Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer, actor, and producer who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century. Sinatra's music has been considered timeless by many. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide. Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants, he began his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey.
He found success as a solo artist after being signed by Columbia Records in 1943, becoming the idol of the "bobby soxers". He released his first album, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, in 1946. Sinatra's professional career had stalled by the early 1950s, and he turned to Las Vegas, where he became one of its best known performers as part of the Rat Pack. His career was reborn in 1953 with the success of From Here to Eternity and his subsequent Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He signed with Capitol Records and released several critically lauded albums, including In the Wee Small Hours (1955), Songs for Swingin' Lovers! (1956), Come Fly with Me (1958), Only the Lonely (1958) and Nice 'n' Easy (1960).
While Sinatra never formally learned how to read music, he had a fine, natural understanding of it, and he worked very hard from a young age to improve his abilities in all aspects of music. He did, however, learn to follow a lead sheet during a performance by "carefully following the patterns and groupings of notes arranged on the page" and made his own notations to the music, using his ear to detect semi-tonal differences. Granata states that some of the most accomplished classically trained musicians soon noticed his musical understanding, and remarked that Sinatra had a "sixth sense", which "demonstrated unusual proficiency when it came to detecting incorrect notes and sounds within the orchestra".
He would insist on always recording live with the band because it gave him a "certain feeling" to perform live surrounded by musicians.
Frank Sinatra on the set of his last ever film with Warner Bros, 'The Naked Runner', by Allan Ballard, in London in 1967
Contact sheet from photo shoot of Björk taken by Jill Furmanovsky in Primrose Hill in 1995
Anthony Kiedis comes alive when you aim a camera at him, John Frusciante was stoned and subdued, a perfect combo!
Kate Bush onstage performing her classic ballad 'The Man with the Child in His Eyes' at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1979.
Iggy Pop is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actor. He was the vocalist of influential proto-punk band The Stooges.
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk.
David Bowie was a leading figure in popular music for over five decades & regarded by critics & musicians as a true innovator.
Oasis were an English rock music band formed in Manchester in 1991, to date the band have sold over 70 million records worldwide.
Our latest exhibition 'The Main Stage' is now on at the Royal Albert Hall. Don't miss our iconic photographs of rock's greatest performers
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
Edition 100 was created to give fans & collectors a chance to own classic, historical pictures of their favorite bands.
Welcome to our Folk & Country Print Collection - iconic images of the world's greatest artists from the past 50 years
