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Sonny King, the last of a breed! Still has the high notes!

Sonny, kids and the Guv.

Wednesday, May 27, 1998 COLUMN: John L. Smith Sinatra wished he was a stranger in the night 40 years ago It was a few days after Christmas in 1958, and Sonny King couldn't get over the cold snap that had swept through Las Vegas. But the weather was not half as chilly as the reception he was receiving from the Rev. John Ryan. The subject was the christening of King's daughter, Antoinette, who had been born on Christmas day. King and his wife, Nancy, had chosen the baby's godparents and were anxious to welcome the child officially into the Catholic church. Sonny and his wife were members of St. Anne's, and they naturally approached Father Ryan with the news the godmother would be Dorothy Entratter, wife of Strip casino man Jack Entratter. And the godfather? King's pal, Francis Albert Sinatra. When the words were spoken, the usually affable Father Ryan lost his smile. He shook his head. Sinatra wouldn't do at all. "Mr. Sinatra's considered an undesirable in the eyes of the church," Father Ryan said. "Undesirable?" King asked, astonished. "But he's my friend, father. If he's undesirable, what does that make me?" "Mr. King, I think you're a fine fellow, but you're also considered an undesirable," the priest said. With that, Sonny and Nancy King and Dorothy Entratter and Frank Sinatra set out to find a priest who would christen little Antoinette. Sinatra might have been too notorious for the church, but on his worst day he was good enough for Sonny King. Sonny was singing and managing at the Copacabana in New York in 1948 when he first met Sinatra. They were introduced at Lindy's and became friends over a cup of coffee. It was that simple. Their friendship lasted 50 years and was interrupted by Sinatra's death last week. Sonny figures his friend, Frank, is scouting new showrooms for them to work, but Sinatra's passing reminded King of Antoinette's christening -- and the controversy the Chairman of the Board was capable of generating. When Nancy King went into labor, Sinatra was at Sonny's side all night. "I stayed up with you," Sinatra said after the baby was born. "I think I deserve to be the godfather." Mention godfather in the same sentence as Sinatra and most people think of something other than the blue-eyed saloon singer who was struck silent by the beauty of a newborn baby. But King's friend Frank was full of surprises. Father Ryan was out of the question, but surely another priest in Las Vegas would do the job. Try as King might, the answer was consistent. He even tried a nondenominational church, but that failed, too. "I'd already been to three churches and all around town," King recalls. "By the third church I didn't care whether it was Catholic or what, I just wanted my daughter to be christened. I said, `Let's ride around,' and saw Frank was getting madder and madder. If anything, Frank's eyes got bluer the madder he got." Driving around Las Vegas on the coldest day of the year, the travelers found themselves downtown. King pulled up outside St. Bridget's Catholic Church. Inside, they were met by a young priest, who knew plenty about christening but, thankfully, not a damn thing about popular music. The priest started the paperwork. Then came the moment of truth: The godmother was Jewish, the godfather was a notorious ladies man. As he filled out the certificate, the priest asked, "What is the godfather's name?" King responded, "Francis Albert Sinatra." Sinatra quipped, "Hey, I know my own name." The priest asked, "How do you spell Francis, with an `I-s' or an `E-s'?" Sinatra responded, "I-s. E-s is feminine." The priest didn't know Frank Sinatra from Frankenstein, and the christening went off without a hitch. On the way out, Sinatra, anonymous for the first time in many years, smiled and tipped the priest $1,000. Over the years, Las Vegas warmed up considerably to Sinatra. Today, Sinatra is the subject of the sort of remembrance and adulation usually reserved for the greatest presidents. He had far more impact on the lives of Americans than all but a few leaders of the free world. From the pulpit of the local church to center stage at the MGM Grand, Southern Nevada celebrates Sinatra's incredible life this week. The tribute features parties and performances, Barbara Sinatra's memorabilia exhibit and the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Golf Classic golf tournament. Sonny King is warmed by his own memories of Sinatra, a godfather for all seasons.

Senate Resolution No. 7–Senators Raggio, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Cegavske, Coffin, Hardy, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, Nolan, O'Connell, Rawson, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Tiffany, Titus, Townsend, Washington and Wiener FILE NUMBER.......... Senate RESOLUTION—Commending Sonny King for his lifetime contribution as an entertainer. Whereas, Although the birth name "Louis Antonio Donato Schiavone" may not be readily recognizable to many, the stage name "Sonny King" brings a smile to the faces of millions of people who have enjoyed a performance by this world-class entertainer; and Whereas, Since he was 15 years old, Sonny King has been delighting audiences with songs, jokes and comedy routines on stage in a style that is described as sincere, honest and having a "comedic flair" with "the easy approach of Sinatra"; and Whereas, Sonny King began his career as a singer and emcee in Hudson, New Jersey, where he did 42 shows a week for $60; and Whereas, He built his act at the famed Copacabana and Havana Madrid in New York City and, after being recognized as having the enviable ability to relate and adapt to all audiences, was invited to move to Las Vegas and become a part of the show at the Sahara; and Whereas, Three years later, at the age of 23, Sonny joined Jimmy Durante at the Desert Inn in a partnership that lasted an incredible 28 years, with routines that never became stale because Sonny and Jimmy genuinely enjoyed working with each other and because the audience felt their love of showmanship and never grew tired of watching the two of them have a good time on stage; and Whereas, After being introduced to Frank Sinatra, Sonny became a close friend of the "Rat Pack," was affectionately nicknamed the "Lounge Giant" by that group, who defined "cool" during the early 1960s, and demonstrated his extensive talent by writing many of the one-liners and jokes that Sinatra used on Dean Martin when the two of them performed their act; and Whereas, During the course of Sonny's career, he has headlined at the Sahara, Desert Inn, Sands, Dunes, Frontier and Stardust in the "Entertainment Capital of the World," and he has probably performed with more stars than anyone in the entertainment business, including Red Skelton, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Danny Thomas, Burt Bacharach, Joey Bishop, Shecky Greene and many others; and Whereas, This artist's domain is certainly not limited to one city, as he has performed at such prestigious establishments as the Chez Paree and Palmer House in Chicago, Madison Square Garden in New York and the Diplomat in Miami; and Whereas, Also internationally acclaimed, Sonny King has starred at the Palladium Theater in London and the La Scala Opera House in Milan, has headlined in Scotland, Ireland and Greece, and has even given a command performance at Windsor Castle; and Whereas, Not limited to live performances, Sonny King has entertained millions through the media of television and motion pictures, with 21 appearances on the Merv Griffin Show as well as special guest appearances on the shows of Mike Douglas, Johnny Carson and Ed Sullivan and roles in four movies, including the original Ocean's 11 and Robin and the Seven Hoods; and Whereas, In addition to the continuous adoration and respect from his audiences, Sonny has received awards such as induction into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame at the Tropicana and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Variety Club International; and Whereas, Although one might think that after 6 decades filled with such expense of energy and accomplishments Sonny King would be ready to retire and "take it easy," he still loves performing and living his belief that "he was put on this earth to serve and entertain the people and if he can get the man or woman in the audience to forget their troubles for as long as he is on stage, then he is serving his purpose on this earth"; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, That the members of the Senate of the 72nd Session of the Nevada Legislature do hereby commend Sonny King for his lifetime contribution as an entertainer in this state and throughout the world; and be it further Resolved, That the Senate of the State of Nevada hereby honors Sonny King as a legend in his own time and appreciates that he has unselfishly shared his talent to make the world a more enjoyable place; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and transmit a copy of this resolution to Sonny King.