johnny Depp, at an event. I walked over to them and I said, "Excuse me for intruding, but I’d like to introduce myself, and I admire you both." Kate Moss to me is the most stylish of women at the moment. I just really love what she does with her look and her clothes. AK: Sand is an absolutely beautiful piece of music. It transports you. NS: That is my favorite of the [collaborations] of the Nancy and Lee [Hazlewood] stuff, definitely. We didn’t have a sitar to use in Los Angeles in those days. In order to capture that sound, they recorded a guitar and they played it backwards in the instrumental of Sand, and that’s how we captured that "sitar" feel. AK: What’s been the toughest part of having the last name "Sinatra?" NS: That question (laughs)! AK: Do you get that question a lot? NS: All the time! Sometimes it’s phrased differently, like, "Is it a help or a hindrance?" I mean, he was a great father; a great, great father! But I think the lack of respect from my peers is probably because I’m his daughter. So there you have it in one sentence. AK: In reviewing video footage of you and your father together, he appeared to be so taken with you. Beyond the father, daughter relationship it looked like there was a special bond. I’m curious, what shared or complementing personality traits created such a tight bond between you and him? 34 • HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY
NS: I think what you’re seeing is because you are just seeingit [on film]. I think every father and daughter probably has a similar thing going, but you don’t see it on a piece of film because you’re not on film. You’re a normal person who isn’t in the movies. If you have a video of a father and daughter walking down the aisle at a wedding and the father giving the daughter away, I think you would see the same thing. It’s just that in our case we were public, so you would see it a little more often. AK: Do you think your father felt closer to you than he did with your siblings? NS: He was with me longer than he was with them and, yeah, we knew each other better of course. My brother is four years younger and my sister is eight years younger. My father was already just about out of the house when Tina was born. AK: I noticed on your family website, SinatraFamily. com, in your family picture section, you had pictures of Mia Farrow posted. Do you consider Mia Farrow to be a family member to this day? NS: Absolutely. AK: How did you feel about your father’s relationship with Mia Farrow back when they were married? NS: I was grateful for it. They were happy and loving, and it was terrific. And I admire her so much. She is an incredible woman. Her tenacity and her courage and her generosity, and the fact that she raised all those children and brought them out of harm’s way and cured them of rickets and whatever other diseases they had; just an amazing person. AK: What caused the demise of the Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow marriage? NS: Well, she wrote it in my book. She said that ultimately the age difference mattered. AK: Whenever somebody says to me in the course of conversation, "Age is just a number," it really depends upon the context of which they’re speaking. As far as relationships go, and from my own experience, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Frank Sinatra & Nancy SInatra NS: I agree with you. Courtesy of Nancy Sinatra And if you fall in love you want to make sure you fall in love with someone who is within seven years of your age, because your histories are different. Your sensibilities are different. Everything is like dominos. AK: Like you were saying earlier, if you’re a civilian your loved ones are not nearly as documented, particularly compared to
I should be honored for that. I appreciated that more than anything and I actually had two of my veterans who came out and spoke at the ceremony. One is Artie Muller who is the founder of Rolling Thunder (rollingthunder1.com), and the other is Paul Masi. They came out and spoke at the ceremony and that made it so important to me, and worthwhile. AK: What ignited your passion for supporting our veterans? NS:: I was in Vietnam with the USO and I saw war, and I held wounded soldiers and sailors in my arms. Once you experience that, you never forget it and you know the price that these people are paying. You want to help in any way you can. It’s a brotherhood. There is a fundraising effort going on now (vvmf.org) for the Vietnam Wall and the education part of the Vietnam Wall because young people don’t really understand that war. A friend of mine named Jan Scruggs is head of that effort to get an actual building there on the site that will be a museum so that people who are interested in learning about that God awful war can go there and see what it was all about.
Nancy SInatra Courtesy of Nancy Sinatra someone of iconic status like Frank Sinatra. The fact that your father is so extensively documented through thousands of audio and film recordings, is that something that makes it easier or harder to be without him? NS: We never had a chance to grieve. None of us who really loved him could really grieve. There was just too much of him around all the time. That’s not a good thing. It sounds like it might be, but it’s not. Doing this radio show ("Nancy for Frank" on Sirius XM) is difficult. I don’t want to listen to him all the time, I really don’t. It hurts too much. We played an album on Sunday called Where Are You?. It’s just heartbreaking and I went through the tears again because I don’t want to listen to it. It’s like being a masochist, but I don’t have a choice because I’m keeping this flame [burning] and I’m doing it as best I can, and one way is on the radio. That involves the music. AK: When you received your star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame did you feel like it was a long time coming for you, or were you not really expecting to receive that honor from the Hollywood community? NS: The truth is you have to pay for it. Somebody has to buy it. Either you have a major studio that will buy it to get the promotion for you for your next movie or you have a label and you have an album coming out, and they’ll buy it to get the promotion and to get all of the publicity. It costs a lot of money to have one made, and to dig up the sidewalk and put in a star for someone. That being said, you still have to pass muster with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. They were very generous when they had done their research about my life and work, and they realized how much I had done for veterans. They felt
AK: Which young female artists of today inspire you? NS: I was kind of nuts about Avril Lavigne. I haven’t seen her work in a while, but I thought she was really going to be great. I don’t know what’s going on with her, I’m ashamed to say now. I admire the marketing savvy of Lady Gaga, same as I felt about Madonna. If I had had that kind of smarts when I was that age I would be a wealthy, wealthy woman. They are very smart, both of them. Maybe they are surrounded by people who know what to do, I don’t know. AK: Did you ever think about opening up your father’s Palm Springs home for public viewing? NS: We don’t own that house. There were two houses. The one I grew up in was just recently declared a preserved building and they are never going to tear it down. And that’s the one we had when there was only one paved road in the desert, when I was a child in the late forties. Th e house that we had later on, that was built in stages, is on Frank Sinatra Drive. That’s in Rancho Mirage and that’s the one that my stepmother sold, and everything has gone with it. AK: What is the greatest piece of advice that you ever got from your father? NS: Own your own masters. You have to own your own masters in the music business. It’s your property and it’s your only income as the years go by. Visit Nancy Sinatra at NancySinatra.com and SinatraFamily.com, and follow her on Twitter @ NancySinatra. Visit Nancy’s charitable cause for supporting Vietnam veteran’s - vvmf.org. Visit Sirius XM radio channel "Seriously Sinatra" at siriusxm.com/siriuslysinatra. Purchase and download Nancy Sinatra music at itunes. apple.com/us/artist/nancy-sinatra/id22552160.
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