Frankie Aka Frank Joseph Lisbona Randall

Frankie Randall, aka Frank Joseph Lisbona, 76 passed away December 28, 2014 at JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio, California surrounded by the love of his life for the past 12 years, Melinda Read, close family and his pastor.

Frankie is survived by his children Lisa Renee Denicola, Frank Joseph Lisbona, Jr., Laura Devon Lisbona and Ava Dawn Lisbona, his grandchildren Joseph Denicola and Victoria Lisbona. His sister Grace Elaine Lisbona-Bober and his brother-in-law Joseph Bober as well as a number of cousins, nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents Grace and Joseph George Lisbona and his son Joseph Henry Lisbona. He and Melinda have one son, Francuzzo, a loving and kind pet who they adopted from the streets of Italy 7 years ago.

Frankie was a child prodigy and started playing piano at the age of 7 where he preformed and began singing all over New Jersey and the surrounding area. He graduated from Clifton High School, Clifton, New Jersey and Fairleigh Dickinson University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, Philosophy and Business.
His show business career got off the launching pad when Jilly Rizzo discovered him at his club "Jilly's" in New York City. Jilly had an eye for exceptional talent and quickly made Frankie the featured performer at his late night hang out that was Frank Sinatra's favorite nightclub. With a great talent for piano and singing, Mr. Sinatra got Frankie his first recording contract with RCA and bookings in major Las Vegas showrooms. He appeared on all of the talk/variety TV shows of their heyday including the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, and a regular on the Dean Martin Summer Show. He also sang the theme songs for the popular TV shows Flipper and Bewitched.

His first starring role on the big screen was in "Wild on the Beach" which also introduced the new singing duo of Sonny and Cher. He also starred in "The Day of the Wolves".

Tony Orlando once said to Frank Sinatra, "Everyone listens to you, so who do you listen to?" Mr. Sinatra responded by saying "My favorite singer is Frankie Randall, because he crossed the "T's" and dots the "I's" when he sings. Frankie had remarkable phrasing and delivery of everything he sang.
Frankie also excelled in the business side of entertainment. Steve Wynn hired him as Entertainment Director for his hotels which ultimately lead to the position of Vice President of The Golden Nugget and Bally's Hotels. He booked every big name in the entertainment industry for almost 10 years. He was dearly loved by all of the major entertainers of the day and will be sorely missed.

After he resigned from the hotels, he went back to his first love singing, playing piano all over the world and creating new orchestrations of the Great American Songbook. Many shows were a tribute to Frank Sinatra who he considered a mentor. It is a little known fact that 2 years before Mr. Sinatra passed away he gave Frankie a large portion of his arrangements, because he knew that Frankie would carry on his music and vocal stylings.
Barbara and Frank Sinatra were very close friends and Mrs. Sinatra paid tribute to Frankie in the book she wrote 4 years ago "Lady Blue Eyes - My Life with Frank Sinatra".

Frankie received his Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in May 2001 and was inducted into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame in October, 2002. In 2013, on the occasion of his 75th birthday he performed with the Desert Symphony at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, CA. He brought the house down. The Desert Symphony presented him with their Amadeus Award that evening. The award was given to him in recognition of his great musical talent and outstanding achievements in the advancement of the musical arts.

Frankie loved his family, friends and fans.

Funeral Services for Frankie Randall will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, January 10th, 2015, Desert Springs Church, 43435 Monterey Avenue (1/2 block North of Park View Drive), Palm Desert, California. The Funeral Service will be followed by a brief graveside service at Desert Memorial Park, 31705 Da Vall Drive, Cathedral City, California.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center, American Diabetes Association, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Wounded Warriors Project or The Desert Symphony.

Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Cathedral City, CA.