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Frank Sinatra

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Frank Sinatra was born in 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey, the only child of Italian immigrants. As a boy he listened to big bands and admired Bing Crosby. He never learned to read music; he learned everything by ear. In 1935 he won a radio talent contest with the vocal group the Hoboken Four. In 1939 he became a singer in Harry James's band, then in Tommy Dorsey's orchestra. In the early 1940s he became the idol of the bobby soxers, teenage girls who formed a whole new audience for popular music.

Music and breakthrough

In the early 1950s his popularity slumped, but in 1953 he won an Oscar for his role in the film From Here to Eternity. At Capitol Records he then made his most admired albums with the arranger Nelson Riddle, such as In the Wee Small Hours (1955) and Songs for Swingin' Lovers! (1956). In 1960 he started his own label, Reprise. He recorded with Count Basie, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Duke Ellington. In 1971 he stopped for a while, after releasing My Way, but two years later he was back. In 1980 New York, New York came out.

Influence

Sinatra began in the swing era and remained a singer of the great orchestras all his life. His voice was called powerful and charismatic, but also tender, and he was nicknamed The Voice. He was one of the first teen idols of popular music. The critic Robert Christgau called him the greatest singer of the twentieth century. He was also a successful film actor. He died in 1998.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a track from In the Wee Small Hours, with arrangements by Nelson Riddle. Notice how clearly Sinatra pronounces every word and how the orchestra frames his voice without drowning it out.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsSwing and big band