Frank Sinatra: One of the Most Influential Figures of the 20th Century

He was one of the most influential and talented entertainers the world has ever seen. But he was also one of the most complex - generous and loyal friend, champion of the underdog, devoted family man, womanizer and volatile, loud-mouthed tough guy. He lived a life on the edge - full of excitement, danger and passion. Sow, just how did the skinny Italian kid from New Jersey became an international superstar and the world’s first true multi-media artist? In this week’s Biographics we go behind the veneer to get up close with the Chairman of the Board.
→Subscribe for new videos every Monday and Thursday! kzbin.info...
Vote for the Biography you want us to next. Click here to vote:
biographics.org/you-choose-the...
Visit our companion website for more: biographics.org
Credits:
Host - Simon Whistler
Author - Steve Theunissen
Producer - Samuel Avila
Executive Producer - Shell Harris
Business inquiries to [e-mail]
Biographies by the book, get Frank Sinatra's biography from Amazon: amzn.to/2AxTdpc
Other Biographics Videos:
Robin Williams Biography: The Darkness Behind the Light
• Robin Williams Biograp...
Piers Morgan Biography: A Controversial, but Successful, Journalism Career
• Piers Morgan Biography...

[@QUARTERMASTEREMI6]

_"The best revenge is massive success."_ - Frank Sinatra

[@rixx46]

I was working on a TV show with Paul Anka (odd little guy) and he got us tickets to see Sinatra at Ceasar's Palace in Vegas. It was one of his last 'retirement' efforts so I was anticipating he would just phone in a medley or two and call it a night. Instead, I saw a remarkable performance full of energy humour and class. Clearly, Vegas was his natural environment. It was like seeing a lion in the wild - totally relaxed and in control of his world. I was never a specific fan of his before then, but came to appreciate him - especially his early recordings from the 30s and 40s when his voice was pure gold.

[@Biographics]

I love reading personal stories about the people in our bios. Thanks for sharing. -Shell

[@ixb1zzar3xi]

@@Biographics my grandma was related to him, her grandma was mary sinatra

[@ThorfinnSkullsplitter-fz7ff]

@@Biographics Agreed. I've got a couple of little ones about F. Scott Fitzgerald and Hubert Humphrey if the opportunity comes up.

[@michaelbeard5]

yes, Paul Anka was a mean one..... He wanted to punch my lights out at a dinner theatre when I asked if i could check in his coat at an Aspen dinner theatre. Mean guy

[@mr.iforgot3062]

​@@BiographicsI'm a 6th cousin to Sinatra.

[@David_Me825]

“Basically, I'm for anything that gets you through the night-be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniel's.” - Frank Sinatra

[@creamcheese1048]

LOL

[@joshglover2370]

Hell yeah! I feel this! 😀

[@max-mtg]

Did he really say that

[@InstigationFixation]

"When Frank opened his mouth, it was settled" Oh, so it was that kind of audition

[@ipodtouch495]

Ah the Weinstein approach to auditions..

[@NotKimiRaikkonen]

@@ipodtouch495 an interesting connection, Mia Farrow's son Ronan, who many believe is also Sinatra's son, is the one who exposed Harvey.

[@felmlee1876]

Sinatra's copyrights must be bombproof, as there was not a single syllable of his voice in this piece.

[@giovannicervantes2053]

Probably nuke proof

[@deleetiusproductions3497]

Biographics doesn't seem to often use audio much anyway. Well, apart from the fact that these videos are basically nothing but a guy talking to a camera anyway.

[@saintcruzin]

Sinatra's songs are available for video's but it wasn't necessary in this piece...

[@jameswheat4225]

Man Frank is 1 of a kind.. just listen to his voice he is the epitome of style, swagger & character!

[@karlp8484]

I was born 30 years after Frankie doing Las Vegas, so I'm definitely not of his generation of fans, but I've read a voluminous biography on him and have the deepest respect for his singing and particularly his phrasing. Your summary of his life pretty much ticks all the key boxes. Well done.

[@Sean-ig2uf]

2 years late, but were they James Kaplan biographies?

[@zhenya-fd9nb]

They need a film about a Frank Sinatra, I heard Martin Scorsese had plans to direct one but Sinatra’s family wouldn’t allow it

[@spo666tty]

I have no idea how you manage to do so much research and fit it all into an easy to follow video, but these are always top notch. Great video, guys

[@roman14032]

whats hard to understand? he pays a guy to write it and he reads it badly

[@spo666tty]

freedomisnocrime take your medicine, mate

[@davidbourgeois3981]

Troll alert

[@ActionJackson669]

Because he has a full team, he doesn't run the whole channel. He has researchers, editors, script writers, etc. Simon literally just reads the script that he is given. He is just the voice and face of the channel, but he certainly isn't the only one doing work. He arguably does the least amount of work out of everyone else, but he plays his role very well and there is no shame in that. He still does a great job 👏

[@mikegehre570]

Sinatra has that smooth delivery that resonates even to this day. He garners new fans from each successive generations.

[@stepawayful]

I worked on the 1993 CBS miniseries "Sinatra" and got to meet Frank. Best experience in my 12 years in Hollywood.

[@paulporto1318]

Thank you Simon, for a well-balanced account of Frank Sinatra’s life. I am a big admirer of Frank Sinatra’s musicianship. I have also now become quite the admirer of these Biographics videos. Happy Holidays Simon! 🌲

[@psychojoe4764]

I love Simons delivery of "he walked up to him called him a fruit" cracks me up for some odd reason.

[@robin6469]

Next you should do Dean Martin, the King of Cool

[@redsloane879]

The Red Menace LOVE Dino!💞

[@j.r.765]

The Red Menace BIO should do this

[@requinremembers]

I was gonna say this too. I have always loved loved loved Dean Martin...hope Simon does one on him.

[@vegass04]

Actually The King of cool was Steve McQueen.

[@Gos1234567]

Thats Steve McQueen

[@colorblue7018]

Finally! Thank you so much Simon! Swing is my thing, and Sinatra is the man! Your videos have a clear commitment to quality, and don't put me to sleep as soon as I sit on the couch. Nice job man

[@Biographics]

It ain't no thing if it ain't got that swing.

[@QUARTERMASTEREMI6]

+Color Blue Swing is the truest thing. ♡

[@thomastaylorjr.6366]

'...still, little Frankie grew up lonely, AND alone.' Very descriptive! 🍻

[@nicoles7800]

Simon, I am grateful for your vlogs. Francis Sinatra was a genius of interpretation & vocalisation of music and his voice expressed & embodied, the human condition & challenge of being . His Mother was shamed in her community, for helping, any woman ( at that time) for being a lay Midwife, & all that was shunned & hiddend in her life time. Frank's ( amazing, phrase of Voice has never been heard yet in this age, & perhaps never will be again) legasy, I truly hope, will not be forgotten by history. I believe we are all beautiful beings, some are fortunate enough to have caregivers, who teach us, just that. It is enough just to exist and walk this Earth.

[@ActionJackson669]

You understand that this isn't a vlog right? He has a full team of researchers, writers, editors, etc. He is just the narrator, so he is the voice/face of the channel, but he doesn't do any of the research or writing, he is given a script to read off of. He does a good job though, can't take that away from him. But just being clear so everyone gets their credit, rather than thinking he runs everything on all of his channels lmao.

[@lukezuzga6460]

Grew up with my Grandma listening to him. Great Job Shell and Simon, I look forward to these videos all week!

[@Aezeus]

Thank you for your work Simon :)

[@Stealthy072]

Great content Simon lots of love from Dublin

[@sandymckenna9727]

Like always great video! Greetings from Luxembourg 💕

[@nathanharju7655]

It would be great if you did a video on Frank Zappa. He was an incredibly innovative and enigmatic musician.

[@christianstokes354]

I’m 21 years old and I love listening to Frank Sinatra

[@2Oldcoots]

An incomparable entertainer--saw him twice live in Las Vegas. In the midst of a recession, Sinatra was always sold out there. With the microphone in his hand onstage he was "One of a Kind" with total control of the audience. I personally witnessed women throwing their room keys onto the stage at Bally's and in the late late show, some of their underwear (presumably) along with the keys!

[@calichef1962]

My grandfather was also a depression era nightclub singer. He met my grandmother across a manicure table. Unfortunately, my grandfather loved bootleg booze more than he loved singing. Luckily, my grandmother loved him enough to stick by him until he quit drinking 18 years later. It all worked out for them.

[@sporeham1674]

That is amazing!! I want this as a movie!

[@bobby8012]

18 years later? yeah thats 18 years of drinking good job

[@chrisholdread174]

Sinatra and the likes may be my grandparents music but I fallen in love with that genre more than my grandparents did. There's a real genuineness about that music. I also got into collecting record because of Frank and have 900+ records of his from all around the world

[@splattt8088]

Chris Holdread have you seen any of his movies? He has... 52 I think, I've seen 5 or 6 and they're all great, not only was he the best singer ever, he was a great actor too

[@cherylcampbell9369]

@@splattt8088 definitely not really the best singer. He had real trouble actually hitting his notes. His phrasing was great, but pitch....not so much.

[@joaquinromeroday7194]

theres a genuine emotion to his music both in lyrics and rhythm i truly appreciate

[@VicariouslyCannibalistic]

Another great episode, Simon. I hope you keep this channel going strong, mate.

[@sailorbychoice1]

Simon: You guys do a great job with these. Keep up the good work!

[@jacobtalksstuff4329]

Brilliant job mate!

[@that1guyjeremy]

I love this channel so much...it's so informative

[@Moriartart]

I love listening to your videos while finishing papers,etc! You guys should consider trying out a podcast version of this :)

[@investedfemelle7564]

Me too!

[@henryroberts4545]

I love your videos!

[@WildeFyre69]

Great video Simon!

[@ignitionfrn2223]

0:40 - Chapter 1 - Early years 3:50 - Chapter 2 - Frank, Nancy & success 6:30 - Chapter 3 - Going solo 7:50 - Chapter 4 - Losing it 9:10 - Chapter 5 - Unwise associates 10:20 - Chapter 6 - Coming back

[@jaduca22]

Great video!! Keep em coming!

[@sinth13]

Great job

[@tautm012]

Thank you very much. Well done.

[@SabbathSOG]

Great bio. Thx.

[@ZeusFace101]

Terrific stuff!

[@bombaydan]

Legend Sinatra & Simon for posting!

[@PattyOflan88]

I wait for this every Thursday.

[@Biographics]

And don't forget Mondays.

[@Theo-rm1rz]

once again fantastic job Simon !

[@izzojoseph2]

Great vid!

[@suepowell1979]

Glad I found your channel!

[@landongall2080]

Almost daily at lunch time, I watch 2 of your videos and then get back to work. Thank you.

[@rogerholloway8498]

In my garage is a box with everything he released up to 1975. Loved listening to him sing but my favorite of all time is "It was a very good year. Thanks Simon, great review.

[@matthewmckenna248]

You've been growing alot recently and keep it up 👍.

[@R-towne]

Bloody awesome mate!

[@afrikasmith1049]

Frank Sinatra: (Gets into a bit of trouble and shrubs it off) 6ix9ine: ( Gets into too much trouble and snitch on his friends ) We can learn a lot from the past.

[@gwenny3080]

I always look forward to these because I know that they will be good. Great job.

[@edwardrawn8157]

"Lonely" AND "alone"??? That must have been hard and difficult.

[@Thecoolguy463]

I'm so happy I found this channel.

[@joshbegley3498]

Another great job. Bravo team.

[@barberchannel]

Nice work Simon. I always enjoy your topics (and production values). However...the mug shot was from Sinatra's 1938 arrest on a morals charge, not the Mortimer incident.

[@ActionJackson669]

You know he isn't the producer though, right? He is just the voice/face of the channel, he narrates but he has a whole team that writes scripts, edits and produces the film, researchers, etc. He still does a good job, but just to be clear and make sure everyone gets their credit 💯 because it's a TEAM effort 100%

[@MrInternationalSound]

Another excellent one

[@joejamesthomas5113]

This is awesome! You should do one about rock n roll pioneer Eddie Cochran, I'd love to see that

[@jmarch_503]

I had to listen to his music because of this ,thanks Simon

[@jakew573]

Frank Sinatra is my favorite singing, thank you for doing this one!

[@ILikeChai]

Thank you for your upload. I would like to see a video about T.E. Lawrence aka Lawrence of Arabia, I really want to hear a different perspective.

[@umbalaba]

Awesome video! Could you do a biographical video about Georg Cantor, please?

[@hvonwolfenstein2638]

Well-written!

[@mattsadowski1724]

You guys are great in everything you do. You should a mob week. Maybe a video on each of the 5 family's first leaders would be great.

[@rileyvehec2115]

I love these videos so much! Could you please do one on Mary Shelley or Robert Louis Stevenson?

[@katmannsson]

These really are Near Perfect BioDoc's Simon, Cheers. The pacing is fantastic, No matter the Length they all feel like they hit the Goldilocks Zone. Just Right.

[@sled_dog]

Excellent bio.. 👍

[@Biographics]

Thanks :)

[@my_name_taken]

Wow! I just voted for Frank a couple days ago. Must have already been in the works. Excited for this one...

[@Biographics]

He was. J.R.R. Tolkien won the January vote. biographics.org/you-choose-the-biography/

[@steamgent4592]

America's number 1 male singer of all time in the days of it's best style of music and beyond. Fortunately records were made so he is immortalized for future generations to hear good quality music.........I grew up with his music in the 1980's great stuff to be sure. RIP Frank we miss you and all the other singers and great band leaders!

[@philipibaugh2925]

He does a great job portraying a 1950s era heroin addict. The anxiety and fear of knowing he's going to go through it soon is done well for that time. This was a subject people just didn't talk about openly back than and Sinatra is a legend for doing that movie in my opinion.

[@BrickFilmerPowerlolifk]

I love this video! What is the transition song?

[@jdthedwarf3252]

Simon how many channels are you connected with you keep poping up with new information

[@Biographics]

Simon hosts for TopTenzNet - kzbin.info (a channel I own), Today I Found Out, Visual Politik and Biographics. - Shell

[@Vahki100]

Frankie

[@MrVvulf]

I've never been a big fan of his music. I like some of his songs, but overall, that style of music just isn't my thing. One thing I do respect about him was his loyalty to his friends. And he wasn't afraid to cross the political aisle to support the best candidate regardless of party affiliation. As you said, Simon, he did it his way, and who doesn't respect that?

[@cernowaingreenman]

MrVvulf, I also disliked the music of Sinatra. But I also disliked his macho-tough guy image, as well as his super-sized ego. But he was successful at his craft and I have to admire that. That said, I give kudos to Simon for a well-done video.

[@thoughtsofimpact2488]

His friends were the mob. If he didn't respect them they'd have messed him up.

[@unevenspleener]

I'm not even a Sinatra fan but I really enjoyed this video. Suggestion: Brian Wilson

[@girlspooptoo8567]

The man with the golden arm is the best black and white movie of ever seen. Thanks Franky

[@MayaHiortPetersen]

Your videos are just great, I am a huge fan. You said we could suggest people to do biographies on and I would love to see one on Sister Wendy Becket. If you don't know who she is then you have not seen her PBS art documentaries. She is amazing, as you will see once you see anything she has done. She brought art to regular people and is courageously excited about art, I think you might really like her work and I would love to know more about her!

[@Biographics]

Rock the vote: biographics.org/you-choose-the-biography/

[@SuperJocker1]

i hope you'll do dean martin someday :D. thank you for your work ^^

[@Ashwin-zg7rt]

I m binge watching your episodes. How do u determine the colour of the background behind the photo of the personality?

[@dancoughlan8001]

Thank you. One of the GREATEST CROONERS EVER.

[@Biographics]

I think you mean crooners.

[@dancoughlan8001]

Biographics Yes autocorrect. New phone. That will teach be to check before I post🤣🤣

[@6thwilbury2331]

This is one of the funnier autocorrect moments I've seen. I absolutely can picture Ol' Blue Eyes, standing over a body, saying the cause of death was blunt force bada boom.

[@mj106996]

Dan Coughlan Hahaha, classic autocorrect.

[@vikramkrishnan6414]

Doobie-doobie-doo he was struck by a truck on a highway!

[@pizzawaffle9667]

Thank you..

[@d.2605]

After reading extensively about this fascinating, influential and massively talented man-2 things happened to me: 1: I listened to his entire catalog of music over and over for years. (I Recommend his middle period torch song records like Only the Lonely and Where are You?) 2: While I can’t help but admire his “cool”, his drive and how passionately he loved Ava...I developed the opinion that he was a highly insecure, infantile man. But god, what a singer....

[@d.2605]

Haha I had forgotten he was in my avatar...lol...

[@matthewlewis8757]

These videos are brilliantly informative. I’d love to see one about Tony Blair, how he went from being so well-liked to being hated nowadays.

[@Docwilson91]

There’s a legend in my part of New Jersey that Frank would occasionally come back to an old hotel in Plainfield (once known as the Queen City) and perform there after he became big. I remember hearing about that as a kid but not sure the truth behind it.

[@patrickobrien2068]

excellent

[@cameronring4103]

I would love you to do one on Bing Crosby...Frank Sinatra's inspiration! I'd love to learn more about Frank's inspiration !

[@jeremyscungio16]

Do Sammy Davis Jr. now

[@dennislogan6781]

One of my fave singers. Not a nice guy but a great singer.

[@mrxy3020]

I love this guy and I want to make his legacy live forever

[@sim33009]

There will never be another like him. Never ever.

[@colorblue7018]

The legend passed away a few days on in 1998. Miss you, chairman.

[@rafaelvega538]

I ate at his favorite Zeffirino restaurant in Genova, Italy. He was a man's man no doubt. RIP Frank

[@mikeycondry1493]

You gotta do Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, and Dean Martin

[@zackdiesuke]

He's one of my biggest inspiration on singing jazz

[@paulpowell4871]

He was a great performer. NJ home to some great ones.

[@dylanr.cerezo4325]

I've got the world on a string and That's Life are my life's soundtrack when I'm feeling down. Amazing music that transcends generations imo.

[@felipegonzalez7304]

Paul Anka wrote the English lyrics. I believe that the original tune and lyrics are French - "Comme d'habitude" by Claude Francois, Jacques Revaux and Giles Thibaut.

[@sextuspompeius1266]

Should do Sammy Davis and Dean martin

[@paulsimmons5726]

Ol' Blue Eyes was his own man and made his own luck by wanting it and working hard to get it. There's a lesson to be learned from Sinatra's life and achievements. One of my favorites!

[@MrChopstsicks]

Is Frederick the Great or Otto Von Bismarck bio going to be in future videos?

[@dhc5tech41]

Check out Von Ryan's Express, One of my fav WWII movies starring him, great movie not even mentioned here.

[@felipe367]

Wonder if you can do a video about Mr Bubblé(not entirely sure if that's the correct spelling) the Canadian Sinatra?