Frank Sinatra: biography, personal life, photo. Frank Sinatra: interesting facts Frank Sinatra interesting facts from life

Frank Sinatra is an iconic singer in American history. He stood out from the competition not only because of his soulful manner of performance, but also because he was a really cool guy. Over the course of his 60-year career, the performer has gone from a New Jersey kid to a popular singer, successful actor and chairman of the board of directors.

Sinatra became a part of the world of movie stars, interacted with presidents and became famous for his felt hat. This man's life path was not easy, but interesting, full of crazy and strange stories. The most interesting and little-known facts from the biography of Frank Sinatra will be discussed.

Arrest for seduction and adultery. It turns out that at one time Sinatra even went to prison. It happened in November 1938, when a 23-year-old guy was arrested in Bergen County, New Jersey. He was charged with seduction; in the 1930s this threatened with serious consequences. Sinatra was caught having sexual intercourse with a woman of good repute. As a result, the charge was dropped, and Frank himself was released. But on December 22 he was again sent to prison. It turned out that Sinatra's mistress was married, which made it possible to add adultery to the charge. The guy spent about 16 hours in prison, after which officials decided to finally release him. Naturally, the singer himself tried not to advertise this story.

Potential king of the action genre. While Sinatra was not in recording studios, he was busy acting in films. The most famous of them are “From Here to Eternity” and “The Man with the Golden Arm.” But Sinatra's name could be mentioned as a classic of the action genre, along with Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The actor demonstrated his fighting potential in the film “The Manchurian Candidate.” In this thriller, Sinatra took part in a martial arts battle against Henry Silva. This scene is iconic; in fact, it is the first karate fight in American cinema. Spencer Tracy used a similar martial art in the film Bad Day at Black Rock. But technically this was not a full-fledged fight, because the opponent did not know karate.

Thanks to The Manchurian Candidate, Sinatra became a famous movie character. During a fight scene, his character accidentally slams his hand on the table. Sinatra got into the role so much that he even broke his little finger. And this injury bothered him all his life, preventing him from starring in Dirty Harry. Initially, Warner Brothers considered Sinatra for this role, eventually giving it to Clint Eastwood. The thing is that the same damage to the finger did not give the actor the opportunity to easily handle the Magnum pistol. But Sinatra had another chance to become an action hero. In 1988, the film Die Hard was released. It was based on the novel by Roderick Thorpe, which was about an aged policeman, Joe Lelland. But in 1966, Sinatra actually played the man in the film "The Detective." When 20th Century Fox decided to make the film, the studio asked Sinatra if he would like to play the shrewd John McClane. Fortunately for movie lovers and Bruce Willis fans, the star refused.

The man behind Scooby-Doo. Since his grand debut in 1969, Scooby-Doo has become one of the most popular cartoon characters of all time. He became a participant in films, television shows, and souvenirs were sold well with him. But who remembers that all this happened thanks to Frank Sinatra? The famous Great Dane was originally just a supporting character in the Mystic Five show. It was dedicated to five teenagers who traveled, performing music, and also explored mysteries involving otherworldly forces along the way. It was planned to make the character of the dog cowardly; he had to go everywhere wearing a hat and sunglasses. But CBS producers were worried that the cartoon was too scary for children. Clouds began to gather over the Hanna-Barbera film, but it was Sinatra who saved the situation. On a flight to Los Angeles, CBS children's programming chief Fred Silverman listened to the singer's "Strangers in the Night." Towards the end of the song, Sinatra began to improvise, singing nonsensical phrases like "Dooby-Dooby-Doo." And then it dawned on the producer, he decided to name the dog Scooby-Doo and make him the main character of the show. Silverman quickly returned to the company headquarters and immediately began to implement his new idea.

Frank Sinatra vs Marlon Brando. Sinatra had many celebrity friends, but he never loved Marlon Brando. In fact, these two actors were ready to eat each other. The rivalry began during the filming of the musical Guys and Dolls in 1955. From the very beginning, the relationship between the actors did not work out. Sinatra immediately showed his resentment, claiming that he should have gotten the role of Terry Malloy in the film On the Waterfront. It was for this that Brando received his first Oscar. What made it even worse was that in the musical, Brando got the romantic lead role, and Sinatra got the comic supporting role. The angry singer decided to teach his competitor a lesson. That is why, when Brando asked for vocal lessons, Sinatra coldly replied that he did not want to help “that shit”, having in mind the acting style of his rival. When it came to Brando, Sinatra called him the most overrated actor in the world, calling him “the mumbler.” Instead of playing the funny guy, Sinatra went out of his way in front of the camera to outshine Brando. Frank pretended to be a pop singer when he just needed to sing. But Brando didn’t even think about turning the other cheek. During the most difficult scenes, he could simply go take a nap. Knowing that Sinatra hated filming takes, Marlon deliberately shot the wrong shot. And during the scene where Sinatra’s character ate a piece of cheesecake, Brando constantly forgot his words, forcing his opponent to overeat with dessert. By the ninth piece of pie, Sinatra lost patience, threw down his plate, stuck his fork in the table and shouted, “How many cheesecakes do you think I can eat?”

Kennedy and connections with the mafia. Frank Sinatra's connections to the mafia are perhaps the worst thing that has happened in the history of music. Despite all the singer’s denials, everyone knew that he communicated with the most influential people in the criminal world. Frank appeared in photographs with Carlos Gambino and is said to have brought women to John Kennedy and Sam Giancana (a Chicago mobster). Sinatra became the prototype for Johnny Fontane, the crooner from The Godfather. But was Sinatra a gangster? Or did he just like to hang around with the tough guys? In any case, he took part in some shady affairs that affected the most powerful people in the country. For example, Sinatra once acted as an intermediary between the Kennedy clan and the Chicago mafia. This happened in 1960, when John F. Kennedy became the Democratic Party candidate for President. His father decided to secretly influence the election. Joseph Kennedy decided to turn to Sam Giancana for help, since he had certain leverage. But direct communication could turn into a scandal. That is why Sinatra was brought in as a mediator. Frank was on friendly terms with John, agreeing to act as a liaison. It is said that Sinatra put in a good word with the mobsters, and Giancana provided the votes needed to win. But when Kennedy entered the White House, his brother, who became Attorney General, declared war on the mafia. 283 prominent criminals were convicted in 1963 alone. Giancana was not happy, but Kennedy could not put the horse's head in bed. It was decided to punish Sinatra, albeit not very severely. The singer’s daughter recalls that he had to give two concerts for eight days at Giancana’s private club, Villa Venice.

FBI Secret Files. It is no secret that J. Edgar Hoover initiated the opening of a personal file on Frank Sinatra at the FBI. The head of the federal department had every reason to hate the singer. He corrupted the youth of America and fought for civil rights. After the singer's death, his personal file was declassified. Surprisingly, the FBI was able to collect not much. Of course, the file was 15 centimeters thick and contained 1,300 pages, but despite numerous testimonies, the bureau had little real incriminating evidence. Having looked through all the records, one could find investigations about the singer’s social circle, his medical records. There is also a receipt according to which Sinatra agreed to be an FBI informant. But there is a rather strange part in the case, which attracts attention first of all. In a letter dated August 13, 1943, an anonymous informant alerted J. Edgar Hoover to Sinatra's unusual voice. The letter says that during the listening to the singer’s program, piercing squeals were noted, presumably created by female fans. The author of the letter, clearly paranoid, argued that these desperate cries of devotion were proof of mass hysteria and the creation of a cult of the next Hitler in America. An alert J. Edgar Hoover took note of this assessment and opened a 40-year investigation against a man with a passionate following.

Kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr. The singer's son really wanted to be like his father. Chasing his fame, 19-year-old Frank Jr. began performing in venues across the country right after graduating from Nevada. On December 8, 1963, the aspiring singer was in his hotel room when there was a knock on the door. Frank opened it, expecting to see delivery couriers. However, instead, the false messengers grabbed the singer, threw him into the trunk of the car and drove away from the scene of the abduction. These bandits turned out to be Barry Keenan and Joseph Amsler. They initially planned to kidnap the sons of Bing Crosby or Bob Hope, but eventually turned their attention to Sinatra Jr. The kidnappers believed that he was more balanced and would not panic. Keenan and Amsler were not the most enterprising criminals, having forgotten to take money with them for gas. They borrowed a few dollars from their victim and, after refueling, headed towards Los Angeles. Information about the abduction quickly became known to the authorities. Frank Sr. was immediately offered their services by both power in the person of Robert Kennedy and the mafia, in the person of Sam Giancana. And the singer decided to contact the FBI. While at the Reno Hotel, Sinatra received a phone call from a third intruder, John Irvine. The singer, desperate to save his son, was ready to offer a ransom of a million dollars. Fortunately, the criminals turned out to be not greedy. They needed only 240 thousand dollars. After receiving instructions from the FBI, Sinatra carried out the ransom. Within a few hours, his son was free. A few days later, John Irwin’s conscience woke up, he turned himself in and handed over his accomplices. The kidnappers were arrested and the money was returned to the father. The criminals were sentenced to harsh terms, but they were released early, having gone crazy. And Sinatra himself bought gold watches for all the FBI agents who helped him save his son. When they said that they could not accept such expensive gifts, the singer purchased another copy personally for J. Edgar Hoover. This solved the problem.

Sinatra and DiMaggio's "Wrong Door". Frank Sinatra was a modern-day Don Juan, having affairs with the most desirable women in Hollywood. His wives included such beauties as Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow, but his most legendary partner was, without a doubt, Marilyn Monroe. The couple's relationship was quite strange throughout. They became lovers after Marilyn broke up with playwright Arthur Miller, and Sinatra even introduced the sexy blonde to John Kennedy. But the strangest moment in their friendship was the Wrong Door scandal involving baseball star Joe DiMaggio. This happened in 1954, when Monroe was married to an athlete. But by that time their relationship began to deteriorate. One November night, Sinatra dined with DiMaggio at a Hollywood restaurant. Then the singer was called to the phone. A private detective called who was following the actress. He accompanied her to an apartment building, believing that she was meeting her lover there. The enraged husband rushed out of the restaurant with Sinatra without even paying the bill. But it was not so scary, because the head waiter went with them, wanting to help. A crazy crowd broke into the apartment complex and knocked down the door. There were witnesses with cameras who wanted to document Marilyn Monroe's betrayal. However, when the crowd turned on the lights, they discovered a terrified woman, Florenz Kotz. It turned out that in the chaos the men had broken into the wrong room. Confused, the group of “moral guardians” retreated and dispersed. And Marilyn found herself in another room, visiting a friend. Ms. Kotz sued the jealous group, winning $7,500. But DiMaggio could not contain his jealousy and the marriage broke up. Eventually, he resented Sinatra, blaming him and Kennedy for Marilyn's death. Closer to his death, the legendary athlete forbade mentioning Sinatra's name in his presence.

Civil rights activist. Nine years before the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, Froebel High School in Gary, Indiana, enrolled 200 African-American students. Not all white children were happy to be educated together with blacks. About a thousand angry teenagers gathered and began to protest, threatening to skip classes. And then Frank Sinatra appeared. Earlier that year, he starred in the musical drama The House I Live In. This film was a kind of lecture that Sinatra gave to a group of young men. The singer tried to convey to them that all Americans are equal, regardless of race or religion. The emotions of participating in the project were still fresh in Sinatra’s memory, and he went to Frobel’s school. There he spoke to all the students, explaining to them that racism is unacceptable. And before leaving, Sinatra made a promise from the students to remain tolerant and even sang the main song from the film “The House I Live In.” It said, "The kids on the playground, the faces I see, all the races and religions, that's what America is to me." This was not the first or last time the singer spoke out for civil rights. In an era of rampant racism, Sinatra enjoyed performing with black performers such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole. Sinatra never performed at venues where blacks were prohibited, and he did not stay in hotels that banned his African-American friends. Sinatra once brought singer Lena Horne to a white club, and then he performed in support of Martin Luther King. True, once the performer allowed himself to make racist jokes about Sammy Davis Jr. right on stage. However, Frank can be considered a true champion of black rights at a time when most performers were too afraid to challenge society. Sinatra once said: “As long as most white people consider blacks second-class, we have a problem. I don't know why we can't change this."

Sinatra hated "My Way". The song “My Way” was one of the most iconic for Frank Sinatra. The original song was written by French composer Jacques Revaux. And then Paul Anka wrote the English text specifically for Frank Sinatra. He was just about to retire in 1969, and he needed a song that would be an excellent final chord to his work. But the singer could not stay away from the stage. He returned to delight his listeners for another 25 years. However, upon his return, Sinatra was surprised to find that everyone wanted to hear “My Way” from him. It has already become a kind of calling card of the singer; the audience did not allow him to finish his performances without a hit about a life lived without regret. The song became part of the world musical heritage; everyone began to perform it, not just Sinatra. “My Way” was sung by Sid Vicious, the Three Tenors and even Gonzo the Great. In 2005, this song was performed at British funerals more often than any other. And in the Philippines, karaoke fans took it so seriously that poor performance sometimes even ended in murder. And the funny thing was that Sinatra himself absolutely hated this song. And every time, speaking to his audience, the singer communicated his attitude towards her. During a concert at Caesar's Palace, he told the crowd: "I hate this song. You’ve been singing it for eight years now, so you should be tired of it by now.” And when Sinatra performed at the Amphitheater (a hall in Los Angeles), he said: “The time will come when this moment will become painful for you, but not for me.” And his most famous remark regarding “My Way” was at Carnegie Hall, when the singer said that the song was written by 18-year-old Frenchman Jacques Strappe. Sinatra was very annoyed that he had to sing this song at every concert. Some argued that he actually hated the composition with passion, rather than simply disliking it. Sinatra seemed to be the world's guy and the center of everything, but some of his friends claimed that he was quite modest. He was not one to sing about his own greatness in front of a crowd of fans. Sinatra would rather talk about loving others than loving himself. However, fans demanded that he perform “My Way” without fail.

31.01.2017

Frank Sinatra remained popular throughout his long life - fate gave him 82 years. People listened to his songs, for his velvety baritone they simply called him “The Voice” - and everyone immediately understood who they were talking about. Let's see what interesting facts marked the life of Frank Sinatra - a star of the first magnitude who shone on the musical horizon for almost a century.

1. Frank was born into a family of a nurse and an athlete. The boy weighed almost 6 kg at birth, and the doctors had to pull him with forceps while helping the baby to be born. The difficult birth left Frank with reminders of his very first battle for life - in the form of scars on his face and a damaged eardrum.
2. Injuries received during childbirth deprived Sinatra of the opportunity to serve in the army. Therefore, during the war he was forced to limit himself to concert activities.
3. The boy was reluctant to study at school, but he loved to play sports. He was especially interested in boxing. In high school, the young man became a correspondent for the school publication and wrote notes - mainly about all sorts of competitions and other sporting events.
4. Sinatra began his singing career with ... the profession of a driver. He worked as a driver for The Hoboken Four, and then began performing with the artists. Early music royalties were about $25 a week. For some time, Sinatra worked as a waiter in a restaurant, periodically earning extra money by performing popular hits.
5. The stage star had no musical education, which did not stop Sinatra from singing superbly. In order to develop lung strength, Frank did a lot of swimming.
6. The American jazz legend was suspected of the most mysterious and dark affairs. Thus, he was credited with connections with the mafia, which is not excluded: his friendship with President John Kennedy began to weaken precisely after Kennedy was informed about the possible contacts of the stage star with criminal gangs.
7. Frank Sinatra first came to the White House at Roosevelt's invitation for a “cup of tea.” Since then, his ties with representatives of the “powers that be” remained unbreakable until relations with Kennedy cooled. At the same time, eyewitnesses claim: when Kennedy died, Sinatra locked himself in his house and bitterly mourned the death of the politician for several days.
8. Sinatra acted in many films. Who hasn't he been? Among the roles of “The Voice” are a drug addict, a pianist, a soldier, a sailor... For one of his roles - in the film “From Here to Eternity” - Frank was awarded an Oscar. And another film role was awarded an equally high award.
9. Frank Sinatra has 9 Grammy Awards.
10. The magnificent “Voice” remained in excellent shape almost until the end of his days. At the age of 80, he still sang sometimes - although he could forget the words, but the prompter told him. Everything was forgiven for such a stage legend!
11. Sinatra lived to the peak of his fame - he was lucky enough to see his film incarnation. In the film dedicated to the jazz and blues star, he was played by an actor with Russian roots, Philip Krasnoff.
12. Despite the fact that Frank Sinatra did not receive a higher education, he provided financial support to universities and students throughout his life. The singer also helped hospitals - he spent large amounts of money on their needs.

Frank Sinatra, perhaps, had no equal on the jazz (and not only) stage in the 20th century. A stunning voice, amazing charm, which was not hindered by the most ordinary appearance - all this helped him become a superstar of the past century. And as for his connections with the mafia - real or not - well, so what! There are no super positive heroes in life. We only meet people like this in movies. Therefore, let's appreciate true talents - simply for what they are. Let the “dark side” remain in the shadows; let’s not direct rays of light at it.

France Sinatra is one of the artists whose influence on modern culture is so great that it is difficult to find words that convincingly explain their significance. He has been awarded a Grammy nine times. He released about a hundred hit singles. His achievements include a huge number of awards for his brilliant portrayals in films.

Frankie's "velvet" voice drove millions of women crazy, and most men copied his style and mannerisms of "Mr. Blue Eyes." He was on friendly terms with major politicians, the richest people in the country and influential gangsters. He was under constant surveillance by the FBI for decades.

He played such an important role in the history of the twentieth century that the day when he left our world was called the end of the century by journalists.

On the anniversary of the death of Francis Albert Sinatra, we have selected several stories from the life of the legendary singer.

1. Style

Even during the difficult times of the Great Depression, Frank's mother found money for decent clothes for her son, which is why neighbors called him "the best dressed boy in the area." So what Sinatra was known for comes from his childhood.

2. School

During his school years, Frank preferred physical education to studying in the classroom. He played various sports, including. As a teenager, he became a reporter for the Jersey Observer and often wrote about sports events at school.

3. Secrets

The biography Frank Sinatra: The Boudoir Singer claims that in 1935, young Frank starred in the pornographic film The Masked Bandit. You can guess from the name that he hid his face behind a mask. Having become famous, Sinatra involved influential friends from the underworld and did everything possible to get rid of the shameful picture for him.

4. FBI dossier

One day, the FBI received a letter from a radio listener who saw the popularity of Frank Sinatra as a plot by enemies of the state. In his opinion, someone was planning to “create a new Hitler in America through the influence of mass hysteria.” But the FBI opened a file on him for other reasons. First of all, they were interested in the singer’s possible connections with the mafia. In addition, they suspected that the performer had avoided military service by paying the doctor.

5. Army

Frank was born very large, so doctors had to use surgical forceps to bring him into the light of day. In doing so, they left scars on his left cheek, ear and neck. In addition, they damaged his eardrum, which is why he was declared unfit for military service and did not serve in World War II. His contribution to the victory was limited to participation in concerts organized by the United Military Service (USO).

6. Arrests

In 1938, Sinatra was detained in New Jersey for seduction. The local sheriff accused him of adultery when it turned out that his partner was married. True, the case was closed, so Frank did not appear in court.

7. Favorite drink

Martini is for girls and James Bond. Frankie preferred stronger drinks. All the bartenders knew that he needed to pour two fingers of Daniels whiskey, add four ice cubes and a splash of soda.

8. Friendship with the President

It is no secret that the performer maintained friendly relations with many prominent politicians. His most famous friend from the political elite was John Kennedy. Frank's song "High Hopes" was the theme song for Kennedy's campaign, and Sinatra was generally a strong supporter of him. But towards the end of the president’s life, they had little contact due to rumors about Frank’s connection with criminals. They say that after Kennedy's assassination, Sinatra cried for several days, locking himself in his bedroom.

9.Strangers in the Night

They say Sinatra hated the song “Strangers in the Night.” Frank called one of his biggest hits “a piece of crap” and “the worst song he had ever heard.”

10. Depression

The great singer was subject to prolonged, severe depression and several times tried to take his own life. He once stuck his head in an oven and then attempted suicide at least three more times during a whirlwind romance with actress Ava Gardner.

Finally, let’s remember how Frank Sinatra was called over the years. In his youth he was simply called Frankie. When listeners appreciated the power of his vocal abilities, he was nicknamed “The Voice”. He then became "Mr. Blue Eyes," or "Ol' Blue Eyes." Over the years, respect for Sinatra increased exponentially. He eventually became “The Chairman”.

Now let’s listen to “My Way,” one of Sinatra’s best songs.

Likes and reposts are welcome.

“I think my greatest goal in life is to pass on to others what I know.”

Everyone knows this man with a velvet voice. Surely you heard his songs on TV on New Year's Eve or in some old American films. Surely you have seen his photographs or heard his songs flashing in the news feed. Probably out of the blue, but you heard his name. His name is Frank Sinatra, and to this day, he inspires hundreds of people, and his songs are heard from every TV during the New Year's Eve. Frank Sinatra became the voice of an entire era, the voice of decades, the voice of America in the 40s. His romantic style of performance, beautiful voice and simple lyrics made him world famous.

Frank Sinatra's childhood and youth

Young Frank Sinatra

Natalie (Dolly) Caravante and Anthony Sinatra married in 1913. She is the daughter of immigrants from Genoa, he is Sicilian. She is a small-town influencer, a Democrat, an activist and a nurse; he is a boxer. A rather strange union even for our time, let alone the beginning of the 20th century. My parents were against this marriage, but you can’t order your heart.

Hoboken, December 12, 1915. Dolly endured a terrifying birth during which the doctor pulled out her baby with forceps. She was a rather fragile and small woman, and her child weighed too much for a newborn - as much as 6 kilograms! The baby's ear and face were damaged. There was no hope, the child was silent. However, after lowering the baby into the water, his grandmother and everyone around heard crying. The first battle in Sinatra's life was won, he survived.

The fate of the future musician was not difficult: the family’s wealth was above average, Frank was not denied either toys or entertainment, and at seventeen he already had his own car. However, he was not as spoiled as he might seem. At the age of thirteen, he began to earn money himself: he sang and played the ukulele. Sinatra's childhood was darkened only by the fact that the town where he lived was divided into areas: areas for Italians, Jews, Irish and others. Life was hard: when “crossing the border,” you could get bruises and abrasions from unfriendly neighbors. Frank didn’t really like school and therefore he was kicked out in 1931. However, this did not bother him much, because the boy already had idols in the world of music and cinema, to which he paid much more attention than to his lessons. By the way, he also had no musical education; Sinatra sang by ear.

Bing Crosby

The Great Depression of the 1930s began. Decline, almost no work. However, due to his family's influential connections, he could get any position, even becoming an engineer, as he dreamed of. But Frank abandoned such prospects and began to perform for a minimal fee (sometimes without it) in cafes, at party meetings, and anywhere, just to sing. Singing was Sinatra's passion and he enjoyed the fact that he could sing, and the pay was the last thing that interested him. He lived for music.

A concert by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra's idol, changed his life. Hearing him live, he realized that he would probably sing. However, not like Bing, Frank’s own voice seemed completely different, and he decided that he would definitely make it through.

The Hoboken Four and big band participation

Sinatra decided to try his hand at a local group, but was refused. Heartbroken, Frank could not find a place for himself. His mother stood up for him: Dolly persuaded the frontman of the group, and he accepted Sinatra. He performed on radio and toured the United States with The Hoboken Four. However, from the very beginning there were differences in the group, which only increased during the tour. The Hoboken Four were a difficult test for Frank: arguments often turned into fights, and the thin and weak Sinatra simply could not resist his rivals. After the tour, he left the group, which soon broke up. After this, Sinatra hired a vocal coach who helped him get rid of his accent and suggested how to better use his voice.

In the late 30s, Frank worked in a café as an entertainer, and shared small tips with a blind pianist. This is how the wife of Harry James, a conductor who was looking for a vocalist, found out about him. After listening to Sinatra, James was impressed and offered him a contract for two years, under which Frank received $75 a week. The contract was signed, but he quickly got bored and Frank began looking for a new job. Upon learning of this, Harry broke the contract with Sinatra and wished him good luck. And the latter, in turn, signed a lifetime contract with Tommy Dorsey.

February 4, 1939 Frank Sinatra married Nancy Barbatto, whom he met several years ago. From this marriage, the singer has three children: Nancy Sinatra (1940, famous singer), Francis Sinatra Jr. (1944-2016, conductor), Tina Sinatra (1948, film producer).

Working with Tommy Dorsey, Frank developed his own breathing technique. It was inspired by the trombone, the way the sounds flow smoothly from one to the other. He decided to develop his voice to such an extent that he could do the same with him. In the future, this became the singer’s calling card. At this time, by the way, he achieved musical heights for the first time: first place in the charts, the title of “most influential singer” and starred in his first films. But over time, working with Dorsey ceased to suit Sinatra. Firstly, he increasingly saw himself in a solo career, and here just such an opportunity presented itself, and secondly, all his life he had to give Dorsey almost half of his earnings, so Dorsey did not let Frank go. This is where gangsters and mafiosi, with whom Sinatra had friendly relations, come onto the scene. It was rumored that they forced Tommy Dorsey at gunpoint to break his contract with the singer. This happened, and already in 1942 Frank left Dorsey and his orchestra.

Frank Sinatra's solo career

In December, Sinatra's first solo performance took place. To the surprise of the “oldies” of music, who are far from pop culture, the crowd greeted the young singer with a deafening roar and screams. So instead of a two-week contract, Sinatra received an 8-week contract, and his fee increased to 25 thousand. Sinatra was called a phenomenon and the Voice (with a capital V).

In 1943, Sinatra released his first single, “All Or Nothing At All,” which he first performed with the Harry James Orchestra. This song has sold over a million copies.

In 1943, Sinatra began acting in films again and appeared in two films in a year, and already in 1944 his daughter was born. Frank loved his children madly, did not deny them anything, bought them gifts, toys, clothes, in a word - multiplied the care that he himself received many times over. However, at the same time, he began to be attacked in the press, because Sinatra followed in his mother’s footsteps and was a Democrat, and at that time all newspapers were under the control of Republicans. But the singer does not pay attention to them.

In 1945 he starred in the film “Raising Anchors.” Sinatra was not afraid to show his character on set, which is why he sometimes got into arguments with his employees, and then even demanded that an unknown author write songs for him. The director was furious, but Frank insisted. As a result, the film received an Oscar nomination for a song written by Sammy Cann, the same unknown author.

Since childhood, Frank spoke out against racism and anti-Semitism, so in 1945 he made his own film called “The House I Live In,” where he addressed these issues. He fulfilled his dream, but in addition received attacks in the press. Afterwards, he began to actively record and released two albums a year apart: “The Voice” and “Songs by Sinatra.” Both topped the charts.

Decline

However, not everything is so rosy. Due to his busy schedule, Sinatra’s health began to fail, and his voice began to shrink and change. This became a reason for ridicule in the press. There were also rumors about his connections with the Sicilian mafia, that he supported the Soviet Union, and his film “The House I Live In” became the reason for hundreds of critical articles. A rumor appeared that Sinatra had “rejected” from the army (in fact, it was due to a damaged eardrum during childbirth). As a result, Frank, unable to withstand the attacks, got into a fight with one of the journalists. Afterwards a series of unsuccessful films followed, and Sinatra’s film career became a big question mark. But the problems did not end there, because a new era had arrived, the 50s called for singing about other things, they called for being more open, and Sinatra would have to completely change his repertoire, which he refused. So he was kicked out of the radio and, at 34, Frank Sinatra became a “man of the past.” In addition, he divorced his wife, fell in love with another woman and began to lose his voice (the ligaments were bleeding; he completely lost his voice and did not speak for a month).

And after recovery, things did not go very well: the contract with the film studio was terminated, his music was not even included in the charts. Things were going from bad to worse. Things were just as bad in Sinatra’s personal life: after the wedding with Ava Gardner, their family life did not work out. Frank wanted a child, but Ava could not afford it, because she was at the peak of her popularity. Frequent quarrels and swearing became known to the press. Sinatra was ruined, he had no fans left, he was mockingly called “Mr. Gardner.” As a result, Frank decided to commit suicide. Fortunately, they managed to save him.

At that time, three films were released that went unnoticed, and on the set of one of them, Sinatra completely quarreled with the actress and disrupted filming. Sinatra is fired.

A new round of Frank Sinatra's career

Frank Sinatra was destroyed. He had no choice but to sit at home and read. One day he learns about auditions for the film “From Here to Eternity” and with difficulties, but gets the role (here we must thank the director’s wife, who helped Sinatra, since she was friends with his wife). Despite his fears, Frank shows himself to be a good actor, does not conflict with anyone and studies to become better at playing dramatic roles.

In 1954 he returned to the stage and went on tour. His wife, Ava, is traveling with him. Despite the poor start, the end of the tour is a triumph. Sinatra donates all his fees to charity and gives free concerts in hospitals.

In the cinema, everything is also getting better: a contract with Columbia has been signed, “From Here to Eternity” will only be a success, and Sinatra will have many other dramatic roles.

Ava chose her career over her family, and had an abortion for the second time. When she woke up, she saw her husband with tears in his eyes. After this, disagreements began between them. Sinatra's popularity returned, he again became more impatient and arrogant, and his wife became interested in another man. Despite Frank's attempts to win her back, they divorced.

In December 1953, Sinatra's single became a hit and soared to number 2 on the charts. Afterwards, two of his albums were released, which became famous.

Frank receives an Oscar for the film From Here to Eternity. Afterwards, he is inundated with offers to star in films. But he again shows himself to be a bad actor: he drinks on set, is late and gives ultimatums. We have to change the script and the site staff. Despite this, he continued to act in films. Some of the paintings were expected to be successful, others went unnoticed. However, Sinatra evolved as an actor.

In April 1955, the first concept album, In The Wee Small Hours, was released. He himself comes up with the lyrics, music, idea, cover and promotion of the album. The album became incredibly popular and is now considered one of the best albums not only of Sinatra, but of the entire music world.

He's starring in The Man with the Golden Arm, a role Sinatra takes so seriously that he agrees to come to rehearsals and do multiple takes (even though he hates it). Afterwards he returns to his “native” MGM, where he starred in several films that show him in more serious roles than before. His career is improving: recording a successful album, his own film projects, films with the idols of his youth.

The popularity and last years of Frank Sinatra's life

Success accompanied Sinatra throughout the 60s. These were truly golden years for him, his popularity returned doubly. Sinatra's name was again on everyone's lips: high-profile and successful film projects, legendary albums and awards.

In 1966, he married Mia Farrow, who was 30 years his junior. Despite the fact that she madly loved her husband, their relationship soon ended: Mia was too cut off from his interests and social circle. This relationship did not last long and they broke up a year later.

Sinatra continued to record albums and work with famous musicians. But, despite the dizzying success, in 1971 he announced that he was ending his career. People began to think that he had throat cancer and the singer’s life was in danger. However, already in 1973 he returned and recorded another album. It was received coolly by critics and Frank understood why: the vocals on the album were not at all the same. A year later he recorded another one, this time more successful.

Frank Sinatra returned to the stage again, but did not perform as actively. He spent a lot of time at home, painting in oils. He married Barbara Marks, but Frank's family received his new wife coldly. Due to disagreements, Sinatra's mother even refused to fly on the same plane with them. The mistake was fatal, and she died during this flight. Frank's mother's death hit him hard.

All his friends died after her. In the 80s, only a few remained from Sinatra’s huge social circle. He tried to gather everyone and organize a tour, but to no avail. In 1995, he appeared on stage for the last time. Four years later, Sinatra was hospitalized and died of a heart attack on May 14.

Frank Sinatra lived a long and amazing life. For 80 years, he managed to try on the role of a singer, actor, politician, and was awarded various awards: Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe, several National awards. Sinatra was a living legend. When he died, the following words appeared in one newspaper: “To hell with the calendar. The day of Frank Sinatra's death - the end of the 20th century." He survived two wars, experienced different directions and styles of music, the era of the Fab Four, Elvis Presley, the 80s and 90s with their new youth music, but always remained in demand. The last days of Sinatra’s life were not so happy, but they still remembered him and remember the field of his death.

He was a legend, and he remains one...

Frank Sinatra is an American singer, actor and performer. He is one of the most popular singers in American history. As an actor, he appeared in fifty-eight films and won an Oscar for his role in From Here to Eternity. His career began in 1930 and continued into the 1990s.

Francis Albert Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey on December 12, 1915. He is the only child of Italian immigrants Martin and Dolly Sinatra. His father was a fireman, and his mother was an amateur singer who often sang at public events. Sinatra lived in a family of representatives of the Italian working class. His first experience as a musician came when his uncle gave him a ukulele (a musical instrument resembling a guitar). On hot summer nights, Frank loved to go outside and sing while playing his instrument. His other hobby was boxing. To protect himself in the tough surroundings where he grew up, Sinatra became a skilled boxer. In high school he was generous but pugnacious. Even in his youth, Sinatra realized that he wanted to become a singer. His idols were Rudy Vallee (1901-1986) and Bing Crosby (1903-1977). So he drops out of high school and starts singing in small clubs. Next, Sinatra appeared on the radio talent show “Major Bowes Amateur Hour” in 1935. He performed with a group called the Hoboken Four. During this same period of time, Sinatra sang in various nightclubs in New Jersey. In 1939, he began working at a radio station in New York with Harry James. That same year, he married his longtime sweetheart, Nancy Barbato. In this marriage, the singer had three children.

After seven months of working with Harry James, Sinatra joined Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra, resulting in Sinatra's rise through the ranks. Dorsey's orchestra was one of the most popular in the country. And it did not lose its popularity when Sinatra worked there (1940-1942).

The singer began his solo career at the end of 1942 and continued his rapid rise. The most important thing for him throughout his career will be to focus on his own style. The manner in which he sang in itself created its own unique phrasing of lyrics and melodic lines. Sinatra was the best known swing vocalist. The singer was exempt from military service during World War II due to a damaged eardrum, but he supported the military with his performances and film appearances. Sinatra performed extensively, supporting charitable organizations.

There were rumors that Sinatra had ties to the mafia (organized crime). These stories arose largely from his interactions with alleged mafia bosses. He also received bad publicity for his fights with journalists. In 1954, Sinatra appeared in the film From Here to Eternity. The role earned him an Oscar. He won best supporting actor. Frank Sinatra went on to star in nine films in just two years, including Guys and Dolls (1955), This Young Heart (1955), The Tender Trap (1955), and The Man with the Golden Arm (1955). and "High Society" (1956). Nelson Riddle became Sinatra's musical arranger in the 1950s, and he helped the singer stay on the charts throughout the decade. Sinatra recorded music albums with a large collection of songs and romances.

In 1974, the singer resumed his creative activity after a break. His return was marked by the release of the popular song "New York, New York" (1980). In 1988, Sinatra, Sammy Davis, and Dean Martin organized a tour that lasted a week. Later, in 1992, Sinatra toured with Shirley MacLaine, and it was an undoubted success. By 1994, Sinatra began to experience memory lapses, but this did not stop him from performing publicly. Sinatra's health continued to deteriorate during the 1990s. On the evening of May 14, 1998, Sinatra died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California.