Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, two of the greatest legends of popular entertainment and voices of all time, had a rocky start to their relationship.

Sinatra was the established star, while Elvis was the young pretender.

In the mid-1950s, Sinatra was surprisingly horrified by the hysteria generated by Elvis, denouncing his “degenerate and phony music sung by cretinous goons.”

Sinatra said of Elvis in 1957: “Only time will tell.

“They said I was a freak when I first hit, but I’m still around.

“Presley has no training at all.

“When he goes into something serious, a bigger kind of singing, we’ll find out if he is a singer.

“He has a natural, animalistic talent.”

However, years later, Elvis was a guest of honor on a special edition of Sinatra’s TV show, which celebrated his US return from military service in Germany.

A mutual respect grew between the two men, and they became friends.

By the late 1960s, both found themselves at the center of the Las Vegas show scene, along with Tom Jones, who was headlining his own show there.

Years later, Jones’ publicity man, friend, and journalist Chris Hitchens revealed a candid conversation where Sinatra confessed he had tried to save Elvis.

The King had been admitted to the hospital in August 1975, with liver problems exacerbated by his heavy drug use.

Friends and family were starting to worry about him, which prompted an extraordinary intervention from his fellow star.

Sinatra told Jones and Hitchens: “When I called the hospital in Memphis, the girl on the switchboard asked: Who’s calling?’ and when I replied: ‘Frank Sinatra,” I fully expected her to say: ‘Oh, yeah, and I’m the Queen of England”’ or some such dumb line.

But she must have recognized my voice because, a few seconds later, Elvis came on the line.

“I told him he’s got to look after himself and quit fooling around.

“He’s too young to die, and I told him so.”

Elvis, according to everyone around him, could not be persuaded to change his behavior, despite frequent declarations that he would.

Exactly two years later, Elvis was found dead in his bathroom at Graceland.

He was only 42.

When he heard the news, Sinatra said: “There have been many accolades uttered about Elvis’ talent and performances through the years, all of which I agree with wholeheartedly.

“I shall miss him dearly as a friend.

“He was a warm, considerate, and generous man.”

Back in the 1940s, Old Blue Eyes had effectively been the first pop star, with hordes of screaming women at his shows, known as bobby soxers.

But he was critical of Elvis’ rock and roll, calling it “the most brutal, ugly, degenerate, vicious form of expression it has been my displeasure to hear.”

He added, “It fosters almost totally negative and destructive reactions in young people. It smells phony and false.”

Many believed Sinatra was forced to allow the new hotshot on his show.

Still, a mutual respect grew between the two men.

When Elvis appeared on his TV special in 1960, Sinatra introduced him as “an artist who has preserved the heritage of the American Negro by giving his voice to their songs.”

In his later years, Sinatra would reflect on their relationship, saying: “I admire the man.

He has a great sense of humor, he has wonderful pride about his work, and he adores his family.”

Sinatra saw a little of himself in Elvis, adding: “I remember in my day, it was Sinatra bobby sox and Elvis Presley blue suede shoes. It was an era that will never come back.”

Despite their initial differences, Sinatra and Elvis became friends and enjoyed each other’s company.

Sinatra’s attempt to save Elvis from his destructive behavior and drug use was a testament to the bond between them.

Despite their differences and rocky start, Sinatra cared for Elvis as a friend and fellow entertainer.

He saw the potential in Elvis and recognized his talent, just as he had been recognized for his talent decades before.