PEOPLE have marked milestones in their lives to songs made famous by the Chairman of the Board.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Frank Sinatra, one of the best-loved singers and entertainers of all time.

Now Frank Sinatra Junior, 71, is returning to England with a full orchestra to perform a tribute concert to his father, who died in 1998, filled with classic songs.

As well as performing the hits, he will be sharing more secrets about his father’s life on and off the stage when he performs at Manchester’s Bridgwater Hall this summer.

“I want to put the legend aside and talk about the person, the man who was my father and a very good one,” said Frank Jnr.

“There was always a lot of chatter about his life; gossip and untruths. The more embellishments about dad’s public life, the more he withdrew to his private world.

“I want to address some of that tittle-tattle, tell his fans in the UK – who were always loyal and devoted to dad – what he was really like.”

His anecdotes will include behind-the-scenes tales of Sinatra’s life and career.

“They will learn things that will surprise them, things that happened in dad’s life at different periods of time that are extraordinary.

“ This has never been part of the entertainment side of Frank Sinatra before.

“Now we are not only dealing about the music; we are dealing about the man.”

While putting his own career on hold, in 1988, at his father’s request, Frank Jnr served as a conductor and musical director for his father’s final years of live performing, earning him the respect of those in the audience for the devotion and skill he brought to the job.

His father told him he was the only person he could trust to keep quiet about the toll old age was taking on him.

“I moved heaven and earth to disguise the physical failures that were taking him by degrees year by year..”

Frank Jnr admits he barely saw his father growing up and was never allowed to be part of Sinatra’s entertainment life.

If Rat Pack pals Dean Martin or Sammy Davis Junior turned up at the family home he would be packed off to bed.

Frank Jnr said: “I would see them periodically but I was never close to any of them.

“I was living a little boy’s life, concentrating on growing up.

“Like all parents he wanted the best for his children. My father was very strict, but he was fair.

“However, I didn’t really get to know dad until I was in my 40s.”

Frank Jnr admits he gets very emotional when he sings his dad’s songs from yesteryear.

“I can feel the tears welling up sometimes when I hold the microphone on stage and people shout for those beautiful songs that made dad famous.”

n Frank Sinatra Junior, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Saturday, June 27. Details from 0161 907 9000.