In November of 1939 Frank Sinatra became the lead singer of the Tommy Dorsey band. Dorsey became a father figure to Frank and was a major musical influence. Frank would say later “The only two people I’ve ever been afraid of are my mother and Tommy Dorsey”. Sinatra recorded over forty songs in his first year with Dorsey including his first vocal hit “polka Dots and Moonbeams”. Sinatra made his first public appearance with the Tommy Dorsey band at the Coronado Theatre in Rockford, Illinois. Dorsey later said that you could feel the excitement coming up from the crowd as Frank prepared to sing. “Remember, he was no matinee idol. He was just a skinny kid with big ears”. Dorsey said he used to get so caught up in the excitement he would sometimes forget to take his own solos. Frank was motivated by Dorsey’s trombone playing and strove to improve his own breath control in an effort to emulate Dorsey’s seamless melodic passages.
After his work with Dorsey, Frank felt strongly that he should pursue a solo career. He was motivated by what some would characterize as an “insatiable” desire to compete with Bing Crosby. After months of bitter negotiations, Frank was able to leave the Tommy Dorsey band. It was at this time that rumors began spreading in the newspapers about Frank’s mob ties and it was alleged by some that Sinatra’s mobster godfather, Willie Morreti, held a gun to Dorsey’s head so that Frank could be released from his contract. Almost immediately upon leaving the Tommy Dorsey band, Frank became a seemingly overnight mega star. Near hysteria was generated among his young female fans known as “bobby-soxers” and the cultural phenomenon known as “Sinatramania” took over the country.
Sinatra enjoyed unabashed success throughout the 1940’s. Frank appeared in several films as well, sometimes starring with the dancer Gene Kelly. Notable are “Anchors Aweigh” in 1945 and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in 1949. Sinatra won an Oscar for his portrayal of the tragic soldier Maggio in “From Here to Eternity” which was produced in 1953.
Legacy
Sinatra will most likely always remain the subject of controversy; whether it is because of his association with known crime figures, his sometimes indignant relationships with his fellow musicians, or his aggressive attitude towards the press. But his popularity, artistry, and talent for personal expression will never be in doubt. Frank Sinatra will always be recognized as an iconic fixture of American culture. Frank Sinatra leaves behind a body of work that includes nearly fourteen hundred recordings that span a career of more than fifty years. Frank Sinatra may not have known how to read music, but he clearly knew how to make music.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sinatra
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000069/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frank-Sinatra
Return to the previous page| Birth Date: | 12 Dec, 1915 |
| Age: | 104 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Hoboken |
| residence: | Hoboken |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American recording artist; singer and film actor |
| Net Worth 2021: | 200 million |
