HAD Sinatra stayed away from the booze and the broads - and the many, many bottles of Jack Daniels he consumed in his lifetime - he’d perhaps have lived to be 100 on December 15.

But while we can only remember Old Blue Eyes as one of the greatest singers ever to have graced a stage, we can still wallow in his music.

And we can enjoy the performance of his songs from someone who sounds as if he could indeed have grown up in New Jersey, married a lady called Nancy - and wowed Vegas.

Iain Mackenzie lives in London as it happens, but he is the real deal.

Iain is set to star in the Sinatra Centenary which celebrates the success of Frank Sinatra with a concert of songs and music.

But how did this young man with the Scottish grandparents come to find Francis Albert?

“I used to watch Elvis movies on Saturday mornings,” Iain recalls.

“And then aged seven I bought my first Elvis album, for a pound, the US Male.

“And because I’d found this record it inspired me to look through my mum’s record collection to see what older material was worth listening to.

“I came across three Sinatra albums, Come Dance With Me, Ring a Ding Ding and the Sinatra/Basie studio album.”

Iain was ‘knocked out’ by the singing and by the arrangements.

“He just sounded so cool, and I couldn’t get enough of this sound.”

All of this sounds incredible. Kids of that age, at that time, were more likely listening to Mr Blobby Records.

“Absolutely. It was odd for a kid to be into jazz music.

“But I loved all forms of music and went through all sorts of experimentation growing up. At one time, I was listening to prog rock and even AC/DC and Adam and the Ants.”

Iain however always returned to jazz.

“And it’s been my love ever since. Meanwhile, I had connected with Sinatra in the films as well, and it all adds to the glamour.”

Frank Sinatra’s initial breakthrough came with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, then going solo in the forties.

His appeal to young girls helped fuel his incredible success story.

But then in the early fifties Frank crashed and burned, thanks to an ill-fated relationship with film star Ava Gardner.

At one point his currency was so low he found himself touring Britain’s smaller theatres, and he even performed at the Ayr Gaiety.

It was all a far cry away from the Sands in Vegas.

However, Sinatra managed to land himself a career defining Oscar-winning role in war movie From Here To Eternity.

And from that point, his popularity soared – and continued across decades.

Classic he recorded such as The Lady Is A Tramp, Fly Me To The Moon and I’ve Got You Under My Skin have proved to be timeless.

Iain certainly didn’t grow up with a Hollywood, or even a New Jersey background.

“My early years were spent in Trindad and Tobago, thanks to my father’s job as a computer engineer,” he says, smiling.

“Then we came back to live in Hertfordshire.”

As a schoolboy he became a chorister and realised he wanted a career in music.

“I’d been playing blues piano and so I studied jazz piano, doing a Jazz degree at Leeds.

“But after a year I realised I was a better singer than I was a piano player.”

Playing Sinatra songs began when Iain left college and performed on the Pizza Express circuit.

“I’d go in and play piano and sing for four hours, and get a pizza and a beer.

“I’d just play the standards one after another. And I’d do three or four a week.

“It was demanding, but a great way of learning hundreds of songs. And you find the songs that really work for you.”

Iain went on become lead vocalist with Ronnie Scott’s orchestra at the famous jazz club in London.

“To sing with a big band is the dream,” he says.

However the performer, who has appeared with Susan Boyle on tour and worked with Sandie Shaw, Joss Stone and Mica Paris, says he doesn’t try to imitate Sinatra.

“I think that would cheapen the performance,” he admits.

“People say I have some of the same colours as Sinatra in my voice.

“And I use similar phrasing. But I think that’s just because I’ve absorbed it through osmosis.

“It’s just come from listening to him so many times.”

Scots fans will find out as Iain sings the Sinatra greats and a range of Christmas favourites including White Christmas and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

“It’s a dream to appearing in Glasgow,” he says, “and at Christmas time. And singing Sinatra songs. It doesn’t get much better.”

• The Sinatra Centenary Concert, the Royal Concert Hall, December 21.