Frank Sinatra Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Sinatra Jr.
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Sinatra Jr. in 2008
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| Born |
Francis Wayne Sinatra
January 10, 1944 Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | March 16, 2016 (aged 72) Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
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| Years active | 1963–2016 |
| Spouse(s) |
Cynthia McMurry
(m. 1998; div. 2000) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | Frank Sinatra Nancy Barbato |
| Relatives | Tina Sinatra (sister) Nancy Sinatra (sister) |
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Francis Wayne Sinatra (January 10, 1944 – March 16, 2016), known as Frank Sinatra Jr., was an American singer, songwriter, and conductor. He was the son of the famous singer and actor Frank Sinatra. His mother was Nancy Barbato Sinatra, his father's first wife.
Frank Jr. was also the younger brother of singer and actress Nancy Sinatra. His older sister was television producer Tina Sinatra. He followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a talented musician himself.
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Frank Sinatra Jr.'s Early Life
Francis Wayne Sinatra was born on January 10, 1944, in Jersey City, New Jersey. His father, Frank Sinatra, was one of the most popular singers in the world. Even though his father's middle name was Albert, Francis was known as Frank Jr. throughout his life.
Frank Jr. didn't see his father very often because his dad was always traveling. He was either performing concerts or working on movies. However, Frank Jr. knew from a young age that he wanted to be a pianist and songwriter.
A Surprising Event: The Kidnapping
When Frank Jr. was 19 years old, he was kidnapped. This happened on December 8, 1963, at a hotel in Harrah's Lake Tahoe. He was held for two days. His father paid a large amount of money for his release.
The people who kidnapped him were soon caught. They were found guilty and sent to prison. During the kidnapping, Frank Sr. was worried about having enough coins for phone calls. Because of this, he carried 10 dimes with him for the rest of his life. He was even buried with these 10 dimes.
At the time of the kidnapping, Frank Sr. was filming a movie. The stress of the event made him think about stopping the movie. However, the film was eventually finished.
Frank Sinatra Jr.'s Music Career
By his early teenage years, Frank Jr. was already performing. He sang at local clubs and other places. At age 19, he became the lead singer for Sam Donahue's band. He also spent a lot of time with jazz legend Duke Ellington. From Ellington, he learned many things about the music business.
Frank Jr. spent much of his early career traveling and performing. By 1968, he had performed in many different states and countries. He also appeared on several television shows. He even hosted a summer TV series. He was known for practicing a lot and expecting high standards from his musicians.
Frank Jr. also acted in some movies and TV shows. In 1966, he appeared in the drama A Man Called Adam. He also played a lawyer named Gino Bardi in three episodes of the TV crime show Adam-12. Later, he had roles in movies like Code Name Zebra (1987) and Hollywood Homicide (2003).
In 1988, his father asked him to become his musical director and conductor. Frank Jr. put his own singing career on hold to work with his dad. He toured with his father, leading the orchestra.
In 1989, Frank Jr. sang "Wedding Vows in Vegas" on the Was (Not Was) album, What Up, Dog?. He also performed the song live on a TV show.
He was offered a role on the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in the late 1990s. Even though he liked the show, he turned down the part. He said he only wanted to play an alien character.
Frank Jr. also made guest appearances on popular TV shows. He was on an episode of Son of the Beach in 2002. He also played himself in an episode of The Sopranos in 2000.
He appeared in the animated show Family Guy several times. In one episode, "Brian Sings and Swings", he sang with the characters Stewie and Brian. He even sang the Family Guy theme song at the end. He returned for two more episodes in 2008 and 2016. The 2016 episode aired after he passed away and was dedicated to him.
In 2006, Frank Jr. released an album called That Face!. It included songs like "You'll Never Know" and his own song, "Spice."
He made a brief appearance in the TV show The Defenders in 2010. In 2015, he sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Yankee Stadium. He also sang the "Theme from New York, New York" at the 2014 Belmont Stakes horse race.
Frank Sinatra Jr.'s Personal Life
Frank Sinatra Jr. married Cynthia McMurry on October 18, 1998. They divorced on January 7, 2000. He had one son named Michael from an earlier relationship.
Frank Sinatra Jr. passed away unexpectedly on March 16, 2016. He was 72 years old. He died from a heart attack while on tour in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Songs Written by Frank Sinatra Jr.
Frank Sinatra Jr. composed several of his own songs, including:
- "Spice"
- "Believe in Me"
- "Black Night"
- "What Were You Thinking?"
- "Missy"
Discography
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Guest performances
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See also
In Spanish: Frank Sinatra Jr. para niños
