Emanuel "Manie" Sacks (January 30, 1902 – February 9, 1958) was an American music and television executive who worked for Columbia Records, RCA Victor and NBC. He worked closely with artists such as George Burns, Jack Benny, Dinah Shore, Harry James and others. In 1942, Sacks helped start Frank Sinatra's solo career and became a close friend.

Sacks grew up in Philadelphia. He enrolled in Pennsylvania Military Preparatory School (PMPS) in 1918 and became a cadet in 1920. He played on the football team and graduated class of 1924. Sacks briefly worked for his father's company as a clothing salesman but left to go into the entertainment business.^[1]

Sacks worked at WCAU in Philadelphia in public relations and as head of the Artists Bureau.^[2][3] In 1936, he left to become an agent for the Music Corporation of America in New York City. He booked appearances for celebrities and tended to personal and professional issues.^[1] While at MCA, Sacks met and became friends with Jack Benny. He worked at MCA for seven years.^[2]

In 1942, Sacks helped Sinatra get out of his contract with Tommy Dorsey. In return, Sinatra signed with Columbia.^[6][7] The two became close friends. In a CBS television tribute, Sinatra said, "There’s a little bit of Manie in everything good that has ever happened to me … Whenever I was in trouble and needed help, I yelled for Manie."^[3]

Sinatra also said of Sacks, "At my time of life I look back, and I can count on the fingers of one hand the people who were true friends. Manie and his brother Lester were two of those. They never tried to exploit me."^[1]

When Sacks found out he had leukemia (at 52 years old), he only told his family and Sinatra. Sinatra flew to Philadelphia to be with Sacks the day before he died.^[8]

Sacks was never married.^[1] In addition to his close friendship with Sinatra, he was close friends with businessman John B. Kelly Sr. Kelly considered Sacks part of the family.^[9] Sacks was president of Beth Israel Synagogue in Philadelphia and on the board of directors of the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. He was also a trustee of the Pennsylvania Military College. In 1953, he was named Philadelphia's Man of the Year.^[2]

After his death, NBC aired a 90-minute telecast in honor of Sacks. Performers included Bob Hope, Sid Caesar, Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Jack Webb, Betty Grable, Nat King Cole, and Perry Como.^[10][11] The performers all worked for union minimum so the excess (over $200,000) could be donated to the Emanuel Sacks Foundation.^[12]

In 1959, the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia dedicated the Emanuel Sacks Hematology Department in his honor.^[13]