A-Z Challenge 2013: N is for Nancy Sinatra!

So begins the second half of the April 2013 A-Z Blogging Challenge - and this time we're talking about the Chairdaughter of the Board - because that's the way I roll when:

N is for Nancy Sinatra!

Born in 1940, the daughter of Frank Sinatra did not pursue any show business aspirations in her childhood. She made her professional debut as an entertainer on one of her father’s tv specials in 1960 – The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis – which was marking the singer’s return to the US after his discharge from the Army. Frank had Nancy go to the airport to welcome Presley on his behalf; later in the show Frank and Nancy performed a duet.



After the special Nancy continued working on music – she was signed to a contract with Reprise Records in 1961; though none of her songs made much of a splash on the American charts, she did gain popularity in Europe and Japan. She also acted in three movies - For Those Who Think Young (1964), Get Yourself A College Girl (1964), and Marriage on the Rocks (1965).

In 1965, with no hit records, Nancy faced being dropped from her label – but started working with Lee Hazlewood – who gave her a new sound and look – and in early 1966 Nancy Sinatra hit big with “These Boots are Made For Walkin.” After that breakthrough, Sinatra started charting regularly – with hits like “Sugar Town” and “Somethin’ Stupid” – a duet with her father.

Daddy's little girl.

Let's make this a Video Vault of Mora Tau post with a couple of video clips - and what better than this little ditty from Ms. Sinatra?

She also continued acting – appearing in one of the AIP Beach pictures - The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966); a James Bond spoof - The Last of the Secret Agents? (1966); and the notorious flop The Oscar (1966). She also gained a Roger Corman connection when she acted in The Wild Angels (1966).

The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini.



The Last of the Secret Agents?

The Wild Angels.

In 1967 she sealed the deal for me by performing the theme to the fifth James Bond movie You Only Live Twice. She made her final film appearance co-starring with Elvis Presley in Speedway in 1968, although she continued making television appearances – notably as herself, recreating her USO performances in Vietnam on the show China Beach in 1988, and as herself on The Sopranos in 2007.

Speedway.

In fact, let's check out my favorite tune right now...from the gorgeous credits sequence - visuals by the great Maurice Binder...

Nancy Sinatra’s musical output slowed in the 1970’s after she had children, but as they grew she has gone back to the recording studio – even charting again in the 21st century with some of her new songs. These days she hosts a weekly show on Sirius Satellite Radio, Siriusly Sinatra, where she shares insights about her father while spinning tunes from both of their musical careers. I would definitely recommend checking Nancy out in The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini, The Wild Angels, and Speedway – and give any of her tunes a listen – to experience some Sinatra that’s not so Frank, to be frank.

In recent years.

“O” boy – we’re wrapped on this post and less than a day away from the next one! Until then, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!