Pipes

Frank Sinatra - biography, songs, interesting facts from life, photos. Frank Sinatra Facts Frank Sinatra Interesting Facts

Frances 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 was awarded the Grammy nine times. He released about a hundred hit singles. Among his achievements are a huge number of awards for brilliant images in films.

Frankie's "velvet" voice drove millions of women crazy, and most men copied his "Mr. Blue Eyes" style and mannerisms. He was on friendly terms with major politicians, the richest people in the country and powerful gangsters. For several decades, he was constantly monitored by the FBI.

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

On the anniversary of the death of Francis Albert Sinatra, we picked up a few stories from the life of the legendary singer.

1. Style

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

2. School

During his school years, Frank preferred physical education to studying in the classroom. He was involved in various sports, including. As a teenager, he became a reporter for the Jersey Observer newspaper 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. By the name, you can guess that he hid his face behind a mask. Having become famous, Sinatra connected 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 in the popularity of Frank Sinatra the intention of enemies of the state. In his opinion, someone planned to "create a new Hitler in America through the influence of mass hysteria." But the FBI filed a dossier 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 "hooked" from military service by paying the doctor.

5. Army

Frank was born very large, so the doctors had to use surgical forceps to get him into the light of God. In doing so, they left scars on his left cheek, ear and neck. In addition, they damaged the eardrum, because of which he was declared unfit for military service and did not get into the Second World War. His contribution to the victory was limited to participation in concerts organized by the United Troops Leisure Organization (USO).

6. Arrests

In 1938, Sinatra was arrested 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 before the court.

7. Favorite drink

Martinis are for girls and James Bond. Frankie preferred stronger drinks. All the bartenders knew 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 beau monde was John F. Kennedy. Frank's "High Hopes" was the theme song for the Kennedy campaign, and Sinatra was generally very supportive of him. But at the end of the president's life, they had little contact due to rumors about Frank's connection with the underworld. They say that after the assassination of Kennedy, Sinatra cried for several days, closing himself in the 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 shit" and "the worst song he's ever heard."

10. Depression

The great singer was prone to prolonged, severe depression and tried several times to commit suicide. Once he stuck his head in the oven, and then at least three more times he tried to commit suicide during a stormy romance with actress Ava Gardner.

Finally, let's remember how Frank Sinatra was called in different years. In his youth, he was simply called Frankie. When listeners appreciated the power of his vocal abilities, he was nicknamed "The Voice" (The Voice). He then became "Mr. Blue Eyes", or "Old Blue Eyes" (Ol' Blue Eyes). Over the years, respect for Sinatra has 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.

Francis Albert Sinatra is an American singer, actor, director and showman. It is considered to be one of the most influential and popular artists of the 20th century. In total, more than 150 million records with compositions performed by the singer have been sold. A true icon of the popular music of the time, predominantly in America, he was the recipient of eleven Grammy Music Awards. Known to the general public for the special timbre of his voice and lyrical style of vocal performance.

short biography

Born December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA. Frank's parents emigrated from Italy, moving to the United States at an early age. Having settled on the east coast of the country, they began a new life in which a future star appeared. The musician's father tried many professions in America, from a loader and a bartender to a fireman and a professional boxer. Mother was a housewife, worked as a nurse for some time. Subsequently, when the future singer matured a bit, she took up political activities as the leader of the local cell of the Democratic Party.

Hoboken, where Sinatra grew up, was a city of immigrants with a fairly low standard of living. Frank never received any education. At school, he was not fascinated by natural science subjects; he also did not gravitate toward the humanities. The creative nature, which did not tolerate a rigid framework, made itself felt. From childhood, the future performer did not differ in exemplary behavior. As a result, he was expelled from school, which did not upset him much. After all, Frank's only passion was music.

The first activity that paved the way to fame was the work as a driver for the novice group "Three Flashes". Then the young man himself becomes a performer in this group, which is now called the Hoboken Four. At the time, Frank was making just over twenty dollars a week for his work. Subsequently, Sinatra recalled that he was extremely happy about this: “For the opportunity to perform on stage and see my face on posters, I myself was ready to pay extra.”

Imperceptibly began the first tour. At the same time, Frank marries a young girl from a modest family, Nancy Barbato, who will bear him three children. Their marriage lasted from 1939 to 1951. In the future, the musician married three more times. His second wife is Ava Gardner, an American actress, Hollywood star, Oscar nominee. She was married to a popular performer from 1951 to 1957. For the third time, the singer married Mia Farrow, a famous Hollywood actress. Subsequently, she often starred in the films of Woody Allen, who liked to call her his muse. This marriage lasted two years, from 1966 to 1968. The last wife of America's idol was Barbara Marks, an American model and dancer. The final marriage turned out to be the most durable and lasted from 1976 to 1998 until the death of the star. Sinatra had three children from his first marriage: daughters Nancy and Tina, and son Frank.

Interesting Facts:

The singer had no musical education, he never learned musical notation. He was able to perform works, focusing solely on his ear.
Sinatra was one of the show business figures who participated in the election campaign of John F. Kennedy.
A small celestial body, discovered in 1989, was named after the musician. This is the asteroid Sinatra 7934, which is only visible through a powerful telescope.
Frank did not graduate from any educational institution, as he was expelled from elementary school in his fourth year of study for poor academic performance and behavior.
In 1938, the artist was briefly arrested for seducing a married woman. It was considered a crime in America at the time.
In 1943, the musician was invited to a reception at the White House by then US President Franklin Roosevelt.

Became a grandfather in 1974 when Nancy had a daughter. In the future, Frank had two more grandchildren.
In 1979, during a visit by the musician to Egypt, a concert was held, which was initiated by the then President of Egypt, Anwar Sadat. It is noteworthy that this concert took place almost in front of the Sphinx and the pyramid of Cheops.
In 1980, the singer took part in the election campaign of US presidential candidate Ronald Reagan. This happened 20 years after similar work on the election campaign of John F. Kennedy.
175,000 people gathered at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to listen to their favorite performer live in 1980.
In the 80s, the artist was the face of the cult television advertisements for the resorts of Atlantic City and Las Vegas. It happened after signing a lucrative deal with Steve Wynn.
He received one of the highest non-military awards in the United States - the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It happened in the mid 80s.

Celebrating his 75th birthday, the singer went on a world tour in December 1990.
On the day Sinatra died, the lights on Las Vegas Street went out, and the Empire State Building skyscraper was illuminated in blue to match the color of the cult artist's eyes.

Best songs

"New York, New York"

The composition "New York, New York" is one of Frank Sinatra's calling cards and is strongly associated with him. The history of its appearance is interesting. The theme was first heard in Martin Scorsese's New York, New York in 1977. Then it was performed by Liza Minnelli. Composer D. Kander and poet F. Ebb specially wrote a song for this tape. Later, the single was covered with minor changes in the lyrics by Frank Sinatra for his album Trilogy: Past Present Future (Trilogy: Past Present Future).

The song's popularity grew after it was performed by the singer at the Radio City Music Hall in October 1978. In 1979, the recording for the above-named album took place. Subsequently, two more studio versions of the song performed by the musician were made: in 1981 and 1993.

To date, the single is truly cult and widely replicated by popular culture. Many public events in the New York metropolitan area are not complete without its performance. The composition is the anthem of many sports teams. For example, a song sung by Frank Sinatra plays at the end of every New York Rangers game. Also every year on New Year's Eve in Times Square in New York, this melody sounds.

"New York, New York" - listen

"My way"

The history of the composition "My way" began in 1967 in France. It was performed by Claude Francois under the title "Comme d'habitude", and a few months later covered by Sinatra with lyrics by Paul Anka. Immediately after that, the single soared to the top lines of the American and British charts. An interesting fact is that the composition is often heard at funerals. This is not accidental, since the poems are the story of a person who has gone a long way in life, in which there is no place for disappointment.

"My way" - listen

Strangers in the Night

At first, the musician himself considered the song "Strangers in the night" not very successful. Nevertheless, this work was subsequently included in the singer's new album of the same name. And as a result, a surge in popularity in 1966, which was reflected in the top positions of the popular music charts. For this album, the artist received two Grammy awards. As for the melody, perhaps everyone has heard it at least once.

"Strangers in the night" - listen

Frank Sinatra's house

The singer moved to Palm Springs in the 1940s. Then it was a small unremarkable town. Only later did it acquire the status of a fashionable resort and the traditional residence of many Hollywood stars. The construction of this house was led by the architect Stuart Williams. Subsequently, he recalled that Sinatra arrived in 1947 and said: "I want a house right here." The mansion cost its owner more than 150 thousand dollars. The musician wanted the house to be built within a few months for the new year, which was done. Frank's new home in Palm Springs witnessed Frank's married life to Nancy Barbato and Ava Gardner. The original layout and decoration of the premises has been completely preserved in the building. Currently, the owner of the property rents it out, including short-term.

Frank Sinatra's connection to the mafia

In the minds of many people, the musician appears as a popular performer, closely associated with the structures of the ethnic mafia of the mid-20th century. This was largely facilitated by the publication of the novel by Mario Puzo "The Godfather". One of the characters in the work, Johnny Fontaine, seems to be copied by the author from the image of Frank Sinatra. Perhaps there is some truth in this. After all, the future artist grew up in a fairly criminal area, populated by immigrants from southern European states. It is no secret that organized crime was present in these areas at that time, which, to one degree or another, permeated many sectors of society. This was facilitated by the Great Depression standing in the yard. The economic crisis pushed people to get involved in near-criminal schemes for earning money. At the dawn of his career, the singer repeatedly performed in nightclubs with a dubious reputation. In the future, the musician participated in a number of events, which were attended, presumably, by persons who did not quite get along with the law.

The special demeanor of Frank Sinatra on stage and in life, characteristic of representatives of many sectors of society of that time, played a role. A significant contribution to the formation of the image of a star as a person associated with the criminal world was also made by the theme of the movie in which he starred. All this in a complex complemented his artistic image with a semi-criminal tinge. It is worth saying that in the middle of the 20th century this image turned out to be winning and the singer did not refuse to use it.

Frank Sinatra as an actor took part in the production of 64 films. The showman's acting debut was a role in the lyrical comedy Las Vegas Nights in 1941. Well, the last time the showman appeared on the wide screen in the television series "Private Detective Magnum" in 1987. Below are the most famous and titled works with the participation of the musician.

Ocean's Eleven (1960). Crime thriller starring Frank Sinatra.
"Candidate of Manchuria" (1962). Famous political thriller from director John Frankenheimer.
"From Here to Eternity" (1953). Romantic drama about a boxer. The picture won an Oscar for Best Picture.
"Dismissal to the city" (1949). A lyrical comedy, which was later recognized as one of the best American musical films.
"The Man with the Golden Arm" (1955). Romantic drama based on the novel by N. Algren with a musician in the title role.
"Raise Anchors" (1945). Comedy film directed by George Sidney.
"High Society" (1956). Romantic film, produced by Louis Armstrong.
"It's a Young Heart" (1954). Romantic drama directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Frank.
"Around the World in 80 Days" (1956). An adventure film directed by M. Anderson based on the novel by Jules Verne. This movie won five Oscars, as well as other awards.
"It Happened in Brooklyn" (1947). Musical romantic comedy starring Frank Sinatra.
"Detective" (1968). Crime drama directed by Gordon Douglas.
"Paris When It's Hot" (1964). Comedy in a romantic style, which also featured Audrey Hepburn. It is a remake of the French film Henrietta's Feast.
"Meet Me in Las Vegas" (1956). A melodrama in the style of American cinema of the time.
"The Girl in the Cement" (1968). Thriller with elements of drama starring a singer.
"The First Deadly Sin" (1980). An exciting thriller in which the singer played the role of a middle-aged policeman.
"Never Was So Few" (1959). Military drama, the events of which unfold during the Second World War.
"A New Kind of Love" (1963). A romantic comedy that won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design.
"Hole in the Head" (1959). Comedy picture with Frank in one of the main roles. She was later honored by the Directors Guild of America for her achievements in directing feature films.
"Kings Go" (1958). Relatively short (49 min.) melodrama filmed in black and white.
"Road to Hong Kong" (1962). An Anglo-American co-production musical comedy with an adventure twist.

Soundtracks performed by Frank Sinatra have been used in a huge number of films, series, and television programs. These are like pictures with the participation of the musician himself, and without him. And after the death of the singer himself, his work continues to live in the soundtracks of recent films. We list the works that the audience remembers, in which the voice of the artist sounds.

Song title	Movie title
witchcraft	Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower	Paris When It's Hot (1964)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas	Winners (1963)
C "est Magnifique; Let" s Do It, It "s All Right With Me; Montmart	Cancan (1960)
All My Tomorrows; High hopes	Hole in the Head (1959)
Three Coins in the Fountain	Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)
Chattanooga Choo Choo	From Here to Eternity (1953)
New York, New York; Come Up to My Place; On the Town; That's All There Is, Folks	Dismissal to the city (1949)
Ol' Man River	While the clouds are floating (1946)
dream	Flesh Knowledge (1971)
New York, New York	Lost in America (1985)
Young at Heart	Sweet Dreams (1985)
That's Life; Same Old Song and Dance	Bronx Story (1993)
Once Upon a Time; It Was a Very Good Year; Hello Young Lovers	Jungle Fever (1991)
Young at Heart	Think a Little Dream (1989)
Strangers in the Night	Scarface (1983)
I Think of You; London by Night; Let's Get Away From It All	Havana (1990)
It's Only Money; Kisses and Tears	Double Dynamite (1951)
Guys and Dolls; The Oldest Established; Adelaide; Sue Me	Guys and Dolls (1955)

Frank Sinatra was the idol of millions during his lifetime. It is not surprising that many documentary and biographical projects have been filmed about him, including with his participation. On the days of his anniversaries, the musician repeatedly gave concerts organized at the highest level, which were broadcast on television and subsequently mounted in the form of television programs. Let's take a look at some of the most successful ones.

The Texaco Star Theater (Episode 5.16). Frank Sinatra becomes the guest of the popular TV show at the turn of the forties and fifties.
The 26th Academy Award show. Another Academy Awards ceremony.
Person to Person (Episode 1). Documentary television program dedicated to the singer.
Sinatra: All or Nothing at All. Mini-series, the hero of which is Frank himself.
Frank Sinatra: The Man and the Myth. Documentary television film with a lot of newsreel.
That's Dancing! A musical with documentary elements.
Frank Sinatra: Concert for the Americas. TV version of the concert.
The Costume Designer. Short documentary film.

Francis Sinatra became one of the symbols of America in the mid-20th century. A native of the common people, with an extraordinary talent, he was able to break through to the heights of the mass culture of that time. It truly was the embodiment of the American dream.Representatives of the widest strata of the population, regardless of nationality and religious beliefs, were bribed by his velvety voice, demeanor, and acting talent. Undoubtedly, the singer deservedly took a worthy place in the history of world culture.

Video: Listen to Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra is one of the most outstanding singers and film actors of the middle and the end of the 20th century. He recorded over a hundred albums, starred in several dozen successful films. On the day of his death, the United States declared national mourning. And today, many fans of Frank's talent continue to revise old recordings. Sinatra was born into a family of Italian immigrants. The mother immediately worked as a nurse, and after the birth of her son, she became interested in social activities and took the post of city chairman of one of the parties. My father worked at shipyards, a fireman, etc. at various times, and also became a quite successful boxer in one particularly difficult financial period.

Frank has been fond of music since childhood. As a teenager, he sang in bars. After that, with a team of guys, he created the group "The Hoboken Four". In 1935, the guys won one of the talent competitions and real performances and tours appeared in the life of the young singer. The first true popularity comes to Sinatra when he began to perform as part of the Tommy Dorsey jazz orchestra. Rumor has it that the talented singer signed a life contract with him. However, after he managed to get rid of his obligations. In 1939, Frank married Nancy Barbato and had three children in nine years.

The creative life of the singer evolved as well as possible. For several years he released one album after another, performed a lot, and hosted popular radio programs. However, already in 1949 his career almost ended. First, notes began to slip in the press about the singer’s romance with film actress Ava Gardner, which they didn’t really hide. Frank was never an exemplary family man, but Nancy did not forgive him such a rival and filed for divorce. In view of the new scandalous reputation, several major agencies refused to cooperate with Sinatra.

And even in 1951. Frank married Ava, but due to their turbulent family life with frequent scandals, there was no less gossip. And in addition to all the hardships due to a cold, he lost his voice, fortunately not for long.

Already in 1952, Sinatra slowly returned to the stage again and at the same time tried his hand at cinema. His employment becomes one of the reasons for the divorce. After that, he married twice more - to Mia Farrow and Barbara Marks. The actor and singer died on May 14, 1998 at the age of 82. By this period, he managed to get 9 Grammys, Oscars and the highest award in the United States - the Congressional Gold Medal. In 2008, his image was transferred to new postage stamps as a tribute to the outstanding talent.

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

Sinatra became his own in the world of movie stars, communicated with presidents and became famous for his felt hat. The life path of this man 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 boy was arrested in Bergen County, New Jersey. He was charged with seduction, which in the 1930s threatened with serious consequences. Sinatra was caught having sexual intercourse with a certain 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 supplement the accusation with adultery. The guy spent a total of about 16 hours in prison, after which the officials decided to finally release him. Naturally, the singer himself tried not to advertise this story.

The potential king of the action genre. While Sinatra was not sitting in the recording studios, he starred in films with might and main. The most famous of them are "From Here to Eternity" and "The Man with the Golden Arm". But the name of Sinatra 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 participated in a battle with elements of martial arts, where Henry Silva became his opponent. This scene is iconic, in fact it is the first karate fight in American cinema. Spencer Tracy used a similar martial art in Bad Day at Black Rock. But technically it 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 the 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 Bros. considered Sinatra's candidacy for this role, eventually giving it to Clint Eastwood. The thing is that the very 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 aged cop 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 McClain. Luckily for movie buffs and Bruce Willis fans, the star said no.

The man behind Scooby-Doo. Since his grand introduction in 1969, Scooby-Doo has become one of the most popular cartoon characters of all time. He became a participant in films, TV shows, souvenirs were sold well with him. But who remembers that it was all thanks to Frank Sinatra? The famous Great Dane was originally just a minor character in the Mystic Five show. It was dedicated to five teenagers who traveled, playing music, and also explored mysteries along the way, involving otherworldly forces. The character of the dog was planned to be made cowardly, he had to go everywhere in a hat and sunglasses. But the producers of CBS were excited by the fact that the cartoon turned out to be too scary for children. The clouds began to thicken over the painting "Hanna-Barbera", but it was Sinatra who saved the situation. On a flight to Los Angeles, Fred Silverman, head of CBS children's programming, listened to the singer's composition "Strangers in the Night." Toward 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 hurried back to the company's headquarters and immediately began to implement his new idea.

Frank Sinatra vs Marlon Brando. Sinatra had many star friends, but he never liked 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 was the one who should have got the role of Terry Malloy in the film On the Waterfront. It was for her that Brando received his first Oscar. Even worse, in the musical, Brando got the romantic lead and Sinatra the comic supporting role. The enraged singer decided to teach a lesson to a competitor. That is why, when Brando asked for vocal lessons, Sinatra coldly replied that he did not want to help "this shit", referring to the rival's acting style. When it came to Brando, Sinatra called the most overrated actor in the world, nicknamed "mumbler". Instead of playing the funny guy, Sinatra went out of his way to outshine Brando in front of the camera. Frank pretended to be a crooner when he just needed to sing. But Brando did not even think of turning the other cheek. During the most difficult scene, he could just go to take a nap. Knowing that Sinatra hated shooting takes, Marlon intentionally misfired. And during the scene where Sinatra's character was eating a slice of cheesecake, Brando constantly forgot his words, forcing the opponent to overeat dessert. At the ninth slice of the pie, Sinatra lost his patience, dropped his plate, stuck his fork into the table and yelled, "How many cheesecakes do you think I can eat?"

Kennedy and connections with the mafia. Frank Sinatra's mob connections are probably the worst thing in the history of music. Despite all the singer's denials, everyone knew that he talked with the most influential people in the criminal world. Frank appeared in photographs along with Carlos Gambino, it is said that he brought John F. Kennedy and Sam Giancana (Chicago mobster) women. Sinatra became the prototype for Johnny Fontaine, the crooner from The Godfather. But was Sinatra a gangster? Or did he just enjoy being around the tough guys? In any case, he was involved in some dark affairs that affected the most powerful people in the country. For example, Sinatra at one time acted as an intermediary between the Kennedy clan and the Chicago mafia. This happened in 1960, when John F. Kennedy became the Democratic nominee for President. His father decided to covertly influence the election. Joseph Kennedy decided to turn to Sam Giancana for help, as he had certain leverage. But direct communication could turn into a scandal. That is why Sinatra was brought in as an intermediary. Frank was on friendly terms with John, agreeing to act as a liaison. It is said that Sinatra put in a good word to the mafiosi, and Giancana provided the votes needed to win. But when Kennedy got into the White House, his brother, who became Attorney General, declared war on the mafia. 283 prominent criminals were convicted in 1963 alone. Giancana wasn't happy, but Kennedy couldn't 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 personal club, at Villa Venezia.

FBI secret files. It is no secret that Edgar Hoover initiated the opening of a personal file on Frank Sinatra in 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 death of the singer, his personal file was declassified. Surprisingly, the FBI was able to collect not so much. Of course, the file was 15 centimeters thick and contained 1,300 pages, but despite numerous testimonies, the bureau had little real compromising evidence. After reviewing all the records, one could find investigations into 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 in the first place. In a letter dated August 13, 1943, an anonymous informant warned Edgar Hoover about Sinatra's unusual voice. The letter says that in the course of listening to the singer's program, piercing squeals were noted, created, presumably, by girl fans. The author of the letter, obviously paranoid, argued that these desperate cries of devotion are evidence of mass hysteria and the creation of another Hitler cult in America. The vigilant Edgar Hoover took notice of this assessment and opened a 40-year investigation against a man with passionate admirers.

Kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr. The singer's son really wanted to be like his father. In pursuit of his fame, 19-year-old Frank Jr. began performing at venues across the country, barely graduating from his studies in 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 the delivery men. However, instead of the false messengers, they grabbed the singer, threw him into the trunk of the car and drove away from the scene of the kidnapping. These bandits turned out to be Barry Keenan and Joseph Amsler. Initially, they 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 weren't the most adventurous criminals, forgetting to bring gas money with them. They borrowed a few dollars from their victim and, after refueling, headed towards Los Angeles. Information about the kidnapping quickly became known to the authorities. Frank Sr. was immediately offered their services and 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 Irwin. The singer, desperate to save his son, was ready to offer a ransom of a million dollars. Fortunately, the criminals were not greedy. They needed only 240 thousand dollars. On instructions from the FBI, Sinatra carried out the ransom. Within a few hours, his son was free. A few days later, John Irwin woke up conscience, he turned himself in and handed over his accomplices. The kidnappers were arrested, the money was returned to the father. The criminals were sentenced to harsh terms, but they got out ahead of schedule, going crazy. And Sinatra himself bought a gold watch for all the FBI agents who helped him save his son. When they said that they could not accept such expensive gifts, the singer bought another copy personally for Edgar Hoover. This solved the problem.

Sinatra and DiMaggio's Wrong Door. Frank Sinatra was a modern-day Don Juan, romancing the most desirable women in Hollywood. His wives were such beauties as Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow, but the most legendary partner was, without a doubt, Marilyn Monroe. The couple's relationship has been rather strange throughout. They became lovers after Marilyn broke up with playwright Arthur Miller, Sinatra even introduced the sexy blonde to John F. Kennedy. But the strangest moment in their friendship came with the Wrong Door scandal involving baseball star Joe DiMaggio. It happened in 1954 when Monroe was married to an athlete. But by that time, their relationship began to deteriorate. One November night, Sinatra was having dinner with DiMaggio at a Hollywood restaurant. Then the singer was called to the phone. The private detective who followed the actress called. He walked her to an apartment building, believing that she was meeting her lover there. The enraged husband, along with Sinatra, rushed out of the restaurant without even paying the bill. But it was not so scary, because the head waiter went with them, wanting to help. A crazy mob broke into the residential complex and kicked out the door. There were witnesses with cameras who wanted to capture the betrayal of Marilyn Monroe. However, turning on the lights, the crowd found a frightened woman, Florenc Kotz. It turned out that in the hustle and bustle the men broke into the wrong room. Embarrassed, the group of "guardians of morality" retreated and dispersed. And Marilyn was in another room, having come to visit 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 took offense at Sinatra, blaming him and Kennedy for Marilyn's death. Closer to his death, the legendary athlete forbade mentioning the name of Sinatra in his presence.

Civil rights activist. Nine years before the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, Frobel High School in Gary, Indiana, enrolled 200 African-American students. Not all white children were happy to be co-ed with blacks. About a thousand angry teenagers gathered and began to protest, threatening to skip classes. And then there was Frank Sinatra. 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. Emotions from participation in the project were still fresh in Sinatra's memory, and he went to the Frobel school. There he talked to all the students, explaining to them the unacceptability of racism. And before leaving, Sinatra took a promise from the students to remain tolerant and even sang the theme song from the movie The House I Live In. It said: "Kids in the playground, faces that I see, all races and religions, that's what America is to me." This was not the first and not the 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 banned, he did not stay in hotels if his African American friends were forbidden to appear there. Sinatra once brought singer Lena Horne to a white club, and then he spoke in support of Martin Luther King. True, once the performer allowed himself right on stage to make racist jokes about Sammy Davis Jr. However, Frank can be considered a true black rights activist at a time when most performers were too scared to challenge society. Sinatra once said: “As long as most white people consider blacks to be second-rate, we have a problem. I don't know why we can't change that."

Sinatra hated "My Way". The song "My Way" (My way) was one of the most iconic for Frank Sinatra. The original song was written by French composer Jacques Revo. And then Paul Anka wrote the English text especially for Frank Sinatra. He was just about to retire in 1969, and he needed a song that would be a great finishing touch 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. She has already become a kind of visiting 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's musical heritage, it began to be performed by everyone, not just Sinatra. "My Way" was sung by Sid Vicious, the Three Tenors and even Gonzo the Great. In 2005, this song was played at British funerals more than any other song. And in the Philippines, karaoke fans took it so seriously that a bad performance sometimes ended in murder. And the funny thing was that Sinatra himself absolutely hated this song. And every time, speaking to his audience, the singer reported on 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 have had enough of it by now." And when Sinatra performed at the Amphitheater (a hall in Los Angeles), he said: "The time will come and this moment will be painful for you, but not for me." And his most famous remark about "My Way" was at Carnegie Hall, when the singer claimed 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 really hated the composition, and not just disliked it. Sinatra seemed to be the world guy and the center of all life, but some of his friends claimed that he was quite modest. He was not one of those who sought to sing about his own greatness in front of a crowd of fans. Sinatra would rather talk about love for others than love for himself. However, fans demanded that he perform "My Way" without fail.

On December 12, the wonderful Frank Sinatra would have turned 100 years old. On this occasion, we confess our love to him and share with you interesting details from the life of a great artist.

1. Frank was born during the First World War into a family of emigrants from Italy, in particular, his father Martin - a fireman, shipyard worker, boilermaker, and later a boxer - arrived in New Jersey from Sicily. Frank's birth weight was an extraordinary six kilograms. Due to a difficult birth, when a doctor had to pull a large child with forceps, Sinatra had scars for life. Moreover, one of the eardrums was damaged - he heard worse than other people. He never received a musical education.

2. In his youth, Sinatra so strongly dreamed of working in the journalistic field that he first got a job as a loader in a publishing house. Then he was a courier, a copyist. Without a special education, he did not soon grow up to the position of a sports reporter. Then he even had his own program on the radio.

3. Early in his career in 1938, Sinatra was arrested for having an affair with a married woman. Then people were criminally responsible for this. Fortunately, the artist managed to escape punishment.

4. Interestingly, in his first group The Hoboken Four Frank, too, started out small as a touring chauffeur. He later joined the line-up as an artist for a fee of $25 a week. After the tour, he returned home and began working as a waiter, sometimes performing in a restaurant. Rustic Cabin.

5. Frank's idol in his younger years is the legendary Bing Crosby.

6. In the first big round of popularity in the 40s, the singer and actor received five thousand letters from fans a week by mail. Then he collaborated with the swing jazz orchestras of trumpeter Harry James and trombonist Tommy Dorsey.

Frank Sinatra - Blue Moon - Tommy Dorsey Orchestra

7. Sinatra has been married four times. His second wife is the famous actress Mie Farrow. The age difference between them was 30 years. Mia later married Woody Allen. And 10 years later, Frank married for the fourth time. Her name was Barbara Marks. With her, the artist lived together until his death. In addition to official marriages, Sinatra is known for his connections with other famous women. Among them are Ava Gardner, Anita Ekberg, Lauren Beykol, Marilyn Monroe.

8. In the early 1950s, after a severe cold, Frank lost his voice for a while. In addition, problems in his personal life and squabbles with the record company piled on him. Because of such a psychological attack, he wanted to commit suicide. But Sinatra managed to recover from a protracted depression and again began to do what he loved. Then he accepted an offer to act in films. This decision earned him his first and only Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in a Picture. From Here to Eternity (1954). Surprisingly, he didn’t get more guys in gold, despite the fact that the man starred in more than sixty films, for which he received a whole bunch of other film awards. 9. Nancy Sinatra, the artist's first child, has been playing movies with her father since the age of three. And then she had a very successful musical career.

10. Paul Anka song my way, performed by Sinatra, set a record in the British charts, she stayed on the chart from April 1969 to September 1971. And a couple of years ago, the British company Funeralcare compiled a list of the most popular songs at a funeral. It was the composition that led it. my way.

Frank Sinatra - "My Way"

11. Despite the fact that The Beatles at one time seriously pressed Frank in the popularity ratings, years later he performed the songs of the Liverpool Four. For example, Yesterday.

12. Rat Pack- a team of singer-actors, a company of stylish glamorous hedonists, which since the late 40s grouped around Humphrey Bogart, but it was Frank Sintara who became its real leader and symbol in the 50s and 60s. The Rat Pack also included Sammy Davis, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and others.

13. The rat pack, including Frank, supported John F. Kennedy during his 1960 presidential campaign. Through his friendship with the Kennedy brothers, Sinatra introduced Marilyn Monroe to them.

14. Frank was friends with Kennedy, even earlier with Franklin Roosevelt, who personally invited the artist to tea at the White House in 1944, however, a photograph was published in the press where Sinatra was captured in the friendly company of the Carlo Gambino mafia family. Another mafia boss, Lucky Luciano, had a gold cigarette case with a dedication from Frank after his death. The character of singer Johnny Fontaine from the famous novel is based on Frank Sinatra. Johnny in the novel patronizes Vito Corleone.

15. In 1971, Sinatra announced that he was leaving the stage, but three years later he still continued to sing. At the age of 64, he recorded one of his most famous hits - New York, New York. After another 10 years, he went on tour Together Again Tour. The last time Frank took the stage in 1995, speaking at a golf tournament in Palm Springs.