Tim O'Donohue

Today is Franks birthday so I wanted to tell you my Frank Sinatra story.

Back in the late 70's when I was working as a chaufuer I had to take Mr. Goldberg and friends out one nite.  It was during the winter and it gets pretty cold at night on the streets of NYC.

We went to a place called Jimmy Westons, in the 50's on the East side.  Westons was a pretty famous watering hole in its day and attracted a pretty hip crowd.  Bob & Joanie were not hip but had some friends who were.

Anyway, I dropped them off and did my usual park job outside the place.  The doorman and I got to talking and were having a pretty good time when another limo rolled up. The doorman opened the door and a few people started spilling out of the car. 

Now the first guy out hadn't really waited for the car to stop and he slipped on some ice and ended up in a heap at my feet.  I reached down and helped him up and he was giggling like crazy.  I straightened the man up and it turns out it is Frank Sinatra.  He was with his new wife, Barbara Marx and his old friend Jilly Rizzo.  Of course everyone wanted to make sure Frank was ok, he said thanks and went strolling into Westons with the rest of his party.

About a half hour later Mr. Goldberg came out to me and said they were going to be awhile so why don't i wait at the bar inside.  As long as I wasn't going to start pounding drinks he put my dinner on his tab and I enjoyed a few cocktails at his expense.

I'm sitting at the bar, minding my own business when this woman starts talking to me.  She was typical NYC hip from the 70's though she had a few miles on her.  Mrs. Goldberg came up to me to make sure i wasn't getting into any trouble.

  Apparently the Goldberg party was getting a kick out of me, their semi-hippie chaufuer, defending myself from this former beauty queen, who had a little too much to drink. 

All of a sudden the guy next to me bumps me and spills my drink.  No big deal, he says to the bartender "Set the kid up again"  The guy was Jilly Rizzo.  He turns to th guy next to him and says, "Hey, look at this guys moustache".  The guy next to him is Frank Sinatra.
Frank looks at me, smiles and says "Nice moustache kid."

He and Jilly then proceeded back to their table.  A little later the Goldbergs get ready to leave and I'm back in the car driving them home. Now Joanie and Bob were nice folks from Brooklyn who couldn't believe that their driver met Frank Sinatra and they hadn't.  Bob was really thrilled because it ended up that Jilly Rizzo and Frank Sinatra picked up my tab and Bob didn't have to pay.

So, that is another reason that i still wear this moustache to this day and i can say that not only did Frank Sinatra like my moustache, he bought me dinner.

Only in New York .

About the Recording

These Videos were taken by Ryan O'Donohue at The Turnoing Point, Piermont, NY on December 14, 2008.  The TMU Band is:  Dave McKeon, Craig Sheppard, Ken Harten, Dave Gross and Gordon Roeher.

More Information

 www.youtube/timodonohue

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