Three rocks of ice, two fingers of "Jack" and a splash of water

Three ice-cubes, two fingers of "Jack" and a splash of water.

His right hand gently held the "old fashioned" glass from below, preferably with a linen napkin, but he wouldn’t drink it immediately after it was poured. He liked to let the drink sit for a while for the flavors to blend. In his other hand, an unfiltered Camel cigarette, and in front of him, a Neumann U47 microphone he made love to with each song.

In the lobby there is an uneasy silence; in the darkness the public waits impatiently as the spotlights hit the stage.

I can see the scene in my mind, feel the atmosphere, savor the taste of that Jack Daniel ́s served to his exact taste, the smell of the cigarettes and suddenly, the silence breaks with the first harmonies of the brass and percussion sections revealing what is about to come, the entry of the voice... not just any voice –THE VOICE! – The Chairman of the Board, Ol ́ Blue Eyes... Frank Sinatra.

I love Frank ́s music because even in its melancholy he always sings about hope, about never giving up... there is always a positive message and there is always a reason to live. Maybe that is why his music has transcended musical genres, borders, languages, and generations and is still as relevant as when he was alive.

Robert Bisaccia, also known as Bobby Cabert, a childhood friend of Joe Pesci and the person who inspired his role in the movie "Goodfellas", had been an accomplished boxer before joining the mafia, where he rose to the position of “capo” in the Gambino family. Bobby had been convicted and was doing life for first-degree murder, but he fought that legal battle like it was his first time, as if this was his first day in prison, as if there was hope. Whenever Bisaccia felt sad or discouraged, he turned to Frank's music to lift his spirits and prepared to do battle once more. His favorite phrase was: “When the bell rings, you better get out there and fight.” 

Robert Bisaccia died in prison but never, never, ceased to fight, never ever, gave up, and never ever stopped listening to Frank. 

As I put three ice-cubes, two fingers of Jack and a splash of water in my "old fashioned" glass, I let the drink sit for a bit, not much, just enough for the flavors to blend properly, while my old record player breaks the silence with the first harmonies of the brass and percussion sections revealing what is about to come, the entry of the voice ... not just any voice  –THE VOICE! –  The Chairman of the Board, Ol ́ Blue Eyes... Frank Sinatra.

As I enjoy both Jack and Frank, I recall Robert Bisaccia alias Bobby Cabert’s favorite phase: “When the bell rings, you better get out there and fight.”