Frankie, who lives in High Wycombe, told Midweek: "He is absolutely on his own.>

Frankie's tribute to legend Sinatra

ENTERTAINER Frankie Vaughan has paid tribute to singing legend Frank Sinatra who died last week aged 82

Frankie, who lives in High Wycombe, told Midweek: "He is absolutely on his own. He was of great importance to show business.

"He had a very special talent and drive that made him unique.

"He was famous for a period of 50 years."

Frankie, who met Sinatra several times and knew Sammy Davis Jnr, part of Sinatra's "Rat Pack", said: "His early records are as wonderful as his later ones.

"He was a man of our time who will be greatly missed."

He added: "I remember when I was very young and I was evicted to Lancaster from Liverpool. We used to listen to 78s of his early recordings.

"He had great taste in songs and he was an immaculate performer, as well as being a great role model for so many thousands of singers around the world.

"He was a multi-faceted person and he was also an extremely good actor."

Frankie said Sinatra rose above the disappointments he had in life and loved all the women he married.

Sinatra was married four times - to Nancy Barbato, actresses Ava Gardener and Mia Farrow, and finally to Barbara, who survives him.

His most famous songs included My Way, New York New York, and Come Fly With Me.

Frankie added: "I knew some of the women he went out with. He chose girls I knew in Vegas and Hollywood, semi-stars and up-and-coming stars.

"He treated them all with great respect as women should be treated."

Frankie said: "I always steer clear of his songs because he did them like no one else.

"He gave so much to the world of entertainment and made so many millions of people happy all over the world.

He added: "He'll go down in history as one of the real greats."

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