The Rat Pack

The swaggering epitome of sharp, macho, 1960s cool, Frank Sinatra's gang of entertainers were the iconic kings of the Las Vegas strip, making movies, putting on concerts and causing a stir wherever they went. Originally named by Lauren Bacall - who described her husband Humphrey Bogart and his bedraggled friends returning from a heavy night out as looking like "a goddamn rat pack" - it was Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop who became the definitive clan after Bogart's death, and really drew the attention of the press. Their friendship led to them starring together in the films Ocean's 11 (1960), 4 For Texas (1963) and Robin and the Seven Hoods (1964); but it was the performances of Sinatra, Davis and Martin in the casinos that cemented their legend. Renowned for their heavy drinking, womanising, extreme partying and alleged links to the mafia, the trio put on variety shows at the Sands Hotel and drew in crowds of celebrities and high rollers, but they never actually recorded a studio album together. It wasn't until years later that their live recordings were gathered into the albums The Summit: In Concert (1999), Live At The Sands (2001), From Vegas To St Louis (2003) and numerous other compilations, and their style, ad-libbed showmanship and incredible charisma was really captured and preserved.

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