(Francis Albert Sinatra)

Born in December 1915, Sinatra was the only child of Italian immigrants. Sinatra was raised Catholic. He left high school without graduating, having attended only 47 days before being expelled because of shouting and singing when not supposed to. His mother, known as Dolly, was influential in the neighborhood and in local Democratic Party circles, but also ran an illegal abortion business from her home; she was arrested several times. Sinatra's father served as a Fire Captain. During the Great Depression in North America, the mother provided ready pocket money to their son for outings with friends and fancy clothes. Sinatra then worked as a delivery boy and as a riveter. Sinatra began singing for tips at the age of eight, standing on top of the bar at a local nightclub. He began singing professionally as a teenager in the 1930s. Born in December 1915, Sinatra was the only child of Italian immigrants. Sinatra was raised Catholic. He left high school without graduating, having attended only 47 days before being expelled because of shouting and singing when not supposed to. His mother, known as Dolly, was influential in the neighborhood and in local Democratic Party circles, but also ran an illegal abortion business from her home; she was arrested several times. Sinatra's father served as a Fire Captain. During the Great Depression in North America, the mother provided ready pocket money to their son for outings with friends and fancy clothes. Sinatra then worked as a delivery boy and as a riveter. Sinatra began singing for tips at the age of eight, standing on top of the bar at a local nightclub. He began singing professionally as a teenager in the 1930s.

Sinatra started his carrier in 1935 when his mother persuaded a local singing group, The Three Flashes, to let him join. They attracted 40,000 votes and won the first prize a six month contract to perform on stage and radio across the United States. In June, Harry James hired Sinatra on a one year contract of $75 a week. It was with the James band that Sinatra released his first commercial record "From the Bottom of My Heart. Harry James

In November 1939, in a meeting at the Palmer House in Chicago, Sinatra was asked by bandleader Tommy Dorsey to join his band as a solo singer. Though Sinatra was still under contract with James, James recognized the opportunity Dorsey offered and graciously released Sinatra from his contract. Sinatra recognized his debt to James throughout his life and upon hearing of James's death in 1983, stated: "he [James] is the one that made it all possible." Tommy Dorsey

Sinatra left the Dorsey band late in 1942 in an incident that started rumors of Sinatra's involvement with the Mafia. A story appeared in the Hearst newspapers that mobster Sam Giancana coerced Dorsey to let Sinatra out of his contract for a few thousand dollars. This story was famously fictionalized in the movie The Godfather.

Paramount Theater in New York Sinatra was at the top of the male singer polls in the magazines. His appeal to teenage girls revealed a whole new audience for popular music, which had been recorded mainly for adults up to that time. In 1942, Sinatra opened at the Paramount Theater in New York.

The role and performance in a drama From Here to Eternity (1953) marked a turnaround in Sinatra's career: after several years of critical and commercial decline, becoming an Oscar-winning actor helped him regain his position as the top recording artist in the world.

From Here to Eternity (1953)

Sinatra's first live album, Sinatra at the Sands, was recorded during January and February With Sinatra in mind, singer- songwriter Paul Anka wrote the song "My Way. "My Way" would, ironically, become more closely identified with him than any other song over his seven decades as a singer even though he reputedly did not care for it.

In 1971 at a concert in Hollywood at the age of 55, Sinatra announced that he was retiring, bringing to an end his 36-year career in show business. Three years later Sinatra returned to Las Vegas, performing at Caesar's Palace. Back in Las Vegas, while celebrating 40 years in show business and his 64th birthday, he was awarded the Grammy Trustees Award during a party at Caesar's Palace. In 1971 at a concert in Hollywood at the age of 55, Sinatra announced that he was retiring, bringing to an end his 36-year career in show business. Three years later Sinatra returned to Las Vegas, performing at Caesar's Palace. Back in Las Vegas, while celebrating 40 years in show business and his 64th birthday, he was awarded the Grammy Trustees Award during a party at Caesar's Palace.

In 1995, to mark Sinatra's 80th birthday, the Empire State Building glowed blue. A star-studded birthday tribute, Sinatra: 80 Years My Way, was held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. It was Sinatra's last televised appearance. In 1995, to mark Sinatra's 80th birthday, the Empire State Building glowed blue. A star-studded birthday tribute, Sinatra: 80 Years My Way, was held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. It was Sinatra's last televised appearance.

Sinatra had three children, Nancy, Frank Jr., and Tina, all with his first wife, Nancy Barbato (married ). He was married three more times, to actresses Ava Gardner (1951–1957) and Mia Farrow (1966–1968) and finally to Barbara Marx (married 1976), to whom he was still married at his death.