In honor of Frank Sinatra's 100th birthday on December 12, Taschen is publishing a beautiful limited-edition version of Gay Talese's iconic 1966 Esquire story "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold." Among the book's highlights are images of the writer's trademark outlines scratched onto shirt boards.
Alongside Talese's piece are photographs by legendary photographer Phil Stern, who shot Sinatra on various occasions, though perhaps most notably at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy.
Frank Sinatra at John F. Kennedy's preinaugural gala rehearsal, Washington D.C., 1961
Phil Stern
"I knew it would be an historic occasion and I wanted to be in on it," said Stern about the image, "So I wrote a note to Frank on a file card and left it in his dressing room. It read something like: 'I'd like to photograph the inauguration. Check one of three boxes – fuck off, I'll think about it, or yes.'"
Taschen's "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold" is available now. And don't miss Gay Talese talking to David Brancaccio about growing up listening to Sinatra on our latest Esquire Classic podcast.
