Nancy Sinatra took to Instagram over the weekend to honor her special friend and music legend, Pat Boone, as he celebrated his 91st birthday on June 1. The 83-year-old pop icon posted a warm message, wishing Pat Boone a happy birthday and expressing her love for him.
The post included a snapshot of the two music legends sitting side by side and received many loving comments from their longtime fans. Some also mentioned that both stars previously lived in New Jersey; Nancy in Hasbrouck Heights and Pat in Teaneck, creating an extra sense of familiarity for fans who followed their journey.
Nancy Sinatra wishes Pat Boone a happy 91st birthday
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Frank Sinatra’s daughter, Nancy, is well known for the hit song “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,” while Pat Boone rose to fame in the ’50s and ’60s with popular cover songs such as “Ain’t That a Shame” and “I Almost Lost My Mind.”
Both performers began their careers in the same era and shared a polished image in common that resonated with mainstream American tastes of their time. Fans recall their paths crossing at various events and on television specials over the years.
A complicated music industry history
Despite his success, Pat Boone’s musical legacy is sometimes viewed as controversial. Critics point out that Boone’s covers of R&B songs by Black artists often achieved greater mainstream chart success and airplay than the original versions. This was because of the discrimination on racial grounds in the music business at the time, limiting Black artists from accessing mainstream radio. For example, his cover versions of songs like “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally” were top pop chart hits, whereas original Little Richard songs had to go further lengths to achieve similar success.
Regardless, Boone is still admired for his work in the entertainment world. He even appeared in a number of hit movies, such as April Love and Journey to the Center of the Earth, that contributed to the pop culture of the ’50s.