Kitty Kelley and Friends Toast Sinatra’s 100th Birthday


Author Kitty Kelley celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of America’s greatest crooner by signing copies of her reissused 1986 book, “His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra,” with hundreds of her friends Dec. 9 at Ristorante i Ricchi on 19th Street NW.

“Who would’ve thought that we’d be here tonight celebrating the 100th birthday of Frank Sinatra?” said Kelley, who added that she was sued by the singer before she’d written a word. “The day he hit me with his $2 million lawsuit was the day I fully understood what the First Amendment was all about.” Writers’ and journalists’ groups stepped up to support her.

“For me, the best part of tonight is that the life story of a man with only 47 days of education before he dropped out of high school in Hoboken, New Jersey, will benefit Reading is Fundamental,” said Kelley, raising her champagne glass to toast both Ol’ Eyes and the First Amendment.

Chef Christianne Ricchi chose Italian immigrant food as light fare, ranging from sausages, mozzarella sticks to meatballs in spaghetti nests. And, yes, Sinatra dropped that lawsuit.

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