TRANSCRIPT:
Hi, I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
Frank Sinatra, known as the “Chairman of the Board” and "Ol' Blue Eyes," was born to Italian immigrants in Hoboken, New Jersey. He began his musical career in the swing era, drawing inspiration from singer Bing Crosby. He joined the Harry James big band in 1939 before rising to solo fame with Columbia Records in 1943.
With captivating phrasing, he brought jazz standards like "Fly Me to the Moon" and "My Way" to life, becoming one of the world’s best-selling recording artists. An astounding 150 million records have been sold worldwide.
Sinatra also made his mark in film, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in “From Here to Eternity.” His legacy as one of the 20th Century’s beloved entertainers endures.
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible in part by Layman Poupard Publishers, producers of the Literary Criticism Series and the Dictionary of Literary Biography.