“The best is yet to come.” These words decorate the legendary Frank Sinatra’s grave as he's buried with a bottle of Jack Daniels, a pack of Camels and a Zippo lighter.
Frank Sinatra ready to perform in the recording studio.
In Hoboken, New Jersey, on December 12, 1915, Sinatra was born into an Italian American household. Sinatra began singing at a young age. However, it wasn’t until his teen years that he started doing it professionally. At first, his parents were skeptical about their son singing, but when they realized he had real talent, they eased up.
As a Jazz icon, Sinatra released 59 studio albums and well over 1,300 songs. He won nine Grammy’s and was the first person to receive the Academy’s most prestigious Grammy, “Album of the Year Award,” two times. Then, he became the first to win it three times.
Starring in over 30 movies, he was eventually able to win an Oscar for the movie From Here to Eternity in the category of best supporting actor. Being a triple threat, Sinatra knew how to dance and was taught by Gene Kelly, another famous actor and dancer at the time.
During their first movie together, Anchors Aweigh, both men had tap sequences together and Kelly oversaw directing all its dance portions. Instead of scrutinizing Sinatra for his poor skill, he decided to help, and the movie was better off because of it.
Three Emmy nominations also follow his name for two TV specials produced by CBS and NBC. Plus, one for Best Male Singer. Finishing the EGOT line up, Sinatra was never nominated for a Tony Award but, he did host the 9th annual ceremony.
Heading back to music, Sinatra stated that most of his inspiration came from the White Christmas singer, Bing Crosby, and it's clear from the way he sings down to his choice of lyrics. Being in the spotlight means that Sinatra was also surrounded by other influential figures like Elvis Presley, Tony Oppedisano and members of the Rat Pack.
The Rat Pack was an informal band/production group consisting of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop and Frank Sinatra himself. Because Lawford was John F. Kennedy’s brother-in-law, they also had a huge impact during his campaign and helped steer votes in his liking.
During this time, he also faced many controversies with the connections he had in organized crime rings. Although Sinatra has outright denied any relationship with the mob, he was public friends with well-known Mafia figures like Sam Giancana.
In this era, he managed to get a series of nicknames all dedicated to a key point about him. “Ol Blue Eyes” made a direct comment to his piercing blue-eyed stare, and “The Voice” made reference to his most powerful tool of influence and power. “Chairman of the Board” was given to him when he opened his own record labor and took a leadership position of command.
Overall, his career spanned six decades. With his first song “Love is Just Around the Corner” being released in 1934, to his final performance on February 25,1995. Sinatra was also given a presidential medal of freedom along with Mother Theresa by Ronald Regan because he “achieved the hardest of all things to achieve in life, something that will last and endure and take on a life of its own.”
As a result of the surgeons using forceps to remove him at birth, which left scars on his cheek, neck and ear, Sinatra enjoyed an uninterrupted career. Additionally, it caused his left eardrum to rupture, which prevented him from being enlisted in World War II.
During his last years of life, Sinatra was riddled with high blood pressure, pneumonia and other health related problems that contributed to his untimely passing. Three years after his final performance on May 14, 1998, Sinatra died of a heart attack in a hospital in Los Angeles with his wife by his side.
Rolling Stone may not have him listed in the top 200 musicians but to the common people he is a jazz sensation. Even now, years later, his music is making a comeback thanks to platforms such as TikTok.
Photo by Pixabay.com
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