By Jerry Pearce

The year 1976 marks an interesting footnote in the history of Francis Albert Sinatra. In addition to other high-profile musical moments that transpired (including his reunion of former partners Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis on the latter’s annual MDA Telethon, as well as his bicentennial performance of “The House I Live In” in Washington D.C.), this year was also notable thanks to his memorable, if not frequent performances with another legendary figure of music, folk and country artist John Denver. A rare occurrence in Sinatra’s career, his collaborations with Denver are counted amongst the few times that Sinatra shared equal billing with an artist of relative popularity, a limited group that includes his Rat Pack cronies Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, JR., as well as Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Shirley MacLaine, and the team of Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme.