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By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Guy Steele researches material for his Frank Sinatra
radio program, which he prepares and records in his
home, while a Sinatra and Gene Kelly movie plays
in the background.

Sinatra under his
skin, on the air

Sinatra: The Man and The Music: 9 p.m. Mondays, Hawaii Public Radio, KIPO 89.3

---

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

Whether you're a Frank Sinatra fan or not, his memory and music remains popular even after his death two years ago. That evidence can be heard on dozens of radio stations throughout the mainland where programs dedicate an hour or more a week to playing only songs sung by the "Chairman of the Board."

If you didn't know, Hawaii is part of that trend. Since 1998 Guy Steele's weekly show, "Sinatra: The Man and The Music," has chronicled the singer's life through recordings, anecdotes and interviews with friends and co-workers Mondays on Hawaii Public Radio.

Steele, who works for a brokerage firm, spends about 25 hours a week preparing for the show, including time spent on research, writing the script, and recording the program in his Kaneohe home.

"It's a lot of work and no pay ... but it's a passion for me," Steele said. "I'm fulfilling a dream."

Steele's fascination with Sinatra began in the '70s during his college days in Oregon.

"I was in the record section of a department store and bought a double Sinatra LP for just the song "When You're Smilin'," said Steele, who had heard the tune sung by other singers.

At the time, he considered Sinatra's music to be strictly for "old fogeys."

"But an inner voice told me to play the record again, but this time listen," he said.

The first song Steele listened to was "I've Got You Under My Skin."

"Three minutes and 20 seconds later I was hooked on Frank."

Since then, Steele has collected every album Sinatra recorded, including television and live performances -- more than 60 --and memorabilia.

"His death was my catalyst," said Steele who approached HPR with a sample tape after several other stations had passed on the idea.

The program features Sinatra recordings, many of his radio, television and concert performances, and interviews with people who knew and worked with him, including Billy May, Al Viola, Cy Coleman, Tony Mattola and Jo Stafford.

So far, Steele has completed nearly 100 shows covering the Sinatra years through 1956.

"When I get to the end I may simply start over again or maybe restructure the show," he said. "In my mind it'll never end."

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