FRANK SINATRA
Frank Sinatra was not terribly fond of rock ‘n’ roll. But lots of rockers are fond of him. And two of New Jersey’s most prominent rockers, Southside Johnny and E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg, will participate in the May 9 “Sinatra: An American Icon” symposium at Monmouth University in West Long Branch.
The schedule for the symposium — one of many events being presented this year by the Grammy Museum, the Frank Sinatra Family and Frank Sinatra Enterprises, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Sinatra’s birth — has just been announced, and here it is. All events take place at the university’s Wilson Hall.
Noon: Welcome by Monmouth University President Paul R. Brown.
12:10 p.m.: Keynote by Bob Santelli, executive director of Grammy Museum.
12:30 p.m.: “Sinatra 101 – The Essence of Frank Sinatra,” presented Michael Thomas, Assistant Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
12:40 p.m.: Performance by Monmouth University students.
1 p.m.: Panel and Q&A: “The Man, The Music, The Legend.” Panelists include musicians Max Weinberg, Southside Johnny, and musician and Sinatra expert Mike Barris.
2 p.m.: “Somewhere Along the Way.” Discussion of Sinatra as a social activist by Bob Santelli and Max Weinberg with screening of Sinatra’s short 1945 film, “The House I Live In,” made to promote racial tolerance.
2:45 p.m.: Panel and Q&A: “Nothing but the Best.” Panelists include Associate Professor of Management and Decision Sciences Stu Rosenberg, Associate Professor of Communication Aaron Furgason, and Sinatra aficionados Joe Amore and Joe Amodei. Rare Sinatra film clips will be screened.
3:45 p.m.: Performance by Monmouth University students.
Symposium tickets are $10; visit monmouth.edu/arts.
Also on May 9, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. the university’s Pollak Gallery will host an exhibit of 38 Sinatra photos documenting everything from his Hoboken boyhood to his final performances of the ’90s. There is no admission charge for the exhibit, and Bob Santelli will talk briefly about it at 3:55 p.m.
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