Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra: The Voice of a Century

Frank Sinatra was one of the most influential and popular singers and actors of the 20th century. His remarkable voice, charismatic personality, and turbulent personal life made him a legend in American culture and beyond. He was born on December 12, 1915, in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants. His birth was a difficult one, as he weighed 13.5 pounds and had to be extracted with forceps, leaving scars on his face and neck. He grew up in a rough neighborhood, where he learned to fight and fend for himself. He was also influenced by his mother, who was a domineering and politically active woman, and his father, who was a tavern owner and a part-time boxer.

Sinatra developed a passion for music at an early age, especially after listening to the recordings of Bing Crosby. He dropped out of high school and began singing in local clubs and bars, where he attracted the attention of bandleaders and radio hosts. He got his first big break in 1939, when he joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra as a vocalist. He soon became a sensation among the young female fans, who were dubbed “bobby soxers”. He also met his first wife, Nancy Barbato, whom he married in 1939 and had three children with: Nancy, Frank Jr., and Tina.
However, Sinatra’s marriage was strained by his numerous affairs and his ambition to pursue a solo career. He left the Dorsey band in 1942 and signed with Columbia Records, where he achieved even greater success and fame. He also ventured into Hollywood, where he starred in musicals and dramas, such as Anchors Aweigh (1945), The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), and From Here to Eternity (1953), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also became involved with some of the most glamorous and controversial women of his time, such as Ava Gardner, Marilyn Monroe, and Lauren Bacall. He divorced Nancy in 1951 and married Gardner in 1953, but their relationship was tumultuous and ended in 1957. He later married Mia Farrow in 1966, but they divorced in 1968. His fourth and final marriage was to Barbara Marx in 1976, and they remained together until his death.

Sinatra’s career also had its ups and downs, as he faced competition from new musical genres, such as rock and roll, and criticism from the media and the public for his associations with the mafia and his political views. He also suffered from health problems, such as ulcers, hemorrhages, and heart attacks. However, he always managed to reinvent himself and come back stronger than ever. He founded his own record label, Reprise Records, in 1960, where he had more artistic freedom and control. He also formed the Rat Pack, a group of entertainers that included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop, who performed together in Las Vegas and made several films, such as Ocean’s 11 (1960) and Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964). He also collaborated with some of the best composers and arrangers of his era, such as Nelson Riddle, Billy May, and Quincy Jones, and recorded some of his most iconic songs, such as “My Way”, “New York, New York”, and “Strangers in the Night”. He also became a respected and influential figure in the music industry, winning numerous awards and honors, such as Grammys, Golden Globes, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also supported various causes and charities, such as civil rights, anti-drug campaigns, and the Israel Bonds.

Sinatra retired from performing in 1971, but he came back in 1973 with a new album, Ol’ Blue Eyes Is Back, and a televised concert, The Main Event. He continued to tour and record until the early 1990s, when his health and memory declined. He gave his last public performance in 1995, at the age of 79. He died on May 14, 1998, in Los Angeles, California, of a heart attack. He was buried with some of his personal items, such as a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, a pack of Camel cigarettes, and a Zippo lighter. He left behind a legacy of music, movies, and style that influenced generations of artists and fans. He was often hailed as the greatest American singer of the 20th century, and as the chairman of the board, the leader of the pack, and the voice of a century.