Exclusive Q&A with Frank Sinatra Boxed Set Producer Charles L. Granata & Associate Producer Martin Melucci
UPDATED with more photos
By Stephen K. Peeples
![Frank Sinatra, late 1940s. Courtesy Charles L. Granata/Keg Productions.](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-late-40s-granata-keg-prods.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Music fans worldwide celebrate the 100th anniversary of Frank Sinatra‘s birth on Dec. 12, 1915, and leading the centennial tributes is “Frank Sinatra: A Voice on Air,” a four-CD collection of “The Voice’s” rare and popular radio performances from 1935-1955.
Noted Sinatra expert, author, producer and broadcaster Charles L. (“Chuck”) Granata led a team of producers, researchers and engineers in compiling the package for Sony/Legacy. Among Granata’s collaborators was associate producer Martin Melucci, also a major Sinatra collector.
The production team started with ’40s- and ’50s-vintage disc source material Granata has been collecting for decades, then filled in the blanks with material from other Sinatra collectors.
The producers used a combination of the latest digital and vintage analog equipment and techniques to restore the discs.
The result is a theater-of-the-mind experience that puts the listener right into Sinatra’s studio audiences.
“Frank Sinatra was the first multimedia superstar.” – Charles L. Granata
Santa Clarita journalist Stephen K. Peeples spoke via Skype with East Coasters Granata and Melucci for nearly an hour in early December 2015. The in-depth conversation covered a lot of territory, about the monumental task of compiling and producing the boxed set specifically, and how critical radio was in various phases of his career.
Part 1 of the interview covers Radio’s Role in Sinatra’s Career. Part 2 looks at the Evolution of Sinatra’s Repertoire. Part 3 compares Sinatra on Radio & Records. Part 4 details how “A Voice on Air” is The Missing Link in Sinatra’s Catalog. Part 5 features deep Production Notes for Tech Geeks.
In Part 6, Granata and Melucci discuss ‘The Voice’s’ Voice over the years. Part 7 is about The Lost Sinatra & Les Paul Track – their one and only performance together. And in Part 8: Interview Wrap-up, we hear more about Sinatra’s legend and legacy.
Click the links below to watch the videos. Farther south you’ll find a selection of photos from the “A Voice on Air” production sessions, courtesy of Granata and Melucci.
Farther south you’ll find a selection of photos from the “A Voice on Air” production sessions, courtesy of Granata and Melucci.
Granata & Melucci Part 1: Radio’s Role in Sinatra’s Career
Granata & Melucci Part 2: Evolution of Sinatra’s Repertoire
Granata & Melucci Part 3: Sinatra on Radio & Records
Granata & Melucci Part 4: The Missing Link in Sinatra’s Catalog
Granata & Melucci Part 5: Production Notes for Tech Geeks
Granata & Melucci Part 6: ‘The Voice’s’ Voice
Granata & Melucci Part 7: The Lost Sinatra & Les Paul Track
Granata & Melucci Part 8: Interview Wrap-up
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![Chuck Granata and Andreas Meyer mastering “A Voice on Air.”](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-Chuck-Andreas.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![Setting up the McIntosh C8S tube phono preamplifier.](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-IMG_0001.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![McIntosh C8S closer up.](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-IMG_0002.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![sinatra-IMG_0004](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-IMG_0004.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![sinatra-IMG_0011](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-IMG_0011.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![sinatra-IMG_0018](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-IMG_0018.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![sinatra-IMG_0022](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-IMG_0022.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![sinatra-IMG_0024](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-IMG_0024.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![sinatra-IMG_0036](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-IMG_0036.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![sinatra-raised disc closeup](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-raised-disc-closeup.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![sinatra-session - Andreas Meyer](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-session-Andreas.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![sinatra-A Voice On Air - declick](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-A-Voice-On-Air-declick.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![sinatra-A Voice On Air - declick2](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-A-Voice-On-Air-declick2.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
![sinatra-andreas-martin](https://i0.wp.com/stephenkpeeples.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sinatra-andreas-martin.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
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Santa Clarita journalist and Grammy-nominated producer Stephen K. Peeples is a Santa Clarita Valley, California-based entertainment reporter for television station SCVTV and SCVNews.com, as well as radio station KHTS-AM 1220 and its website HometownStation.com. He was the award-winning writer-producer of “The Lost Lennon Tapes” radio series for Westwood One in 1988-1990. Peeples hosted and co-produced SCVTV’s WAVE-nominated “House Blend” music and interview show for five seasons, 2010-2015, creating 69 shows spotlighting local artists performing their original material. He also blogs at his personal site, https://stephenkpeeples.com.
Article: Frank Sinatra Centennial – ‘A Voice on Air’ Radio Collection
Category: News & Reviews
Author: Stephen K. Peeples
Article Source: StephenKPeeples.com