Frank Sinatra
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Early Life and Musical Influences
Frank Sinatra was born Francis Albert Sinatra on December 12, 1915, in Hoboken, New Jersey. Often hailed as one of the most influential and popular American singers of the 20th century, Sinatra grew up in a working-class family. His parents, Italian immigrants, lived in a tenement at 415 Monroe Street in Hoboken. His father, Marty Sinatra, held several jobs including tavern owner, firefighter, and part-time prizefighter. However, it was his mother, Dolly Sinatra, a fiercely ambitious and politically active woman, who played the most prominent role in shaping Frank’s confidence and drive.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 12 Dec, 1915
- Age
- 104 yrs
- Citizenship
- United States of America
Show all facts
- Birth Place
- Hoboken
- residence
- Hoboken
- Gender
- Male
- Description
- American recording artist; singer and film actor
- Net Worth 2021
- 200 million
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Selected for this profile
Sinatra’s daughter Nancy spoke about the deep and complex relationship he had with his mother, remarking, “They’d fought through his childhood and continued to do so until her dying day. But I believe that to counter her steel will he’d developed his own. Their friction first had shaped him … and helped keep him at the top of his game.”
Formative Years in Hoboken
Frank Sinatra developed an early interest in music, spending hours listening to then-prominent singers such as Gene Austin, Rudy Vallée, Russ Columbo, and most significantly, Bing Crosby, who became his primary inspiration for pursuing a career in popular singing. Sinatra attended David E. Rue Jr. High School and A.J. Demarest High School but was expelled after just 47 days due to "general rowdiness." He never graduated, instead choosing to focus on music.
Though he began singing professionally as a teenager, Sinatra never formally learned to read music; instead, he relied on his acute ear and natural musical intuition. He performed at local social clubs in Hoboken and sang for free on radio stations like WAAT in Jersey City. Frequently, he would travel to New York City to perform for meals or cigarettes, demonstrating a relentless dedication to his craft.
Early Career Breaks and Harry James
In 1935, Sinatra joined a local vocal group called The 3 Flashes, which became The Hoboken Four following his addition. He reportedly won his place in the group in part because he had a car and could drive them to performances. Together, they won a talent contest that led to a six-month contract to tour on stage and radio across the United States.
In 1938, Sinatra took a job as a singing waiter at The Rustic Cabin, a roadhouse linked to New York’s WNEW radio. Seeing it as a critical step forward, he confidently predicted future stardom to his friends. In March 1939, Sinatra recorded his first solo track, “Our Love.” Shortly afterward, he was signed by bandleader Harry James. Under James’s mentorship, Sinatra recorded ten commercially released songs including “From the Bottom of My Heart,” “My Buddy,” and “Ciribiribin.” However, the records sold poorly, leading Sinatra to request and receive a release from the contract in order to seek broader opportunities.
