YOU SEE, TO ME, SID MARK IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT. HIS LOVE OF RADIO, HIS LOVE OF PHILADELPHIA, AND HIS LOVE OF THE SKINNY, BLUE-EYED SINGER FROM HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY BY THE NAME OF FRANCIS ALBERT SINATRA. HE IS A PHENOMENON THAT SIMPLY DOES NOT EXIST ANYWHERE ELSE IN THIS COUNTRY, LET ALONE ON THIS PLANET.

THINK ABOUT IT. ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM TODAY LOVE RADIO. THOSE OF US IN ANY MUSICAL FORMAT GOT INTO THIS BECAUSE OF OUR PASSION ABOUT MUSIC WHATEVER KIND IT IS AND ITS MAGICAL ABILITY TO TRANSPORT US TO A BETTER PLACE, TO MOVE US AND KEEP US COMPANY THROUGH ALL OF LIFE'S CHANGING MOODS. NOW ADD IN THE MEDIUM OF RADIO AND THE IRREPLACEABLE VALUE OF A LIVE AND LOCAL HOST WHO CAN REFLECT THE UNIQUE RHYTHMS, THE HEARTBEATS OF A GREAT CITY LIKE OURS WHILE PRESENTING A SOUNDTRACK THAT GRABS US AND CARRIES US AWAY! THAT’S SIDNEY.

I'VE OFTEN MENTIONED THAT IN ENGLAND DJS OR MUSICAL HOSTS ARE KNOWN AS PRESENTERS. AND IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE YOU'RE “PRESENTING” NOT ONLY THE MUSIC BUT YOURSELF AS WELL TO YOUR LISTENERS, MUCH LIKE A FANTASTIC WAITER MIGHT SERVE A PHENOMINAL DISH AT A 5 STAR RESTAURANT. THAT'S SIDNEY. HE KNOWS EVERY ITEM ON THE SINATRA MENU AND PRESENTS IT TO US EACH WEEKEND WITH AN EFFORTLESS JOY THAT I CONTEND IS UNEQUALED ANYWHERE IN RADIO TODAY. AND AS FRANK HAS SAID FROM THE STAGE AT THE SPECTRUM WHILE INTRODUCING HIM TO THE PHILLY AUDIENCE,‘YOU PEOPLE ARE FORTUNATE, BECAUSE HE LIVES AMONG YOU'. YOU'RE RIGHT FRANK, WE ARE INDEED SO FORTUNATE!

NOW, CAN WE TALK DEDICATION? IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE THAT PASSION I WAS REFERRING TO EARLIER, BUT TO COMMIT YOUR ENTIRE RADIO CAREER TO CELEBRATING, TO SHARING, TO "PRESENTING" THE MUSIC OF JUST ONE MAN, WOW! 52 YEARS OF FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS, AND SUNDAYS WITH SINATRA. THAT'S REAL PASSION, THAT'S REAL DEDICATION, THAT'S REAL FRIENDSHIP IN THE TRUEST SENSE OF THE WORD. THAT'S SIDNEY! AND FRANK NEVER FORGOT THAT SID WAS THERE, AS A REAL FRIEND ALWAYS IS, IN BOTH GOOD TIMES AND BAD. WHEN IT WASN'T POPULAR OR HIP TO PLAY SINATRA SID NEVER FLAGGED IN HIS DEVOTION, IN HIS MISSION.

SID'S VISION HAS TURNED OUT TO BE THE CORRECT ONE. SINATRA NOW IS MORE POPULAR THAN EVER AND WILL REMAIN SO. FRANK, OF COURSE, WAS THE ORIGINAL ROCK STAR. LONG BEFORE THE GIRLS WERE SHRIEKING FOR ELVIS AND CHUCK BERRY OR SCREAMING FOR THE BEATLES AND THE STONES, THEY WERE SWOONING FOR “THE VOICE", FRANKIE. BOOZE, BROADS, CIGARETTES … NO NOT JIM MORRISON, BUT FRANKIE. A SELF ASSURED CHARISMATIC, IN-CONCERT SWAGGER … NOT MICK JAGGER, BUT FRANKIE. IN SID'S WORDS, “FRANK DOESN'T WALK ON STAGE, HE TAKES THE STAGE". AND OF COURSE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT AMAZING VOICE AND THOSE SPECTACULAR SONGS! SID KNEW IT ALL ALONG.

TO THE MANAGEMENT OF 1210 WPHT: YOU FOLKS ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE THIS GUY ON YOUR STATION. I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT ALREADY, BUT, SID, IF YOU EVER NEED TO MOVE ON I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME OVER TO‘MMR. THINK ABOUT IT. THE ORIGINAL ROCK STARS, SINATRA AND SID DOING FRIDAYS, AND SUNDAYS ON THE ORIGINAL ROCK STATION, MMR. WOW! PARAMEDICS TO THE GREATER MEDIA TABLE… WELL, I CAN SEE IT ANYWAY… AND THOSE LIVE SPOTS…

SID, LIKE THE GUY HE PLAYS EACH WEEKEND, DOES WHAT HE DOES WITH GRACE, AND WITH STYLE. UNLIKE SOME OF TODAY'S RADIO WHAT HE DOESN'T DO IS JUST AS IMPORTANT. HE DOESN'T SPEAK DOWN TO OR DEMEAN HIS LISTENERS, HE DOESN'T DWELL IN, AND HAS NEVER EVEN ENTERED THAT LOW BROW RADIO ARENA THAT SEEKS TO DIVIDE PEOPLE BASED ON DIFFERENCES LIKE RACE, RELIGION, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, NEIGHBORHOODS, MUSIC, ANYTHING. SID, LIKE SINATRA, IS A CLASS ACT. SID, LIKE SINATRA, BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER. I'VE OFTEN SAID, AND I REPEAT HERE TODAY, THAT IF IN THE COURSE OF MY ENTIRE CAREER I CAN POSSESS THE QUALITY AND DIGNITY THAT IS PRESENT IN EVEN ONE OF HIS RADIO SHOWS I WILL HAVE CONSIDERED MY RUN TO HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS. SID MARK IS MY HERO, I LOVE YOU MY FRIEND AND, AS WE ALL KNOW, SID – YOU ROCK!