HOBOKEN, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A Hoboken hometown celebration will honor Frank Sinatra's 106th birthday on Sunday with the unveiling of a lifesize bronze statue of "Ol' Blue Eyes" at the Sinatra Park Amphitheater.
For internationally renowned sculptor Carolyn D. Palmer, the year-long project has become her favorite sculpture in her over 25-year career and an honor to have been asked to celebrate the Hoboken icon.
Sinatra died in May 1998 at the age of 82 in Los Angeles.
"It has meant a lot to be because I feel like there's so many different parts to Frank Sinatra," she said. "He's like a kaleidoscope of our emotions, our feelings ...[With his 'That's Life' lyrics] 'I've been up and down and all around' and so I think people can relate to that. I enjoyed working on this piece because I got to know a lot more about him as a person and his life."
The star-studded event, which will begin at 1 p.m. will be emceed by former "Saturday Night Live" cast member and radio talk show host Joe Piscopo, who portrayed Sinatra in the 1980's and include performances by the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts and Christopher Macchi.
Hoboken city officials, along with friends and family of the hit-singer and actor, including Sinatra's daughter, Tina, are also expected to attend.
Palmer, who received attention for creating a replacement statue of Lucille Ball in 2016, said she wanted to highlight Sinatra's "soul."
"We can all relate. I portrayed him at the height of his career where he was happy, cocky, proud — smiling. [His] music lifted people up and people loved his rhythm, his voice ... with Frank, I sort of felt I put more emotion and more soul into him."