The Man Who Styled the Chairman: The Joe Paris Story
Get ready to ride shotgun on a rollicking Rat Pack adventure with the one and only Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra. In his new memoir, “Hairman of the Board,” Sinatra’s longtime friend and personal hairstylist, Joseph Paris, offers an intimate and unprecedented glimpse into the world of the legendary entertainer.
Paris’s journey began in the rough-and-tumble streets of Brooklyn, where a young Joey Guarnera, after a fateful encounter with an Easter lamb, ditched his family’s butcher shop and reinvented himself as Joseph Paris, celebrity hairstylist. Fate intervened in 1962 when he met Sinatra, who immediately took a liking to him. Paris was welcomed into Sinatra’s inner circle, remaining a trusted confidant for decades.
Steve Buscemi and Joe Paris
“I was very often the first person to see him at the beginning of his day (afternoon time) and the last to see him at night,” says Paris.
“Hairman of the Board” is more than just a celebrity tell-all; it’s a front-row seat to Sinatra’s life, from intimate moments to hell-raising escapades. Paris shares stories of:
- Sinatra’s legendary mood swings: Witness the Chairman’s impatience on the set of his final film, “First Deadly Sin.”
- Rat Pack shenanigans: Relive the glory days of Jilly’s in New York and the Vegas antics with Sinatra’s legendary crew.
- Global adventures: Travel the world with Sinatra, from his Palm Springs home to concert stages across the globe.
- Unexpected encounters: Babysit Dean Martin at the Reagan Inaugural gala, and stand guard for Sinatra’s family.
- Celebrity clashes: Show the Righteous Brothers the door for encroaching on Sinatra’s steam room at the Sands Hotel.
- Royal detours: While briefly estranged from Sinatra, Paris finds himself styling Barbra Streisand’s hair for a Kennedy Center telecast and accepting an invitation from the King of Morocco to join a lavish royal hunt.
Paris’s memoir is packed with never-before-seen photos and fresh Sinatra stories, making it a must-read for any fan of the Chairman. It’s a wild ride through the golden age of Hollywood, filled with music, laughter, and unforgettable encounters with icons like Elvis Presley and a host of film and music legends.
As Joseph Paris himself puts it, “Amazing where a comb can take you.”
Get your copy at Joe’s site: https://hairmanoftheboard.com/