Local radio personality looks back on her daysperforming the opening act for Frank Sinatra
By Cindy Fertsch
“His favorite color was orange and he liked blueberry candles to be burning in his dressing room ” says Lorry Young of Egg Harbor Township who performed as one of the opening act’s for Sinatra.
You might remember him as Ol’Blue eyes. Frank Sinatra, one of the most unforgettable and influential musical artists of the 20th century, still has strong ties to our area.
Lorry Young, a radio personality on News Talk 1400 WOND , performed as one of Sinatra’s opening acts at the Westbury Music Fair in New York.
The original Golden Nugget, more recently known as the Atlantic Club was a regular venue for Sinatra and Young.
“Frank Sinatra had a big generous heart,” says Young. “He often paid off people’s tabs or helped people financially, yet he always preferred to remain anonymous. He was also known for his whopping tips of $500 or more.“
Young also attended three of Sinatra’s Invitationals at his home in Palm Desert, California. Frank and Barbara Sinatra planned the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament annually. Some called it “Franks little party in the desert.”
Barbara and Frank Sinatra founded The Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational in 1988 to raise funds for the Barbara Sinatra Center for Abused Children at Eisenhower Medical Center. Since then, more than 18,000 children who have suffered from physical, sexual, and emotional abuses have been helped through the foundations efforts, and its supporters throughout the world.
Frank provided the celebrities and the gala and golf tournament attracted some of the biggest stars in the business. if Sinatra said you come! You came!! Celebrities form Joe Pesci to Robert Wagner, Robert Stack, Jill St. John, Frankie Avalon, Willie Nelson, Enzo Stuarti, Suzanne Somers, Sydney Poitier and many others to name a few.
Lorry and her former husband Bobby Young Musical Director at Steve Wynn’s Golden Nugget and Vice President of Entertainment at the Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard CT. were friends with Ol’ Blue eyes and when performing at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City or the Foxwoods Casino, dined with him and his wife Barbara, along with Don Rickles, his wife Barbara and other friends invited to dine with Sinatra. One of their favorite Italian Gourmet restaurants was in Steve Wynn’s Golden Nugget. The restaurant would section off a private part of the restaurant for Sinatra and friends to dine.
“Strangers called him Mr. Sinatra and his close friends called him Mr. S, but when speaking of Sinatra with respect, a close circle of friends among themselves, referred to him respectfully as “The old man,” laughed Young.
Young, an avid animal lover and advocate is the host of A “Pause” For Your Pet on News Talk 1400 WOND every Sunday from 12-2, appreciated Sinatra’s love of animals. She had two basset hounds at the time and brought her “girls” down to meet Mr S. in his dressing room at the Foxwoods Casino one day. “He stopped what he was doing immediately and got right on the floor with the dogs and fed them a pretzel,” Young recounts, then adds with a laugh, Mr Sinatra’s dogs King Charles Cavalier Spaniels, and were very loved and a bit overweight.”
Young is very modest about her celebrity days. Yet there is no doubt that she performed with the best of the best including Frank Sinatra, Don Rickles, Bob Newhart, Jay Leno, David Brenner, Alan King and many others. She recounts, even in his 80’s he was still a handsome man.. She can close her eyes and hear Sinatra’s voice. “Hi Doll,” he would say with those amazing Ol’ blue eyes smiling.
