Frank Sinatra

• Francis Albert Sinatra was born on Dec. 12, 1915.• Born in Hoboken, NJ• Only child of Sicilian immigrants

• His parents were very busy with their jobs so Frank was by himself a lot or with his grandmother Rose.• His father was a Firefighter• His mother was a midwife

• Frank was very popular with the other kids in school, but was not very good at school. Was often rowdy or played hooky.• Dropped out of high school and

never graduated• His parents were very

disappointed, hoping that he would be the family’s first college graduate

• Tried to find work in manual labor but wasn’t cut out for it. Would goof off or just quit the jobs.• He would sing anywhere he

could (social clubs, roadhouses, etc.)• In the summer of 1934 his family

was vacationing on the Jersey Shore and he met Nancy Rose Barbato

• Summer of 1935 went to see Bing Crosby with Nancy.• It was a night that changed his

life forever• "I was a big fan of Bing's. He was

the first real troubadour that any of us had heard. After seeing him that night, I knew I had to be a singer. But I never wanted to sing like him, because every kid on the block was boo-boo-booing like Crosby. My voice was up higher, and I said, 'That's not for me. I want to be a different kind of singer."'

• Sept. 8, 1935 auditioned for an appearance on Major Bowes and His Original Amateur Hour, a popular radio show broadcast nationwide on NBC from the stage of the Capitol Theater in New York• Tied with a trio of singers, so

they got together to become the Hoboken Four• They appeared in 2 film shorts

for Major Bowes• Toured the country for $50

apiece a week plus meals

• Feb. 4, 1939 married Nancy.• He gave her a recording of a

song dedicated to her, “Our Love”.• Also gave her a bag of jellybeans

with a diamond watch inside.• Nancy wore her sister’s wedding

dress and the ring, a gold band with a cluster of diamonds that had been Frank’s mother’s.• He now had 2 music gigs and

Nancy became a secretary

• When Frank was doing one of his gigs, Harry James stopped by and heard him singing “Begin the Beguine”• James liked the way Frank

“talked a lyric”• Signed him as a vocalist for his

new band for $75 a week• James wanted to call him

"Frankie Satin” but Sinatra refused

• August 31, 1939- Sinatra recorded “All or Nothing at All”, which would eventually be his first big hit• Nancy came on the road touring

with them• One day, according to Harry, "The

whole band chipped in to buy spaghetti and the makings for your mom to cook for us. Spaghetti never tasted so good. The only bright spot in that seemingly desperate time was the happy news from your mother that you were on the way."

• James’ band was not doing well so Frank played a show for Tommy Dorsey• Dorsey offered Frank a job for

$100 a week

• Big band music defined and dominated pop culture in the 1940’s• Toured around the country• FEBRUARY 2-8, 1940: When the

Dorsey band opened at the Lyric Theatre in Indianapolis, the theater's ad in the Indianapolis Star listed Tommy's name in inch-high letters. At the bottom, in 1/8-inch type, was a listing for "Frank Sinatra, Romantic Virtuoso."

• June 8, 1940- Frank’s daughter Nancy was born while he was gone on tour• According to friends, Frank was

“so excited that all he did all night was talk about his new baby girl.“• Began performing on NBC radio,

first for a special and then in a weekly radio show• “I’ll Never Smile Again” was the

first Dorsey/Sinatra record to reach #1

• DECEMBER 7, 1941: When the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor precipitated America's entry into World War 11, Dad was drafted almost immediately, but because of the punctured eardrum resulting from his birth injury, he was turned down and classified 4-F He tried in vain to enlist for the next several years and was attacked in the media as a coward for not serving.• Began recording solo material• August 8, 1942, left Dorsey’s band.

Had a tough time getting out of his contract.

• Dec. 30, 1942- Opened at the Paramount Theatre in NY with Benny Goodman.• Brought the house down• Original 2 week engagement was

lengthened to 10 weeks• Went from making $750 a week

to $25,000• Rehearsal at 7AM and then 6-7

performances a day, 11 on Sat

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjAnmlEN8rI

• Before, the vocalist had been second to the band. Now the singer was the star.• Signed onto Columbia Records and

rereleased the 1939 version of All or Nothing at All- Sinatra’s first million seller.• Helped with benefit performances

and entertaining the troops• "It was the war years, and there was

a great loneliness," recalled Sinatra, "I was the boy in every corner drugstore who'd gone off, drafted to the war. That was all.“• In first acting role, played himself in

Higher and Higher

• Met FDR at the White House and was suitably impressed.• Played at the Hollywood Bowl• Jan. 10, 1944- Franklin Sinatra

was born while Sinatra was away in LA

• Played at the Hollywood Bowl• Feb. 1944 signed a $1.5 million deal

with MGM• June 15, 1944- began shooting

Anchors Aweigh with Gene Kelly• JULY 1944: Trying to spend more

time at home, Sinatra canceled a scheduled appearance at Manhattan's Rio Bamba. "In Sinatra's singing spot is a chap by the name of Dean Martin, who sounds like him, uses the same arrangements of the same songs and almost looks like him-only healthier.“• Sept. 28, 1944- Met FDR at the

White House for tea.

• SPRING 1945: He was befriending a wide circle of the famous: Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, Phil Silvers and the town's most famous couple, Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart. When Bogart was introduced to Frank, he said, "They tell me you have a voice that makes girls faint. Make me faint." Sinatra grinned and said he was taking the week off. • Met Ava Gardner• Entertained troops overseas• Aug. 15, 1945- Anchors Aweigh

opened to rave reviews• Sept. 1945- met a young Sammy

Davis Jr.

• 1947 Sinatra recorded 71 songs including “Always”, “All of Me”, and “Almost like Being in Love.”• June 20, 1948, Sinatra was present

for the birth of his daughter Christina.• 1948-49, Sinatra flirted with Ava

Gardner• 1949, Take Me Out to the Ballgame

and On the Town were released starring Sinatra and Gene Kelly• Feb. 1950, Sinatra’s wife filed for

separation• https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMfz1jlyQrw

• April 26, 1950, lost his voice because of a vocal hemorrhage. He had to keep completely silent for a week.• Summer 1951, Sinatra and his wife

divorced. • November 7, 1951, Sinatra and Ava

Gardner married. It was her 3rd marriage (Mickey Rooney and band leader Artie Shaw)• JUNE 1952: Frank Sinatra was

dropped by Columbia Records and his talent agency, MCA. His latest movies hadn't done well. And his records weren't selling well either. He didn't have a movie studio, an agent or a record label.

• November 1952- Sinatra landed the role of his career as Maggio in From Here to Eternity. He later won an Oscar for his performance.• April 1953- Signed to Capitol

Records with a new confidence, maturity and cockiness. Recorded “I’ve got the World on a String,” “They Can’t take that Away From Me,” and “My Funny Valentine.”• Aug. 17th 1953- From Here to

Eternity opened making over $80 million.

• Oct. 27, 1953- Sinatra and Ava filed for divorce. Their separate careers made living together impossible and seeing each other difficult.• March 25, 1954- Won an

Academy Award for From Here to Eternity

• 1954- Celebrating the opening of Capitol Records Tower with Danny Kaye, Gordon MacRae, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin

• Sinatra became a member of Humphrey Bogart's "Rat Pack." "In order to qualify," according to Lauren Bacall, "one had to be addicted to nonconformity, staying up late, drinking, laughing, and not caring what anyone thought or said about us. We were an odd assortment, but we liked each other so much, and every one of us had a wild sense of the ridiculous.” "Frank was attracted to Bogie and to Spencer Tracy," remembered Bacall. "He admired them as men and as talents, and being with them gave him a feeling of solidity that his life lacked. He was a restless man, totally incapable of being alone."

• Nov. 14, 1955- Sinatra starred in Guys and Dolls with Marlon Brando• Dec. 1956 Sinatra was named

among the top 10 “Money Making Stars.” Was busy making movies, singing live and making recordings.• March 1957, Recorded 56 new

songs including "Autumn Leaves," "Witchcraft," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "Come Fly with Me,"

• JULY 5, 1957: The divorce decree from Ava was granted. She never remarried.• Dated Lauren Bacall for a bit

after Humphrey Bogart’s death. • March 1958- proposed to Lauren

Bacall. She accepted but they didn’t marry• 1963- Involved in legal trouble

with the Nevada gaming association• Nov. 22, 1963- Sinatra was

devastated when John F. Kennedy was assasinated

• Sinatra’s Rat Pack was formed in 1960 when they were all performing at the Sands in Las Vegas. • The Pack filmed Oceans 11, the

first of four films they appeared in together.• MAY 12, 1960: In an ABC television

special, Sinatra met Elvis Presley for the first time by welcoming him back to civilian life from two years in the U.S. Army. On the show, Elvis sang "Witchcraft," complete with snapping fingers and classic crooning style, and Dad sang "Love Me Tender."

• JULY 11, 1960: In one of his proudest moments, Sinatra sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, where JFK received his party's nomination for president. • Did many fundraisers for the

Democratic party and various charities. • April 8, 1963 Hosted the Oscars• Dec. 8-14 Frank Sinatra Jr. was

kidnapped and held for ransom

• 1965- Sinatra fell in love with Mia Farrow• NOVEMBER 29-30, 1965: He

recorded 10 moon songs. Among them: "Moonlight Serenade," "Moonlight Becomes You," "The Moon Was Yellow" and "Oh, You Crazy Moon" for the 1966 album Moonlight Sinatra.• JULY 14, 1966: The secret

engagement of Mia Farrow to Frank Sinatra was announced• NOVEMBER 22, 1967: Frank and

Mia's separation was mentioned in the press.

• 1968- Moved his Las Vegas show to Caesar’s Palace• DECEMBER 30, 1968: Ended the

year by recording "My Way.“• AUGUST 16, 1969: At Houston's

Astrodome, Frank performed in an all-star tribute to the triumphant Apollo 11 astronauts shortly after they returned from their lunar landing. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins liked "Fly Me to the Moon" so much, it was played during their expedition via Mission Control. • https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPvDjqqUrI4

• EARLY OCTOBER 1970: In Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, he performed at three benefits for Ronald Reagan.• JUNE 13, 1971: Surrounded by

family and friends, he appeared at the Los Angeles Music Center in a benefit for the Motion Picture and Television Relief Fund that raised $800,000. He declared that this performance would be his farewell appearance.• Drawn more and more to support

Republican political candidates• Swayed by fan requests he started

moving back into the business

• Actively performing again by 1974• FEBRUARY 1976: The Friars Club selected

Frank Sinatra as Top Box Office Name of the Century.

• Continued doing concerts for various charities

• MAY 16, 1990: Dad lost a close friend when Sammy Davis Jr. died of throat cancer at the age of 64.

• MAY 14, 1998: Died at 10:50 p.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of an acute heart attack. He was 82 years old.

• For his final journey, they placed into his pockets a tiny bottle of Jack Daniels, a pack of Camels and his favorite candys. Most important, the people of the United States were with him, when a presidential envoy presented an American flag "on behalf of a grateful nation."

All or Nothing at All

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7klm1GS3v8