Some years ago, I took Mom on a cruise. One night Mom and I went to a piano bar on the ship where this older fella played all the pre- and post-World War II hits and people could sing along. I must have been the youngest person in the audience. During his break, the piano player came over to us and marveled that I, being so young, could sing along to this music that was way before my time. I told him I grew up on that music.
On the other hand, while my friends went nuts over the Beatles, I was totally indifferent. Never thought they were good looking or that their music was all that wonderful. Don't get me wrong — I love rock, but the Beatles just aren't for me.
My mom was a member of the RCA Victor club. A new 78 every month. Rosemary Clooney, Eddie Fisher, Patti Page are some I remember. We always had music in the house. I remember when she told me about Nat King Cole’s tv show being cancelled. The first time I every heard of racial bias.
I too am a child of the sixties. I did not begin to appreciate Sinatra until a few years ago when I started listening to the recordings that Sinatra made in the 1950’s with the Nelson Riddle orchestra.