New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Think of the current hottest music stars from
Rihanna to
Miley Cyrus,
Harry Styles to Post Malone. How many of these will be relevant in five years or 15 years?
While some people’s music careers have a longevity that can be surprising, others burn bright then fade away. It’s a grueling business and no matter how popular you are one year, the next you can be usurped.
However there are names that even children hear and know who they are, some of these include:
- Johnny Cash
- Paul McCartney
- Madonna
- Cher
- Tina Turner
These people have introduced songs to the world that live on. For some, they challenged expectations of what was expected of a music star.
Some could even have been said to change the world. From Beatlemania to Madonna’s ever-changing styles (and face!), they cause hype and gain attention at every corner.
Stars that become legends
Some people become legends, so that even after their death their music is regularly played and enjoyed by different generations. One of these legends is undoubtedly Frank Sinatra.
Sinatra was a character; the blue-eyed idol was a friend to many and garnered millions of fans. His talent and charisma were notable and people still speak of him to this day.
A founding member of the Rat Pack, now Sinatra’s name and likeness adorn many things. Whether you pick up a tote bag from a museum or play poker online, you can find tributes to him.
That’s because his influence stretched way beyond the music industry. He changed the perception of musical artists for all time.
Frank Sinatra’s beginnings
One of the most enduring popular figures of the 20th century, Francis Albert Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. His birth date was December 12th, 1915.
Sinatra was drawn to big band jazz from an early age. He loved listening to artists such as Bing Crosby and Russ Colombo.
He began learning ukulele at 15, after his uncle gifted him an instrument for his birthday. His singing career started in the clubs of Hoboken, including:
- The Comedy Club
- The Cat’s Meow
He was happy to sing for cigarettes or food until his mother convinced a group to let him join. Thus the 3 Flashes became the Hoboken Four, and success quickly followed in the form of a six-month contract.
Sinatra was confident he could become a big star. He became a singing waiter at ‘The Rustic Cabin’, a roadhouse which had connections with a New York radio station.
After hearing him perform on ‘Dance Parade’ Harry James asked Sinatra to become the lead singer of his band. With the James Band, Sinatra released his first commercial recording, ‘From the Bottom of my Heart’.
Chart success
When Sinatra joined the Dorsey Band in 1939, he began to develop his signature vocal style. He had his first chart success with ‘Polka Dots and Moonbeams’ and many songs thereafter.
Before he’d even recorded his first solo album, girls were clamoring for him in the streets, sometimes causing riots! His appeal was broad, as he was respected by musicians for his impressive range and dedication to the music.
Sinatra had many hits from 1940 - 1950, including:
- ‘Night and Day’
- ‘Close to You’
- ‘Five Minutes More’
He was selling at least ten million albums a year, and at times performing over 100 songs a day. Very few artists have achieved this prolificacy.
Sinatra’s personal life
Being such a huge star has its drawbacks and one of these was the enormous interest in his personal affairs. Many were delighted with his marriage to Nancy, and furious when it fell apart.
His affair with Ava Gardner drew much public ire and talk of Mafia connections also made people talk. Sinatra took a residency contract in Las Vegas, one of the first to do so.
There he indulged in nights at the casino and partied with his fellow Rat Pack members.
In 1953, Sinatra decided he wanted to make more music and gained a place in the hearts of America again.
From then until his retirement in 1995, Sinatra created a body of work and performances that would stun most. He collaborated with people such as:
- Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin (in the Rat Pack)
- Nelson Riddle
- John Denver
- Quincy Jones
And collected many honors throughout his career, including:
- Three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 11 Grammy Awards
- Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award
The legacy of Sinatra
Sinatra pioneered the role of the solo artist showing that they could be a star aside from the band. He was the first idol that had women fainting in the aisles and screaming his name.
With each new decade, Sinatra seemed to gain new appeal. Many critics attribute this to his groove and vocal ability plus his sincerity to the music and lyrics.
In fact, Sinatra has had a huge impact on singing styles. He made the lyrics flow into the music and vice versa, never sacrificing or choosing one over the other.
The way he could bend and breathe in a note was unusual and has encouraged many imitators.
There can be no doubt that Sinatra was one of the first pop icons. His music endures and will teach many for generations to come.
