Frank Sinatra (1915–1998) Frank Sinatra, born Francis Albert Sinatra in Hoboken, New Jersey, was one of the 20th century’s greatest entertainers—a singer, actor, and cultural icon known as “Ol’ Blue Eyes” and “The Chairman of the Board.” Starting in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey bands, he became a bobby-soxer idol in the 1940s with hits like “I’ll Never Smile Again.” After vocal cord issues and career dips, his 1950s Capitol Records comeback produced classics like “In the Wee Small Hours,” “Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!,” and “Come Fly with Me.” He won an Oscar for From Here to Eternity (1953) and starred in films like The Man with the Golden Arm and Ocean’s 11. A Rat Pack leader with Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., he epitomized cool Vegas glamour. Later Reprise hits included “Strangers in the Night” (No. 1, 1966) and “My Way.” Married four times (Nancy Barbato, Ava Gardner, Mia Farrow, Barbara Marx), he retired in 1995 after health declines. Sinatra died of a heart attack on May 14, 1998, at age 82 in Los Angeles. With over 150 million records sold and inductions into multiple halls of fame, his phrasing, charisma, and longevity made him the definitive interpreter of the Great American Songbook
