5 Things You Didn't Know About Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra in Capitol Studios, circa October 1957, during the recording of Come Fly with Me. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

Frank Sinatra was a legendary American singer, actor, and entertainer. He was born on December 12, 1915, in Hoboken, New Jersey, and began his career in the 1930s as a crooner in big band music. Over the course of his life, Sinatra went on to become one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century, known for his smooth, distinctive voice and charismatic stage presence.

Offstage, Sinatra was known for his rough-and-tumble personality and colorful personal life, including his involvement with the Rat Pack. He was also known for his political activism and for his support of various charitable causes.

Photograph of American singer Frank Sinatra at the piano smoking a cigarette, 1946. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

Frank Sinatra was one of the most famous and iconic entertainers of the 20th century, but despite his massive popularity and public presence, many aspects of his private life remained shrouded in mystery. Sinatra was known for his smooth voice, charming stage presence, and larger-than-life personality, but he was also a man of many contradictions, whose private life was often at odds with his public image.

Sinatra's personal life was marked by his many romantic relationships and marriages. He was married four times. First to Nancy Barbato, then to Ava Gardner, then to Mia Farrow, and finally to Barbara Marx. Each of these relationships was marked by its own unique set of challenges and controversies, and Sinatra was often portrayed in the media as a womanizer and a playboy.

Photo of Frank Sinatra and Raquel Welch from the film ‘’Lady in Cement’’. December 1968. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

Here are some interesting and little-known facts about Frank:

1. Frank was a licensed private pilot and owned several aircraft throughout his life. He was so passionate about flying that he even recorded a song called "Fly Me to the Moon" which became one of his signature songs. In fact, Sinatra was such a big aviation enthusiast that he named his daughter Tina after a Pratt & Whitney aircraft engine.

2. Frank was also a talented painter and an avid art collector. He was particularly interested in abstract expressionism and was friends with several famous artists of the time, including Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso. Sinatra even had a painting studio built on the property of his Palm Springs estate, where he would spend time painting when he wasn't recording or performing. Although he never had a formal art education, Sinatra's paintings have been exhibited in galleries and museums, and some of his works have sold for tens of thousands of dollars at auction.

3. He was a passionate supporter of the Civil Rights Movement. Sinatra used his platform and fame to publicly advocate for equal rights and was a close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He also famously refused to perform at venues that practiced segregation and was one of the first major white entertainers to perform at venues in front of integrated audiences. Sinatra's commitment to civil rights earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985.

4. He was an accomplished horse racing enthusiast and owned several thoroughbred horses over the years. He was particularly passionate about the sport and was known to spend hours at the racetrack, often placing bets on his favorite horses. Sinatra's love for horse racing even inspired him to write a song called "The Racing Scene," which was released on one of his albums. Additionally, he was a member of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and was honored with several awards for his contributions to the sport of horse racing.

5. Despite his reputation as a womanizer and a playboy, Sinatra was deeply devoted to his wife and children and went to great lengths to protect their privacy. He was known to be very close to his children and was a hands-on parent, even taking them on tour with him. He was also a loving husband to his wife, Barbara, and the two were married for 22 years until his death in 1998. Sinatra's love for his family was evident in his music, and many of his songs, such as "That's Life" and "My Way," reflect his strong family ties.

In addition to his romantic relationships, Sinatra was also known for his close friendship with a group of entertainers known as the Rat Pack, which included fellow actors and musicians like Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Joey Bishop. The group was famous for their wild partying and mischievous behavior, and Sinatra was often at the center of their antics.

Back in the day, the Rat Pack partied hard at night, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. Underground tunnels led from their rooms to the showroom, so that they could avoid the autograph seekers. (Source: Wikimedia Commons).

Sinatra's private life however was not all fun and games. He struggled with depression and alcohol abuse throughout his life and was known to have a volatile temper. Despite his many setbacks, Sinatra remained committed to his art and his craft and continued to perform and record music until the end of his life.

In many ways, Frank Sinatra was a man of contradictions, and his private life was just as complex and multi-faceted as his public persona. Despite his many flaws and imperfections, he remains one of the most beloved and influential entertainers of all time, and his impact on popular culture and the music industry is still felt today. An American icon, whose influence on music and entertainment will continue to be felt for generations to come.