Frank Sinatra

Early Life

With more than 150 million records sold worldwide and 13 Grammy Awards to his name, Frank Sinatra is one of the most influential and popular musical artists of the 20th century.

Francis Albert Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey. He was the only child of Italian immigrants, Natalina “Dolly” Garaventa and Antonino Martino “Marty” Sinatra.

Sinatra was raised in a Catholic home. At a young age, Sinatra developed an interest in music, particularly big band jazz and listened to Gene Austin, Rudy Vallée, Russ Colombo, and Bob Eberly while idolizing Bing Crosby.

During his 15th birthday, his uncle Domenico gave him a ukulele, with which he performed at family gatherings.

Growing up in a rough neighborhood, Sinatra developed a strong work ethic and determination to succeed.

Education

Sinatra briefly attended David E. Rue Jr. High School from 1928, and A. J. Demarest High School before he left without graduating.

On the insistence of his mother, he enrolled at Drake Business School, but departed after 11 months.

Career

Sinatra began his musical career as a teenager, singing at local clubs and events. He joined the Hoboken Four, a vocal group, and later performed with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey’s big bands.

It wasn’t until he broke out as a solo artist in 1942 that he achieved unprecedented success as a teen idol attracting millions of fans.

Sinatra reinvented himself in the mid-1950s as a more mature and sophisticated performer, recording some of his most acclaimed albums such as Wee Small Hours, Songs for Swinging’, and Lovers! Etc.

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.

Sinatra was a staunch Democratic supporter and he supported Democratic candidates such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy. He was also associated with several mafia figures such as Sam Giancana, Lucky Luciano, and Meyer Lanky.

Sinatra’s popularity declined in the late 1960s and early 1970s due to severe competition from younger artists such as the Beatles and Elvis Presley. He initially retired in 1971 but came back two years later with the album Ol’ Blue Eyes Is Back.

Sinatra continued to record and perform until the early 1990s and he released his final album, Duets II, in 1994.

Personal Life

Sinatra might have been a great musician but he was terrible with family and relationship, especially with women.

At first, Sinatra was married to Nancy Sinatra (née Barbato) from 1939 to 1951. While the marriage lasted, the couple had three children together, Nancy (born 1940), Frank Jr. (1944–2016), and Tina (born 1948).

Sinatra and his wife, Nancy divorced in 1951 due to extramarital affairs from Sinatra. The details of this affair was publicly published in gossip magazines involving women like Marilyn Maxwell, Lana Turner, Joi Lansing, and Marilyn Monroe.

After all that drama, Sinatra later married to Hollywood actress Ava Gardner from 1951 to 1957. This particular marriage was full of chaos and tribulations. Sinatra and Gardner even had fights that went out of control and were published in the public.

After all said and done, Sinatra and Gardner later divorced in 1957 after they separated first in 1953. The duo continued to be good friends after their divorce.

After this second divorce, Sinatra was involved in a series of relationships with numerous high-profile women. In 1966, Sinatra briefly married Mia Farrow but divorced in 1968.

Later in 1976, He married Barbara Marx and remained married to her until his death.

Generally, Sinatra was involved with numerous women. So, it’s safe he was a womanizer.

Sinatra’s style and personality was another interesting thing that stood out for him. And huge junk of his money went into lavish spending on fashion and appearances.

During the final years of his life, Sinatra was in ill health and was frequently hospitalized for heart and breathing problems, high blood pressure, pneumonia, and bladder cancer. Sinatra passed away in 1998 due to a heart attack.

Sinatra’s life was marked by his incredible talent, hard work, and a relentless drive to succeed. He left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry and is still celebrated today.