Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Sinatra Speaks

José Sinatra is a good-time party and music man around town, first as front man for the former José Sinatra and Troy Dante Band and now as host of the “O.B.-oke” at Winstons, which draws a large crowd every Sunday night with singing, games, and door prizes.

His new ensemble is the José Sinatra Love Muscle, now in rehearsal and getting ready for gigs. He also sings with Superbad, a James Brown tribute band. “People are always amazed at my uncanny resemblance to James Brown,” he says. He’s been recording in San Diego and Los Angeles for an upcoming CD, Moonlight Sinatra.

José is a flamboyant stage persona of Bill Richardson’s in the same vein as Andy Kaufmann’s Tony Clifton, the quirky and abusive lounge singer — or, in José Sinatra’s mind, Wayne Newton. “For years I have been convinced that Wayne Newton is really a woman,” he says, noting the difference in voice and style of the Vegas performer’s early years as compared to today. “Someday the truth will come out.”

SEXIEST LOCAL PERFORMER?

“Besides myself, I will honestly say a lovely girl named Ashley who brings down the house when she sings at O.B.-oke. She wins the prizes, and so help me Rhonda, I dream of giving [the prize] to her.”

Sponsored
Sponsored

FAVORITE QUOTE?

“‘In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida, baybah/ Doncha know that ah luv you?/ In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida, hunah/ Doncha know that ah hallways beeuah tru-hoo?’ An old song by, I think, Jeremy Irons and the Butterflies [Iron Bufferfly]. Not only does it seem to predict everything that has happened since its 1968 release, it continues to touch me every day in a very private place.”

GUILTY PLEASURE?

“Watching Grey’s Anatomy Thursday nights with a similarly devoted group of female friends. If the episode is really inspiring, we’ll play ‘doctor’ as soon as it’s over.”

IF YOU COULD HAVE LUNCH WITH ANYONE…

“Anyone and everyone’s okay with me, as long as they’re paying and not named ‘Britney.’ ”

WHAT DID YOU DO PROM NIGHT

“Went up to New York to hang out with some friends at the Biltmore who were acting in Hair. Jim Rado [cowriter of Hair] came with me to my high school graduation in Maryland that following week. His coauthor Gerry Ragni wanted to marry me. Everyone who actually did go to the prom is now dead.”

TOP FIVE ALBUMS?

1. Grin, 1+1. “Nobody’s ever done passion like Nils Lofgren does on the final track, ‘Soft Fun.’ I’ve never been able to make out all the words, and I’ve never cared. It is monstrous and moving.”

2. Richard Harris, My Boy. “A revealing, autobiographical album Richard Harris made in 1971 concerning love, marriage, birth, estrangement. His voice is perfect, the arrangements are beautiful, the songs and story are haunting.”

3. Georges Delerue’s 30 Ans de Musique de Film. “Ken Russell called him ‘the greatest film composer who ever lived.’ I agree, and might even delete the word ‘film.’ ”

4. The Raspberries — Greatest Hits. “Sometimes Eric Carmen sounds more like Paul McCartney than Paul McCartney ever did, and he can write melodies that have the tenacity of herpes.”

5. Abbey Road. “The Beatles’ last album. No one seems to realize that all the voices on ‘Because’ were done by John Lennon. I’ve just recorded my own version — doing everything — with slightly altered lyrics that, to my mind, better reflect our world 39 years later. I call it ‘Because (Your Hole Is Brown).’”

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT: REAL OR IMAGINED?

“I have only to wake up each morning and look in the mirror for it to happen all over again.”

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Celebrate Holi, Borrego Springs Music Festival

Events March 23-March 27, 2024
Next Article

Not enough Readers in Mission Beach

Mayor Todd Gloria's skin color

José Sinatra is a good-time party and music man around town, first as front man for the former José Sinatra and Troy Dante Band and now as host of the “O.B.-oke” at Winstons, which draws a large crowd every Sunday night with singing, games, and door prizes.

His new ensemble is the José Sinatra Love Muscle, now in rehearsal and getting ready for gigs. He also sings with Superbad, a James Brown tribute band. “People are always amazed at my uncanny resemblance to James Brown,” he says. He’s been recording in San Diego and Los Angeles for an upcoming CD, Moonlight Sinatra.

José is a flamboyant stage persona of Bill Richardson’s in the same vein as Andy Kaufmann’s Tony Clifton, the quirky and abusive lounge singer — or, in José Sinatra’s mind, Wayne Newton. “For years I have been convinced that Wayne Newton is really a woman,” he says, noting the difference in voice and style of the Vegas performer’s early years as compared to today. “Someday the truth will come out.”

SEXIEST LOCAL PERFORMER?

“Besides myself, I will honestly say a lovely girl named Ashley who brings down the house when she sings at O.B.-oke. She wins the prizes, and so help me Rhonda, I dream of giving [the prize] to her.”

Sponsored
Sponsored

FAVORITE QUOTE?

“‘In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida, baybah/ Doncha know that ah luv you?/ In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida, hunah/ Doncha know that ah hallways beeuah tru-hoo?’ An old song by, I think, Jeremy Irons and the Butterflies [Iron Bufferfly]. Not only does it seem to predict everything that has happened since its 1968 release, it continues to touch me every day in a very private place.”

GUILTY PLEASURE?

“Watching Grey’s Anatomy Thursday nights with a similarly devoted group of female friends. If the episode is really inspiring, we’ll play ‘doctor’ as soon as it’s over.”

IF YOU COULD HAVE LUNCH WITH ANYONE…

“Anyone and everyone’s okay with me, as long as they’re paying and not named ‘Britney.’ ”

WHAT DID YOU DO PROM NIGHT

“Went up to New York to hang out with some friends at the Biltmore who were acting in Hair. Jim Rado [cowriter of Hair] came with me to my high school graduation in Maryland that following week. His coauthor Gerry Ragni wanted to marry me. Everyone who actually did go to the prom is now dead.”

TOP FIVE ALBUMS?

1. Grin, 1+1. “Nobody’s ever done passion like Nils Lofgren does on the final track, ‘Soft Fun.’ I’ve never been able to make out all the words, and I’ve never cared. It is monstrous and moving.”

2. Richard Harris, My Boy. “A revealing, autobiographical album Richard Harris made in 1971 concerning love, marriage, birth, estrangement. His voice is perfect, the arrangements are beautiful, the songs and story are haunting.”

3. Georges Delerue’s 30 Ans de Musique de Film. “Ken Russell called him ‘the greatest film composer who ever lived.’ I agree, and might even delete the word ‘film.’ ”

4. The Raspberries — Greatest Hits. “Sometimes Eric Carmen sounds more like Paul McCartney than Paul McCartney ever did, and he can write melodies that have the tenacity of herpes.”

5. Abbey Road. “The Beatles’ last album. No one seems to realize that all the voices on ‘Because’ were done by John Lennon. I’ve just recorded my own version — doing everything — with slightly altered lyrics that, to my mind, better reflect our world 39 years later. I call it ‘Because (Your Hole Is Brown).’”

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT: REAL OR IMAGINED?

“I have only to wake up each morning and look in the mirror for it to happen all over again.”

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Gilbert Castellanos, Buddha Trixie, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Shane Hall, Brian Jones Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival

Grand Socials, gigs, and record releases in Del Mar, City Heights, Solana Beach, Little Italy, and Ocean Beach
Next Article

A poem for March by Joseph O’Brien

“March’s Lovely Asymptotes”
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.