Library Pays Tribute to The Rat Pack

The music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., came alive for a short time Saturday afternoon as the Montville Township Public Library presented a tribute to the music of the Rat Pack.

Singer Van Martin, a New York native who grew up on the music of the famed trio, entertained about 50 people gathered in the library's Pio Costa Auditorium for the hour-long program. Martin, who now lives in Bergen County, brought back the memories of a forgotten era, a time of the big popular nightclubs, smoke-filled cocktail lounges and large Las Vegas theatres where Sinatra, Martin and Davis -- who along with actor Peter Lawford and comedian Joey Bishop were known as the Rat Pack -- ruled in the 1950s and '60s.

 Martin, no relation to Dean Martin, began his program with "I've Got You Under My Skin," the 1936 Cole Poprter classic that was a huge hit for Sinatra in 1956. That was followed by Dean Martin's signature song, "Everybody Loves Somebody."

Also included in the program was Davis' only million-seller, "Candy Man," from the original film version of "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." Songs by non-Rat Packers were also part of the program, including Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" and Louis Prima's "Just a Gigolo."

Between songs, Martin kept the audience laughing with anecdotes and some jokes, a few of which did not go over too well with the audience.

"That joke would have been funny if Don Rickles told it," Martin said after one less popular joke.

Martin closed his program with Sinatra's "New York, New York" and a rendition of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America."

"This brought back memories," said Sally Regan of Montville. "I remember when I was a teenager going to the clubs in New York to see Sinatra. My friends and I would skip school to see him."

Nina McElwee of Lincoln Park grew up in the age of hard rock, but said she loves the easy listening sounds of Sinatra, Martin, et al.

 "Every night at dinner my children and I listen to their music," she said, referring to her 10-year-old daughter Cheri and eight-year-old son Charlie, who were both in attendance. "They love this music."

 Noting the advancing age of the Sinatra/Martin generation, McElwee said, such music needs to be preserved by the younger generation.

"If not, it's gone forever," McElwee said.

Martin grew up in the 1960s and admits to being a fan of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and the like, but said the music he performs had an early impact on his youth.

"My mother was a performer and she loved Sammy Davis, we listened to his music all the time," Martin said. "That really had an effect on me."

Martin has been peforming the Rat Pack Tribute his entire adult life.

"I've never had another job," he said. "I began doing this at high school dances when I was 15 and have been doing it ever since, for 35 years."

At one time, Martin did play the big resorts like Vegas and Atlantic City, and also performed his act on cruise ships. These days, however, he stays closer to home, mostly performing as a one-man act, but sometimes bringing in an orchestra.

"That's when I can afford it," he said.

He performs at about 250 events every year and also teaches guitar to supplement his income.

"This (the tribute) is pretty much my job," Martin said.