7. Sinatra, the Star …
Crooner Frank Sinatra (1915 – 1998) is not as well known today as he was in his heyday in the mid-twentieth century. At one time, though, he was huge. The man known as Ole Blue Eyes and Chairman of the Board (although he loathed the latter nickname) captured the hearts of music lovers around the world. His music sold about 150 million records, which puts him among history’s top artists by volume of sales. When he died in 1998, Sinatra had already established himself as an iconic figure in the same league as an Elvis or Marilyn Monroe.
Plenty of self-respect is one thing that Sinatra did not lack. At the start of his career, at a time of significant anti-Italian sentiment, bandleader Harry James recommended that he change his name because it was “too Italian”. He replied: “No way, baby. My name is Sinatra. Frank fucking Sinatra“. It’s a good thing he kept the name: bobby soxers, enthusiastic 1940s adolescent female fans of pop music, loved it and him. Their passion for Ole Blue Eyes never dimmed for the rest of their and his life. While Sinatra was an all-around class act, he did have some seedy aspects – and not just his mob ties. As seen below, there was that unexpected episode when he was arrested for “seduction” of a reputable woman.
