December 12, 1915...415 Monroe Street, Hoboken, New Jersey. Natalina “Dolly” Garaventa and Antonio “Marty” Sinatra welcomed their only child, Francis Albert Sinatra into a perplexing and complex world...a world plagued by global conflicts that would endure for thirty more years.
Dolly Garaventa and Antonio Sinatra had eloped over two years prior to the birth of their 13 and ½ pound son...a new born so large that the forceps utilized severely scarred and disfigured his left ear as well as his neck and face. Additionally, the struggle to deliver the child in the upstairs, Monroe Street apartment perforated his ear drum; an injury that plagued Sinatra for his entire life.
Dolly Sinatra was a diligent and directed woman...especially by early 20th century measures. Working as a midwife, earning $50 per delivery and allegedly operating an illegal abortion service for Italian, Catholic women, Dolly was extremely active and engaged in the community. Dolly additionally served as an interpreter and became engrossed in local Democratic politics. Stories told, by Frank’s fourth wife, Barbara, accused Dolly of excessive corporal punishment and abuse.
Marty Sinatra, Frank’s father, was a favored member of the Hoboken community. Illiterate, Marty Sinatra fought as a bantamweight boxer...fighting under the name of Marty O’Brien. Marty Sinatra emigrated to New York from Palermo...the capital city of Sicily...just prior to Christmas, 1903. He arrived with his mother and sisters and met his father who had arrived prior.
Marty dabbled in shoe repair but opted to participate in prize-fighting. As Italians were shunned from the prize-fighting industry, he fought, as mentioned, under an assumed, Irish name...Marty O’Brien. After 30 professional fights and broken wrists, Sinatra sought work in the marine industry. Being asthmatic, he was unable to pursue such a career and, with the assistance of his politically favored wife, found employment with the Hoboken Fire Department. Without having to partake in any exams, Marty Sinatra rose to the rank of Captain and, with an ample dual income, the Sinatras opened a neighborhood tavern and called it “Marty O’Brien’s.”
Dolly kept her son dressed in the finest clothing and in need of nothing. Frank was rather underweight with an awkward, narrow frame. In his adolescent years, he developed a sincere appreciation for the big-band sound and, at the age of 15, began to play the ukulele...a gift given to him by his Uncle Domenico.
Sinatra attended Demarest High School, but failed to graduate. In fact, he managed but 47 days before facing expulsion for his disorderly and raucous behavior. Urged by his mother to return to school, Sinatra attempted to complete Drake Business School, where he lasted but 11 months.
Bouncing from trade to trade, the young Sinatra performed at local night clubs and sang, for free, on Jersey City radio stations. Sinatra was referred to a vocal coach for elocution lessons, as his accent and dialect appeared to hinder his singing. At $1 per lesson, John Quinlan assisted Sinatra with his pronunciation and speech. It was Quinlan who first detected the enormous talent lurking within the young man.
Sinatra, unable to read sheet music, sang “by ear.” His mother, Dolly, once again used her influence to convince a town group, the 3 Flashes, to allow her son to join. The band leader, Fred Tamburro, later remarked that they only accepted Sinatra because he owned a car and could serve as transportation.
The 3 Flashes prepared to perform for the Major Bowes Amateur Hour show...a 60-minute radio talent show hosted by Edward Bowes. Sinatra pleaded to be included and was permitted to do so. The 3 Flashes were now the Hoboken Four. Attracting over 40,000 votes, the Hoboken Four won first prize...a 6-month contract to perform nationally.
The group enjoyed significant success and Sinatra swiftly became the center of attention and the focus of the ladies.
Sinatra began singing at “The Rustic Cabin,” an inn located in nearby Englewood Cliffs. The Rustic Cabin was somehow affiliated with WNEW radio, in New York and the station frequently broadcast from that location. It was here that, in 1939, Harry James and saxophonist, Frank Mane, first heard the stunning and prodigious Sinatra sound.
Mane arranged for Sinatra to record his first song, “Our Love,” and James signed Frank to a 2-year contract to sing for the Harry James Band and perform at the Paramount Theater in New York City.
Sinatra quickly became displeased with the rate at which his career was advancing under James and, despite pleas to remain, left James’ orchestra. With the departure of Jack Leonard from the Tommy Dorsey Band, Sinatra asked Harry James to release him from his contract and opportunistically replaced Leonard in Tommy Dorsey’s prestigious group.
Those closest to Sinatra indicated that Dorsey became somewhat of a “father figure” to Frank. Dorsey was an obsessive perfectionist and Sinatra both observed and mirrored this passion for perfection. Sinatra emulated Dorsey in so many ways and those who were close enough expressed that the admiration was mutual. Dorsey referred to Sinatra as “the skinny kid with big ears.” Nevertheless, with each performance, Dorsey stared with awe at the immensely talented singer.
Later in life, Sinatra remarked “the only two people I’ve ever been afraid of are my mother and Tommy Dorsey.”
As most know, Sinatra went on to record an immense number of songs...the count so high that the precise total was unknown to Sinatra himself. With recordings in the 1930’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’, 80’s and 90’s, it is believed that the number of actual recordings exceeds 1,200.
Sinatra died at the age of 82 at Cedars-Sinai Medical center in Los Angeles on May 14, 1998. Struggling with health issues, a severe heart-attack ultimately quieted the legendary and storied crooner.
Considered the greatest singer of the 20th century...a century that included the likes of Elvis Presley and Bing Crosby...Sinatra has been memorialized everywhere from Hoboken, New Jersey to the Hollywood Walk of Fame to a United States postage stamp.
Buried next to his parents in Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California, Sinatra’s grave marker reads “The Best is Yet to Come.”
Saturday, December 12, 2015...the centennial of Sinatra’s birth...is an opportune time to reminisce and to exalt the life and the accomplishments of this immensely talented performer.
Happy 100th birthday, Frank!
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