Frank Sinatra, Jr. - Biography

Overview

Frank Sinatra, Jr. (born January 10, 1944) is an American singer and conductor.

He is the son of famed musician Frank Sinatra and his first wife, Nancy Barbato. He was christened Franklin Wayne Emmanuel Sinatra, but later adopted the name "Frank, Jr." The name "Emmanuel" was in honor of Frank, Sr.'s mentor, Manie Sacks, whom Frank, Sr. wanted as the boy's godfather. Supposedly the priest officiating at the christening said that Sacks, as a Jew and obvious non-Catholic, could not serve as godfather. Frank, Sr. got angry and stormed out, and the christening took place somewhere else, with Sacks as the godfather.

Frank, Jr. has always existed in the shadow of his far more famous father. His supporters feel that if he had been born with another name he could have achieved quite a following of his own, while his detractors have claimed that he has made his entire career off his name. Unlike his sister Nancy, he has never had a major hit recording.

Frank, Jr. has allegedly fathered several children out of wedlock, including daughter Francine and son Francis Wayne, but he has to date only acknowledged paternity of son Michael Francis Sinatra. Frank, Jr.'s failure to produce a legitimate male heir for the Sinatra fortune was something Frank Sr. once complained about on "The Larry King Show."

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Kidnapping

In a bizarre incident, Sinatra was kidnapped in December 8, 1963 at Harrah's Lake Tahoe and released two days later after his father paid out the US$240,000 ransom demanded by the kidnappers, who were later captured, prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced to long prison terms. Gladys Root represented one of the kidnappers. In order to communicate with the kidnappers via pay telephone, as per their demands, his father carried a roll of dimes with him throughout this ordeal, which became a life-long habit. Frank Sinatra, Jr. did not seem to be overly scarred by this event. The kidnapping has been later explained in Act Three of the "Plan B" episode from the radio narrative show, This American Life by Barry Keenan, one of the kidnappers. The kidnapping is portrayed in the 2003 made-for-TV movie Stealing Sinatra, which is based on Barry Keenan's story.

At the time of trial, Keenan attempted to make it appear that Sinatra, Jr. himself was a willing conspirator in his own kidnapping. This allegation didn't stand up in court, but still proved to be fodder for late-night TV jokes and negative publicity for Frank, Jr.'s career.

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Career

Frank Sinatra, Jr. has played at times in Las Vegas in the footsteps of his father, but this seemed to invite almost invariably negative comparisons. On seeing the act, Forbes Magazine editor Malcolm Forbes remarked, "Junior sure ain't Senior!," to which several readers wrote to ask if he would like his son Steve Forbes to be referred to in this manner. Frank, Jr. appeared in the Sammy Davis, Jr. television drama A Man Called Adam in 1966 and hosted a summer replacement series while the popular The Dean Martin Show was on hiatus in 1968. Since both Davis and Martin were close friends of Frank, Sr., it further fueled the notion that Frank, Jr.'s career was built on nepotism.

In the later stages of his father's performing career, Frank Sinatra, Jr. became his father's musical director and conductor.

In 1989, Sinatra did a cameo vocal on the acclaimed Was (Not Was) album, "What Up, Dog?" on Chrysalis Records, singing "Wedding Vows In Vegas" with the band. He also appeared with WNW doing that song on Late Night With David Letterman on NBC the same year.

During the 1995/1996 television season, Sinatra was offered the role of Vic Fontaine on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Despite being a fan of the show and finding the role interesting, he turned it down, declaring that he only wanted to play an alien. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)

He also had a guest spot playing himself on The Sopranos, in a role where it was unclear if he was mocking or acknowledging all the stories about his father's involvement with the mob, and where he lets the character Paulie Walnuts refer to him as the "Chairboy of the Board".

Sinatra appeared in a 2006 episode of Family Guy, "Brian Sings and Swings" (Season 4, Episode 19) where he was introduced as the "Member of The Board". He performs several tunes during the show, accompanied by Stewie and Brian. During the ending credits, he sings the Family Guy theme song. He also recorded a commentary for its DVD release.

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Howard Stern Show appearance

On June 12, 2006, Sinatra was scheduled to appear as a guest on The Howard Stern Show but walked out moments before the interview took place because he refused to sign a mandatory guest release. Eye witnesses, including the show's producer Gary Dell'Abate claimed that Sinatra was already in a foul mood when he entered the studio offices, which culminated in a fit when Sinatra lashed out and broke a CD and other items against a wall. Sinatra's publicist then asked Dell'Abate to remove an article from the release which demanded the guest have their person searched; Dell'Abate tried to oblige, but Sinatra was already gone by the time he returned to the guest waiting room. Howard Stern, upon hearing this news, asked: "Doesn't he know he's Frank Sinatra, Junior?"

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Album

In 2006, Sinatra recorded a new album entitled "That Face" including songs like "You'll Never Know" and the self-penned song "Spice."

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External links

Who is Frank Sinatra, Jr. connected to?

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Malcolm Forbes

This biography says:

...has played at times in Las Vegas in the footsteps of his father, but this seemed to invite almost invariably negative comparisons. On seeing the act, Forbes Magazine editor Malcolm Forbes remarked, "Junior sure ain't Senior!," to which several readers wrote to ask if he would like his son Steve Forbes to be referred to in this manner...

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Howard Stern

This biography says:

On June 12, 2006, Sinatra was scheduled to appear as a guest on The Howard Stern Show but walked out moments before the interview took place because he refused to sign a mandatory guest release...

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Frank Sinatra

This biography says:

Frank Sinatra, Jr. (born January 10, 1944) is an American singer and conductor....

That biography says:

...On May 20, 1998 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, Sinatra's funeral was held in front of 400 mourners. Gregory Peck, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra, Jr. addressed the mourners, among whom were Jill St. John, Tom Selleck, Joey Bishop, Faye Dunaway, Tony Curtis, Liza Minnelli, Kirk Douglas, Robert Wagner, Don Rickles, Nancy Reagan, Angie Dickinson and Jack Nicholson...

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Steve Forbes

This biography says:

...On seeing the act, Forbes Magazine editor Malcolm Forbes remarked, "Junior sure ain't Senior!," to which several readers wrote to ask if he would like his son Steve Forbes to be referred to in this manner. Frank, Jr. appeared in the Sammy Davis, Jr. television drama A Man Called Adam in 1966 and hosted a summer replacement series while the popular The Dean Martin Show was on hiatus in 1968...

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Nancy Sinatra

How is Frank Sinatra, Jr. connected to Nancy Sinatra? Tell the world.

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Oscar Levant

That biography says:

...Here was my faith! Spinoza said rituals are all based on fear. My faith destroyed, I put down the book." *"When Frank Sinatra, Jr. was kidnapped, I said, 'It must have been done by music critics.'" *"Not long ago, a well-known Hollywood savings-and-loan millionaire intruded on a conversation at my table at a restaurant...

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Nelson Riddle

That biography says:

*Judy Garland, ''Judy'' (Capitol Records, 1956) *Phil Silvers, ''Phil Silvers And Swinging Brass</b> (Columbia Records, 1956) *Peggy Lee, The Man I Love (Capitol Records, 1957) (conducted by Frank Sinatra) *Keely Smith, I Wish You Love (Capitol Records, 1958) *Judy Garland, Judy In Love (Capitol Records, 1958) *Peggy Lee, Jump for Joy (Capitol Records, 1958) *Mavis Rivers, Take A Number (Capitol Records, 1959) *Keely Smith, Swingin' Pretty (Capitol Records, 1959) *Dinah Shore, Dinah, Yes Indeed! (Capitol Records, 1959) *Sue Raney, When Your Lover Has Gone (Capitol Records, 1959) *Dean Martin, This Time I'm Swingin'' (Capitol Records, 1960) *Rosemary Clooney, Rosie Solves The Swingin' Riddle (RCA Records, 1961) *Dean Martin, Cha Cha De Amor' (Capitol Records, 1962) *Johnny Mathis, I'll Buy You A Star' (Columbia Records, 1962) *Shirley Bassey, Let's Face The Music (EMI, 1962) *Danny Williams, Swinging For You (HMV Records, 1962) *Keely Smith, Little Girl Blue/Little Girl New (Reprise Records, 1962) *Rosemary Clooney, Love (Reprise Records, 1962) *Various Artists, Frank Sinatra And His Friends Want You To Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Reprise Records, 1963) *Shirley Bassey, Shirley Bassey Sings The Hit Song From Oliver!, "As Long As He Needs Me" (United Artists Records, 1963) *Bing Crosby, Return To Paradise Islands (Reprise Records, 1964) *Oscar Peterson, Oscar Peterson And Nelson Riddle (Verve Records, 1964) *Jack Jones, There's Love And There's Love And There's Love (Kapp Records, 1965) *Antonio Carlos Jobim, The Wonderful World of Antonio Carlos Jobim (Warner Bros. Records, 1965) *Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Tina Sinatra, Wish You a Merry Christmas (Reprise Records, 1968) *Frank Sinatra, Jr., Spice (Daybreak Records, 1971) *Steve Lawrence, Portrait of Steve (MGM Records, 1972) *Linda Ronstadt, What's New? (Asylum Records, 1983) *Linda Ronstadt, Lush Life (Asylum Records, 1984) *Kiri Te Kanawa, Blue Skies (Decca Records, 1985) *Linda Ronstadt, For Sentimental Reasons (Asylum Records, 1986) (posthumous Riddle)