Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert Sinatra entered the world on the 12th of December 1915 inside a tenement building at 415 Monroe Street in Hoboken, New Jersey. His mother Natalina Garaventa came from Genoa while his father Antonino Martino Sinatra hailed from Sicily. The newborn weighed only five pounds and required forceps to be delivered, leaving severe scarring across his left cheek, neck, and ear. A lifelong eardrum injury resulted from this difficult birth process. His grandmother resuscitated him by running cold water over his body until he gasped for air. This early trauma shaped the personality of a man who would later become known as Ol' Blue Eyes.
Sinatra began singing professionally as a teenager without ever learning to read music. He joined a local group called the 3 Flashes in 1935 after his mother persuaded them to accept him. Baritone Fred Tamburro admitted they took him on because he owned a car and could chauffeur the group. The group became known as the Hoboken Four and won first prize on Major Bowes Amateur Hour with 40,000 votes. They earned $12.50 each and secured a six-month contract performing across the United States. In March 1939, saxophone player Frank Mane arranged for him to record Our Love, his first solo studio recording. Harry James signed him to a two-year contract paying $75 a week in June 1939. Sinatra released From the Bottom of My Heart that July but sold no more than 8,000 copies.
The phenomenon officially known as Sinatramania erupted after his legendary opening at New York's Paramount Theatre on the 30th of December 1942. Jack Benny later recalled thinking the building was going to cave in from the commotion caused by teenage girls. Within weeks, approximately 1,000 fan clubs had formed across the United States. Fans wrote song titles on their clothing and bribed hotel maids for opportunities to touch his bed. Some stole his bow tie while he slept. Columbia Records re-released All or Nothing at All which reached number 2 on June 2 and stayed on best-selling lists for 18 weeks. By late 1943, he ranked higher than Bing Crosby in DownBeat magazine polls. His publicist George Evans cultivated an image of a vulnerable Italian-American who made good against all odds.
Sinatra turned to Las Vegas after his popularity plummeted following divorce and career decline in early 1951. He made his debut at the Desert Inn performing to half-filled houses in September 1951. At Chez Paree in Chicago only 150 people attended a concert in a venue holding 1,200 seats. Financial difficulties forced him to borrow $200,000 from Columbia to pay back taxes. MCA refused to front money so he needed external help. The Desert Inn became his new home base where he performed three times yearly starting the 4th of October 1953. Jack Entratter invited him to play there and later Sinatra acquired a share in the hotel. This residency marked the beginning of his remarkable career revival that would last decades.
On the 13th of March 1953, Sinatra met Capitol Records vice president Alan Livingston and signed a seven-year recording contract. His first session with arranger Nelson Riddle took place at KHJ studios on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. After hearing I've Got the World on a String, Sinatra exclaimed Beautiful! Then he declared I'm back baby I'm back upon listening to playback. Songs for Young Lovers released the 4th of January 1954 included A Foggy Day and My Funny Valentine. Swing Easy! named Album of the Year by Billboard featured Just One of Those Things and Get Happy. In 1955, In the Wee Small Hours became his first concept album making a single persuasive statement about melancholy mood. Songs for Swingin' Lovers released March 1956 contained I've Got You Under My Skin which reportedly required 22 takes to perfect.
Sinatra grew discontented with Capitol and feuded with Alan Livingston over six months before forming Reprise Records. He promised artists creative control and eventual complete ownership of their work including publishing rights. The company later sold for an estimated $80 million. Ring-a-Ding-Ding! released February 1961 peaked at number 4 on Billboard charts. Sinatra-Basie collaboration that same year prompted them to rejoin two years later for It Might as Well Be Swing arranged by Quincy Jones. September of My Years released September 1965 won Grammy Award for best album of the year. Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim became one of the best-selling albums behind Beatles Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Paul Anka wrote My Kind of Town nominated for Academy Award Best Original Song in 1964.
The film From Here to Eternity released August 1953 marked the start of his remarkable career revival. Tom Santopietro noted he buried himself in work with unparalleled frenetic schedule of recordings movies and concerts. Sinatra won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this role in 1953. He starred in The Man with the Golden Arm 1955 and The Manchurian Candidate 1962. Musical appearances included On the Town 1949 Guys and Dolls 1955 High Society 1956 and Pal Joey 1957 which earned him a Golden Globe Award. Tony Rome 1967 featured him playing detectives toward end of his career. The Detective 1968 carried the same title character theme. He received Cecil B. DeMille Award from Golden Globes in 1971 recognizing lifetime achievement.
Sinatra retired the 2nd of November 1970 after recording last songs for Reprise Records before self-imposed break. He announced retirement June following concert in Hollywood raising money for Motion Picture TV Relief Fund. President Richard Nixon asked him to perform at Young Voters Rally the 20th of October 1972 singing My Kind of Town. He came out of short-lived retirement January 1974 performing at Sahara Hotel Las Vegas then Caesars Palace. His voice coarsened losing power but audiences remained captivated by immutable magic. In 1982 he signed three-year $16 million deal with Golden Nugget of Las Vegas. Final public concerts held December 19-20, 1994 inside Fukuoka Dome Japan. He sang last time the 25th of February 1995 before live audience of 1,200 select guests at Palm Desert Marriott Ballroom closing Frank Sinatra Desert Classic golf tournament. Sinatra died the 14th of May 1998 leaving behind estimated 150 million record sales globally.
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Common questions
When and where was Frank Sinatra born?
Francis Albert Sinatra entered the world on the 12th of December 1915 inside a tenement building at 415 Monroe Street in Hoboken, New Jersey. His mother Natalina Garaventa came from Genoa while his father Antonino Martino Sinatra hailed from Sicily.
How did Frank Sinatra start his professional singing career?
Sinatra began singing professionally as a teenager without ever learning to read music. He joined a local group called the 3 Flashes in 1935 after his mother persuaded them to accept him.
What caused Sinatramania to erupt officially?
The phenomenon officially known as Sinatramania erupted after his legendary opening at New York's Paramount Theatre on the 30th of December 1942. Within weeks approximately 1,000 fan clubs had formed across the United States.
Why did Frank Sinatra move to Las Vegas in 1951?
Sinatra turned to Las Vegas after his popularity plummeted following divorce and career decline in early 1951. Financial difficulties forced him to borrow $200,000 from Columbia to pay back taxes before he made his debut at the Desert Inn performing to half-filled houses in September 1951.
When did Frank Sinatra sign with Capitol Records and what happened next?
On the 13th of March 1953 Sinatra met Capitol Records vice president Alan Livingston and signed a seven-year recording contract. His first session with arranger Nelson Riddle took place at KHJ studios on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.
How many record sales did Frank Sinatra leave behind globally upon death?
Frank Sinatra died the 14th of May 1998 leaving behind estimated 150 million record sales globally. He sang last time the 25th of February 1995 before live audience of 1,200 select guests at Palm Desert Marriott Ballroom closing Frank Sinatra Desert Classic golf tournament.