The Rat Pack: Sinatra, Sammy, Martin and… Johnny

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The Rat Pack were as talented and popular as any “supergroup.” Its members in the 1960s edition were the epitome of cool and included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop and Sammy Davis, Jr. They appeared in several movies, most notably Ocean’s 11 and Robin and the 7 Hoods, and their live appearances in Vegas were as hot a ticket as there was.

They’re now all gone, of course, and the ages at their deaths varied wildly. JFK brother-in-law Lawford died in 1984 at just 61. Davis in 1990 was only 64. Martin, born June 7, 1917, was 78 when he passed on Christmas Day, 1995. Sinatra was 82 when he died in 1998. Bishop passed in 2007 at 89.

We recognize it’s a disservice to summarize the individual careers of the Top 3 in this brief post:

Davis, born Dec. 8, 1925, started his career in vaudeville at the age of three, performing with his father in the Will Mastin Trio. He was a “triple threat” as a terrific singer, dancer and actor. He recorded prolifically; his signature songs are “What Kind of Fool Am I,” “I’ve Gotta Be Me” and “The Candy Man,” his only #1 pop hit.

Martin’s usual stage “props” were a lit cigarette and a cocktail. The King of Cool’s biggest hit by far was 1964’s #1 “Everybody Loves Somebody.”

Sinatra – aka “The Voice” – was a ubiquitous presence on the pop chart for five decades, from the ’40s into the ’80s (with the Theme From New York, New York).

Our Classic Video is of a June 20, 1965 performance at the Kiel Opera House in St. Louis, MO that was at one point titled The Frank Sinatra Spectacular. It features Deano, Frank, Sammy and a certain TV host serving as the evening’s emcee, who more than holds his own in front of the mic.