Frank Sinatra

Billy May, a 1950s bandleader, composer and arranger with a highly distinctive style who worked with such leading recording artists as Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee, died of a heart attack Thursday at his home in San Juan Capistrano. He was 87. May began his career as a trumpeter with the Charlie Barnet Band in 1938. He soon was contributing arrangements characterized by what the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz described as "wailing, 'scooping' saxophones voiced in thirds."

Joe Amsler, 65, one of three men who kidnapped Frank Sinatra Jr. in 1963, died May 6 in Roanoke, Va., of complications from liver disease, family members said. Amsler was 23 when he and two associates -- lifelong friend Barry Keenan and Keenan's mother's boyfriend, John Irwin -- abducted 19-year-old Sinatra, the only son of Frank Sinatra, at gunpoint from a Lake Tahoe hotel Dec. 8, 1963. They released him unharmed three days later for $240,000 in ransom.

The trick in choosing from among all the Sinatra sets on the market is finding the best balance between price and the songs you want. Because Sinatra's previous box sets from Reprise, Capitol and Columbia have been so pricey (up to $499 list for the latest 20-disc Reprise package), this two-disc, 40-song set is an attractive alternative.

As a crooner for Columbia in the '40s and early '50s, Sinatra's voice was too sweet and without the distinct dark edge developed during his Capitol years in the '50s. Still, for softly orchestrated romantic ballads, it's hard to beat the 14 songs in this 1943-1952 collection. Album reissues are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (essential).

He's got a sure sense of swing and a robust baritone that can sound and deliver a song like "The Second Time Around"--decidedly without intention, he says--very much like Frank Sinatra. But despite his pedigree and obvious talent, wide-ranging success has not been his. Perhaps things would be different if his name weren't Frank Sinatra Jr.

After 32 years of building what is arguably one of the world's largest collections of Frank Sinatra records, tapes and memorabilia, pop music fanatic Ric Ross finally got the one item money can't buy--a pat on the back from the man himself. "I'm certain that Ric Ross knows more about me than I do myself," the 72-year-old Sinatra said last week through a spokesman when asked about the man who professes to be his No. 1 fan. "I'm flattered by the attention he's shown my career."

Al Viola, a versatile guitarist best known for his long association with Frank Sinatra and his memorable mandolin playing on "The Godfather" soundtrack, has died. He was 87. Viola died of cancer Wednesday at his home in Studio City, said his wife, Glenna. Viola, who arrived in Los Angeles as a member of the Page Cavanaugh Trio after World War II, became a prominent member of the local recording-studio scene.

Frank Sinatra and his ol' blue eyes turn 80 on Tuesday. And ABC is pulling out all the stops: "Frank Sinatra: 80 Years My Way" is a two-hour gala birthday party the network is airing Thursday. Taped Nov. 19 at the Shrine Auditorium, "My Way" features such performers as Tony Bennett, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Bono, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Salt-N-Peppa and Hootie and the Blowfish paying tribute to the Chairman of the Board.

After 32 years of building what is arguably one of the world's largest collections of Frank Sinatra records, tapes and memorabilia, pop music fanatic Ric Ross finally got the one item money can't buy--a pat on the back from the man himself. "I'm certain that Ric Ross knows more about me than I do myself," the 72-year-old Sinatra said last week through a spokesman when asked about the man who professes to be his No. 1 fan. "I'm flattered by the attention he's shown my career."

The Spice Girls earned three awards and beat out such heavyweights as U2 and the Wallflowers for best pop-rock group Monday night at the American Music Awards, while country group Alabama won its 20th award. "Thanks to all the fans, all the years," said Randy Owen, as Alabama picked up its award for favorite country band, duo or group. The Spice Girls swept the pop-rock category, being named favorite new artists and winning favorite album for "Spice."