Frank Sinatra Biography

Frank Sinatra invented modern pop song phrasing!

Frank Sinatra was an iconic American jazz-oriented popular singer and Academy Award-winning actor.

He has made many tunes famous like: My Way, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Angel Eyes, Fly Me To The Moon and New York, New York.

Frank’s legacy might best be summed up by Stephen Holden who wrote for the 1983 Rolling Stone Record Guide:

“Frank Sinatra’s voice is pop music history. Like Presley and Dylan – Sinatra will last indefinitely. He virtually invented modern pop song phrasing.”

Playing Jazz Standards

Jazz standards or songs from “The Great American Songbook” is packed with songs like Angel Eyes. Songwriting from this era can have very complex chord progressions not found in many of today’s contemporary hits.

The serious songwriter should study these type of compositions carefully.

Mainly intended for piano, the guitarist can learn a lot from adapting such compositions to their own instrument.

From a vocal point of view, the recordings that have become jazz standards are a must to learn, especially if Frank Sinatra recorded them!

Frank Sinatra Biography Links

Find out more about Frank Sinatra’s life in His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra and Frank: The Making of a Legend.