April 1, 2014
(Frank Sinatra-1950s)
The Voice, Chairman of the Board, Ol' Blue Eyes, Swoonatra, The Sultan of Swoon, and La Voz. All these nicknames share one thing in common, Frank Sinatra. Frank Sinatra had multiple nicknames. Frank Sinatra was an icon to many people all over America. His music is still played today.
Origin:
Frank Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915. He was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. Sinatra was an only child of Italian Immigrants. Sinatra had an okay life growing up. His parents were a little troubling to him. Sinatra's father was a lightweight boxer and also served with the Hoboken Fire Department as a Captain. Sinatra's mother ran an illegal abortion business. She aborted babies for free, from her home. She was arrested multiple times and was convicted twice. Even though, Sinatra's mother still provided for him during the Great Depression. Sinatra dropped out of high school. He only attended 47 days of school before being expelled. Sinatra was also arrested for adultery and seduction. Sinatra then worked for the Jersey Observer as a delivery boy. This wasn't Sinatra's interest though. He was interested in music. He listened to big band jazz carefully. Sinatra began singing for some tips at the age of eight.
Purpose:
The reason Frank Sinatra was such a big deal in the 1950s was because this was the time of his return. Frank Sinatra went against American mainstream values in the 1950's. He was a swinging bachelor, a flashy dresser, and a "tender tough guy," who became a male role model for many emotionally scarred WWII veterans. Many of these veterans came back from WWII and did not fit into mainstream American society. A few of these men became Hell's Angels, and some of them adopted the defiant, dangerous to mainstream values. There was a "generation gap" in the 1950's, and for teenagers, Elvis and James Dean personified "cool." For a great many adults, Frank Sinatra was the epitome of "cool." Sinatra's music addressed the romantic yearning, loneliness and isolation, and adult concerns of people in their 20's through 40's.
Value:
Frank Sinatra helped veterans in America find their place. With veterans coming back from WWII, they had no idea what to expect. They just didn't fit in with anyone. Frank Sinatra helped them realize who they are. Sinatra sang songs related to their lives. He helped veterans with realizing who they are. The songs Sinatra sang in the 1950s told stories about what the veterans lives should look like. He helped them act like the 20-40 year olds they should be.
Limitations:
What Frank Sinatra cannot tell us about the 1950s is what the people thought of him. He can't tell us how the veterans thought and felt about him. Frank Sinatra wasn't the only jazz singer in the 1950s. There were multiple others. Others voices weren't as expressed as Frank Sinatra's was. Frank Sinatra was unique because he spoke to a certain audience. Frank Sinatra was both mainstream and unique to the 1950s. He was defiantly more unique because his voice is something beautiful. It's something that cannot be copied.