Frank Sinatra

  • Name: Frank Sinatra
  • Date of Birth: December 12, 1915
  • Place of Birth: Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
Mini-bio: Whether he was called "The Voice," "Ol' Blue Eyes," or "The Chairman of the Board," Frank Sinatra's nicknames all conveyed the adulation and respect reserved for a man who was commonly thought of as t... read morehe best American popular singer of the 20th century. Sinatra's voice, whether manifested in song or spoken word, caressed the ears of many a listener for more than five decades. Sinatra's legacy -- countless songs and more than 70 films -- continue to ensure him the kind of popularity that has reached beyond the grave to elevate him past the status of mere icon to that of cultural institution.Born Francis Albert Sinatra on December 12, 1915, Sinatra grew up poor in Hoboken, NJ. After working for a newspaper, he organized the Hoboken Four, a singing group. He got his first break when he won first prize on radio's "Major Bowes Amateur Hour," and went on to perform in nightclubs and on radio. Sinatra then landed the job of vocalist with the Harry James band, and later switched to Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. It was during his tenure with Dorsey's group that Sinatra made his first two films in uncredited roles as a singer in the bands in Las Vegas Nights (1941) and Ship Ahoy (1942). In 1942, Sinatra's attempt to become a solo artist met with great success, especially in the hearts, minds, and ears of many American women and girls, who flocked to his performances with a fervor that would be replicated two decades later with the arrival of the Beatles. Soon, Sinatra was the "dream-date" idol of millions of American girls and, for several years, was enormously popular on-stage in addition to other venues, including radio, records, and nightclubs. To complement his popularity as a singer, Sinatra began acting, playing in a number of light musical films throughout the '40s. His first real acting role came in Higher and Higher (1943); other notable movies from this period in his career included Take Me out to the Ballgame (1949), co-starring Gene Kelly and Esther Williams, and On the Town, also made in 1949 and co-starring Kelly, who co-directed the picture with Stanley Donen. Sinatra suffered a career setback in 1952 when his vocal cords hemorrhaged and he was dropped by MCA, the monolithic talent agency. Having established a shaky screen career, he fought back and landed the role of Angelo Maggio in From Here to Eternity (1953) after begging Columbia for the part and then agreeing to take it for a mere 8,000 dollars. His performance won him the 1954 Best Supporting Actor Oscar and a Golden Globe, and, in the process, resuscitated his faltering career. Sinatra appeared in several more movies in the '50s, receiving a 1956 Best Actor Oscar nomination and a British Academy Award (BAFTA) for his portrayal of a drug addict in The Man with the Golden Arm (1955). In addition, he took home a Golden Globe for his performance in Pal Joey (1957). Soon Sinatra was back on top as a performer, earning the nickname "The Chairman of the Board." Sinatra continued to do frequent film work, making a screen appearance with his Rat Pack colleagues Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop in Ocean's Eleven (1960). Most notably, Sinatra gave a subtle, troubled portrayal of the haunted Captain Bennett Marco in John Frankenheimer's Cold War classic The Manchurian Candidate. His last role was as an aging detective in The First Deadly Sin (1980). Sinatra also appeared on various television shows during the '80s and went on to have hit records as late as the early '90s. His four wives included actresses Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow, and he fathered actor/singers Frank Sinatra Jr. and Nancy Sinatra, as well as another daughter, Tina. Sinatra died of a heart attack on May 14, 1998, in Los Angeles. He is buried in Palm Springs, CA. ~ Rovi
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Frank Sinatra Wiki Profile

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Frank Sinatra mini-bio:
flixster.actor.pane.162667517 - flixsterThough he is remembered mainly as an singer rather than an actor, Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra gave many memorable performances. Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey under two Italian immigrants, Natalie Della Garaventa and Antonio Martino Sinatra. Antonio, or Marty, was the captain of The Hoboken Fire Department. Natalie was an influential woman in the neighborhood, she also ran an underground abortion business. She was arrested numerous times for this, and convicted twice.

In his yound age Sinatra worked as a delivery boy for The Jersey Observer and also as a riveter at The Tietjan and Lang shipyard. Frank had a passion for music and listened to Big Band jazz. When he turned eight Frank sang for tips at local Hoboken bars.

Frankie's start was with the The Three Flashes, his mother convinced them to let Frank join. When he joined they renamed themselves The Hoboken Four. They appeared on Major Bowe's Amateur Hour and accumulated 40,000 votes, winning them the first prize, a six month contract to let them perform on stage and radio around the United States. In late 1935 Sinatra returned home and his mother secured him a job as a singing waiter at the Rustic Cabin in New Jersey, he would be paid $15.00 a week.

On March 18, 1939 he made a demo recording with the Frank Mane band. He signed his name on the front of it, which the band leader kept in his safe for 60 years! Harry James hired Frank for a year contract at $75 a week. He recorded his first commercial single, titled "From The Bottom of My Heart" in June 1939. Less than 8,000 copies were sold, making it a rare and collectible find. He then recorded "All or Nothing At All" which sold little, but was re-released during his popularity. When re-realsed it stayed on the charts for 18 weeks.

In November 1939 Tommy Dorsey offered Frank a chance to sing for his band. Being one of the most popular bands of the time this was a large point in Frank's career, and James realized this, releasing Frank from his contract. January 26, 1940 was their first performance. They made over 40 songs in the first year and "I'll Never Smile Again" reached number one for twelve weeks. He also became married to his first wife Nancy Barbato. In 1940, their daughter Nancy was born.

Sinatra left the band in late 1942, starting rumors that Frank was involved with the Mafia. It was said that Sam Giancana paid Tommy a few thousand dollars to let Sinatra out of his contract, which was later fictionalized in The Godfather .

In 1941 Frank was at the top of the singing charts, appealing especially to teenage girls. This was revolutionary due to the fact that at the time music was made for adults. On December 31, 1942 Sinatra did a legendary opening, causing about 35,000 fans that were not allowed in to almost start rioting. On June 1, 1943 Sinatra signed with Columbia Records. He did nine songs with The Bob Tucker singers, seven of which charted at the top.

During World War II Frank was classified 4F(not able to serve in the military) due to a perforated eardrum near his draftboard. Later in his life this would cause him grief, columnist Walter Winchell claimed that Sinatra had paid $40,000 to not be drafted. No evidence of this was found by the FBI.

In 1944 Frank Jr. was born. In 1945 Sinatra co starred with Gene Kelly in the movie Anchors Aweigh. The same year he starred in a short film directed by Mervyn Leroy, The House I Live In. This film spoke of racial equality, earning the cast and crew an Academy Award and special Golden Globe for "Promoting Good Will". In 1946 he relesed his first album The Voice of Frank Sinatra, and owned his own radio show. At the end of 1948 Frank felt that his career was slowing, he appeared in Down Beat's top singers list at number 4. A better wind took his career up when he co-starred again with Gene Kelly in Take Me Out To The Ball Game. Then again starred with Gene in On The Town. This year also saw the birth of his daughter Christina.

After not singing for two years Sinatra returned to the stage in Hartford Connecticut January 12, 1950. His vocal chords began to hemorrhage. As he went into his mid 30's Sinatra began to lose the appeal of teenagers. In February 1951 he walked in Times Square, past the Paramount Theatre where he used to perform. Eddie Fisher's name was in big lights on top, and teenage girls waited outside screaming his name. This made Frank's fears realized that his career was dying. He went home and laid his head on the stove. His friend came to his home to see him crying on the floor, saying he was a such a failure he could not even commit suicide.

September 1951 saw his Las Vegas debut at The Desert Inn and his second season of The Frank Sinatra Show aired. He was also married to Ava Gardner. His personality was not found to be working with people at home and he was dropped in 1952 by Columbia.

Sinatra's career found rebirth in the Pearl Harbor drama From Here To Eternity in 1953. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 1953 Frank starred in the NBC TV show Rocky Fortune. It went from 1953-1954. In the last months of the show before the Oscars Frank would make a joke of saying "From Here To Eternity" each episode to remind people of his Oscar winning performance. Frank signed with the record company Capitol Records. By the end of the year Billboard magazine made his song "Young At Heart" song of the year. Swing Easy! with Nelson Riddle, also with Capitol, was named album of the year. Frank was also given the top male vocalist of the year by Billboard. He had a string of many other number one hits that year and the years following.

Through the 1950's Frank critisized rock and roll saying it was "sung, played, and written for the most part by cretinous goons. It manages to be the martial music of every sideburned delinquent on the face of earth". The 60's started for Sinatra like the 50's with a string of hit albums. He grew tired of Capitol Records and created Reprise Records. His fourth and final Timex TV special was at this time It's Nice To Go Travelling. Ironically Elvis appeared on the show, whom Sinatra had just been criticizing. Later to keep up with the times Frank would cover hits by rockers like Elvis(Love Me Tender) or The Beatles(Yesterday). Sinatra then starred in Ocean's 11.

Frank felt bad for African Americans and worked to help them with equal rights. He played a charity show at Carnegie Hall for Martin Luther King Jr. and he and his "rat pack" boycotted hotels that disallowed black patrons. He would repeatedly play shows on the benefit of Martin. According to his son Martin was weeping as Frank sung 'Ol Man River, a song from the musical Show Boat, sung by an African American.

In 1962 he starred in The Manchurian Candidate with Janet Leigh and Laurence Harvey. Sinatra's first live album was recorded in 1966, Sinatra At The Sands. In 1965 Frank, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. played a concert in benefit of the Dismas House. Released in August 1965 winning the album of the year grammy was September of My Years. A career anthology A Man and His Music was released, getting another best album Grammy. The TV special Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music won him an Emmy and a Peabody Award. In Spring That's Life reached the top of the charts. Strangers In The Night reached the top of the charts, winning Record of The Year at the Grammys. In 1966 he married Mia farrow. In 1967 Sinatra did a duet with his daughter Nancy, "Somethin' Stupid", topping the charts.

Also in the late 60's Frank's agent Lee Solters would invite columnists with their wives into the dressing room before performances. The New Yorker told the story of how the first colomnist that went for The Philadelphia News went. Frank kissed his wife on the cheek and she fainted as he did.

On June 13, 1971 after a concert in Hollywood to raise money for the Motion Picture and TV relief fund Frank announce the retirement of his 36 year career. In 1973 Frank set off with the album 'Ol Blue Eyes Is Back, reaching number 11. The album was highlighted with the TV broadcast Send In The Clowns, which starred Gene Kelly. Barbara Marx became his wife in 1976. In 1979 in front of the pyramids of Egypt Frank celebrated his 64th birthday along with 40 years in his career. He was awarded The Grammy Trustees Award.

In 1980 Frankie released his first album in six years Trilogy: Past, Present, and Future. A triple album debuting at 13 that covered rock songs of the past and present, along with some Frank Sinatra songs. Frank revisited his Capitol years with She Shot Me Down, critically acclaimed album that was vintage Sinatra. In 1983 he was one of five people to earn the Kennedy Center Honors.

In 1990 Frank celebrated his 75th birthday with a national tour and performed for the final time with Ella Fitzgerald. Although at times in his later concerts his memory could fail him, and a fall on the stage foreshadowed further issues. His final public shows were held in Fukuoka Dome in Japan, Esquire said the show was clear and amazing. In the 1994 Grammys Frank was awarded The Legend Award,

In 1995 to celebrate Frank's 80th birthday the Empire State Building glowed blue, and birthday signs were held in the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. He performed the last lines of his song New York, New York with an ensemble, this was his last televised performance. In 1997 he was elected into the Gaming Hall of Fame.

Frank died of a heart attack at the age of 82 in 1998 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Bill Clinton led the world's tribute to Sinatra.

VITAL STATS

Frank Sinatra Information:
Eye color:Blue
Height:5'7"
Nickname(s):Chairman Of The Board; Ol' Blue Eyes
Notable feature(s): Blue Eyes, good singing voice
Education: Did not finish high school
Family: Mother:Natalie Della Garaventa
Father: Antonio Martino Sinatra
Three Children: Nancy, Frank Jr., and Tina.
Wives: Nancy Barbato (1939-1951), Ava Gardner(1951-1957), Mia Farrow(1966-1968), Barbara Marx(1976-1998)
Resides in: Unavailable
Religious affiliations: Raised Catholic
Political affiliation: Democratic until 1977, then Republican
Personal interests/hobbies: Singing
Charities/Causes: Did shows benefitting Martin Luther King Jr.
Boycotted hotels against black rights
Other:



Last update: Jun 27 2011, 12:15 PM EDT by kman1759 (content history
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