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Growing up in an Italian American household in Ohio, Dr. Gil Gigliotti said he always had an awareness of who Frank Sinatra was. However, it wasn’t until the late 1970s when Dr. Gigliotti developed a lifelong love and appreciation for the singer, actor, and political activist.
This passion for the artist known as The Chairman of the Board saw Dr. Gigliotti launch the radio program "Frank, Gil & Friends" at Central’s station WFCS-FM on Dec. 17, 1993. The show will air a program from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, celebrating its 30th anniversary that will include an interview with Central President Dr. Zulma R. Toro.
It was during his time as a student at Xavier University that Dr. Gigliotti truly discovered the music of Frank Sinatra.
“I sort of came across him in 1977, ’78 when I was working in a chili parlor in Cincinnati,” he said, adding that a record store opened across the street, and he went there to see what the shop had to offer.
“Sinatra hadn’t recorded in a couple of years at that time. Well, I was looking through the male vocalists’ section and found 'Frank Sinatra’s Greatest Hits Volume I' for $1.99,” Dr. Gigliotti said. “I bought it and brought it home and played it. The song that really did it for me was 'The Coffee Song,' which is subtitled 'They’ve Got and Awful Lot of Coffee in Brazil,' and I fell in love with it.”
While Dr. Gigliotti loves the music of Sinatra and his contemporaries, he said his interest, teaching, and radio program cover much more of Sinatra’s life and his contributions to society.
“We talk about his films, politics, anything related to Sinatra on the radio program. I’ll also play soundtrack cuts from his dramatic films,” he said. “It really is wide ranging when you look at the impact he had across the 20th century. From music to movie to politics, he made a tremendous mark on our society.”
An early supporter of the civil rights movement, Dr. Gigliotti said Sinatra started as a President Franklin Roosevelt New Deal Democrat but became a supporter of the more conservative President John F. Kennedy. He also performed for the Italian president during the Republican President Richard Nixon administration and was friendly with President Ronald Regan.
“I guess the key is that Sinatra is a figure that reflects a lot about the 20th century in America,” he said. “His evolution (in politics) reflects what happened in America. He was very active in promoting religious and racial tolerance in the ‘40s. He was a strong supporter of JFK, and while his daughter Nancy said he was never a supporter of Regan’s policies, he liked the guy.”
The making of a hit
Dr. Gigliotti was hired at Central in 1992 and was still a non-tenured professor a year later when he approached the radio station’s then general manager about starting a program celebrating the music, artistry, and influence of Frank Sinatra.
That general manager, Ann Marie White, said Dr. Gigliotti approached her with an unusual proposal.
“Gil approached me requesting to have ‘An Alternative Sinatra Show.’ I had to ask him to explain more to me (about) his vision, and while I was not sure (about the program), what I was sure of was the passion and excitement that Dr. Gigliotti had for radio and for Sinatra,” White said. “To me that was, and still is, the most important element of its success. I said ‘YES!’ and the rest is history!”
Dr. Gigliotti said he is grateful that White took a chance on his proposal for the radio show. While he does not have a way of verifying how many people listen to the program or have over the years, he said he knows it has had an international impact.
“I recently went to a Sinatra conference in Milan, and people there knew about the show,” he said.
One local listener, Alfred Masciocchi of West Hartford, said he discovered "Frank, Gil & Friends" in 1999.
“I loved it immediately. One selfish reason — it has no commercials,” he said. “More than that though is how Gil mixes it up. All random Frank songs, all Frank songs within a theme, all songs that mention Frank, songs seemingly having nothing to do with Frank (or anything else for that matter), songs by a certain composer, interviews, etc. The non-Frank content (i.e., the Friends portion) is significant but never so much that you think, 'Wait a minute! Isn't this a Sinatra show?’"
Masciocchi said, “Another great thing about his show is that Gil gives a lot of background about the Sinatra songs (composers, arrangers, recording dates, albums, etc.). He maintains his role as a teacher on the show. All of that — the variety, the background, and Gil's personality — are why I think the show endures.”
In addition to his role as radio host, Dr. Gigliotti has served as the faculty advisor to the student club that runs the radio station, WFCS. Student station Development Director Justin Hall said Dr. Gigliotti serves as an inspiration and mentor to the students in the club.
“Dr. Gigliotti is one of the nicest professors on campus and is extremely knowledgeable about Frank Sinatra! Gil is an incredible faculty advisor who genuinely cares for the success and wellbeing of the radio station, and this care is reflected in his unending dedication to helping WFCS prosper,” Hall said.
As for how long he anticipates "Frank, Gil & Friends" continuing, Dr. Gigliotti said only time will tell.
“I would foresee doing this until I retire. Why not?” he asked. “If you asked me in 1993 how long the program would last, I’d say ‘I don’t know.’ The only reason I can see to stop is if I couldn’t do it anymore. It kind of depends on when and if I retire.”
The 30th anniversary broadcast of "Frank, Gil & Friends" airs from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on WFCS 107.7 FM on Tuesday, Dec. 12.
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Gil Gigliotti kicks off his 30th anniversary radio show on WFCS on Dec. 12 (Photo by John Henninger)