George Jacobs (1) (1927–2013)

Naughty, naughty Frankie. Bad boy. Sooooo bad. And thankfully, the foibles of His Badness are documented by his former valet/cook, who also lets loose with tales of Ava Gardner, the Kennedy boys, and Marilyn Monroe. One must always take tales of the dead with a grain of salt, but I thoroughly enjoyed this tome, as it not only brings us a behind-the-scenes Sinatra, but also a bio of the author himself, Frank's longtime assistant.

The style of writing may have been helped by co-writer William show more Stadiem, as it's slick, sardonic...and so much fun. When Jacobs describes the consistent racism he encounters during his worldwide travels with Francis Albert, he is hilarious, showing that he can take the higher road. Never a fan of the Kennedy family (seriously, how could they elect a son of Joe Kennnedy), I loved the stories of their betrayal of Sinatra and JFK's obsession with Monroe.

Jacobs appeared to be very close with music's greatest singer and writes of what made Frank great, namely his torch for Gardner which was not reciprocated. Overall, it's very tough to put down, and it's definitely the type of book to make a great poolside companion during the summer.

Book Season = Summer ("the summer wind came blowing in") show less

An odyssey of celebrity, extravagance, and genius, Mr. S provides the deepest understanding yet of one of our greatest entertainersAs the right hand of Frank Sinatra from 1953 to 1968, George Jacobs arguably had one of the coolest jobs in the world at the time when Sinatra was the undisputed master of the entertainment universe. Jacobs rose from his humble beginnings in New Orleans to join Sinatra in the mansions of Beverly Hills, the penthouses of Manhattan, the palaces of Europe, the show more pinnacles of world power. George Jacobs saw it all, did it all.Sinatra took Jacobs with him on the ride of the century, from blacklist Hollywood to gangland Chicago to an emerging Vegas to Camelot, not to mention dolce vita Rome and swinging London. As a member of Sinatra's inner circle, Jacobs drank with Ava Gardner, danced with Marilyn Monroe, massaged John F. Kennedy, golfed with Sam Giancana, and played jazz with the Prince of Monaco while his boss secretly pursued Princess Grace. He also partied with Mia Farrow, but that one cost him his job of a lifetime. Through the ring-a-ding-ding and the stars, royals, politicians, moguls, and mobsters emerged a warm and intimate relationship that reveals a complex Sinatra: vulnerable and arrogant, charismatic and violent, loving and disdainful, confident and painfully self-conscious. Jacobs is no sycophant, but rather a sharp-eyed observer of the highs and lows of his boss's turbulent life. And Mr. S is perhaps the most complete, honest, and intimate portrait of Sinatra ever written. It is an unforgettable trip, and George Jacobs provides a front-and-center seat at the life of an American icon. show less

A portrait of Frank Sinatra by his valet of 15 years - 1953 to 1968 that left me feeling queasy. Frank could be a very small man. The book is not hard to read but I was left wondering if it was worth the effort.

Surprisingly well written book on the person that was the ultimate insider to Sinatra's life.