In the summer of 1969, the world was hit with the devastating news of the brutal murders of several high-profile persons by none other than the serial killer, Charles Manson, and his highly delusional followers. After the gruesome killings of actress Sharon Tate and four others, a full-scale investigation was launched, which uncovered a disturbing hit list, a collection of celebrities that were on Manson’s radar. Among them was Frank Sinatra, the legendary musician often referred to as Chairman of the Board.
In a recent interview, Sinatra’s hairdresser, Joseph Paris, who wrote a new memoir, Hairman of the Board, shared details about how the “It’s Funny to Everyone but Me” crooner reacted when he found out he was being targeted by the serial killer.
Frank Sinatra somehow made it onto Charles Manson’s hit list
Even with bodyguards and security gates he understood ultimately his well being might come down to being his own first responder.
Frank Sinatra armed himself after learning he was on Charles Manson’s hit list: book https://t.co/xhUhZPrCSS #FoxNews
— Brock Friedman (@FriedmanBrock) May 18, 2025
Speaking in an interview with Fox News Digital, Paris explained that the news broke out through a local newspaper that Sinatra and several other celebrities had made it to the list of people marked by Manson and his followers. He noted that the threat became more terrifying after the murder of the pregnant Sharon Tate, who was found dead with blood-written messages on the wall.
The hairdresser revealed that anyone on the hit list had legitimate reason to fear for their lives, being fully aware that a group of violent psychopaths was actively plotting against them. The seriousness of their challenge took a huge psychological toll on them as they all launched out, trying to figure out the best way out of their predicament.
Frank Sinatra doubled his security in the wake of Manson’s hit list
Paris noted that despite Sinatra’s seemingly tough persona, he did not take the threats for granted as he immediately took significant steps to ensure his safety.
The singer also acquired two Doberman Pinschers to guard his Los Angeles home and installed iron gates for added security. He also hired personal security to accompany him, often having an armed guard ride shotgun during his travels. Also, Sinatra carried a sleek, silver .38-caliber snub-nosed pistol, a gift he kept for self-defense, particularly during all of his public appearances.