Frank Sinatra was one of the most popular singers of all time.

Born Francis Albert Sinatra on 12^th December 1915, Sinatra began singing in public in the early 1930s. He first became known as a member of the group the Hoboken Four, but soon landed a solo contract and released his first commercial record, From the Bottom of My Heart, in July 1939. He then signed up with renowned bandleader Tommy Dorsey’s group, and in the first year alone they released over forty songs – including the twelve-week number one I’ll Never Smile Again.

Despite their success, Sinatra soon left the band to continue his solo career, and signed with Columbia Records in June 1943. In the first two years, he recorded seven hit songs with composer Alec Wilder and became the biggest male singer in America. His burgeoning acting career also took off with the films Anchors Aweigh, Take Me Out to the Ball Game and On the Town all released before the end of the 1940s.

Although experiencing a career decline in the early 1950s, during which he was dropped from Columbia Records, Sinatra stormed back into the limelight with the release of the 1953 film From Here to Eternity, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was subsequently signed to Capitol Records and immediately hit the heights again with the release of the phenomenal hits I’ve Got You Under My Skin and Angel Eyes.

After that, Ol’ Blue Eyes didn’t look back. In a career that eventually spanned more than fifty years, Sinatra released a total of 69 albums and 297 singles, winning eleven Grammy Awards. His hits include Stardust, Fly Me to the Moon, My Way, I Get a Kick Out of You, They Can’t Take That Away from Me, Come Fly With Me, Let’s Face The Music and Dance, Love and Marriage, New York New York… and hundreds more! Although he died on May 14th 1998, aged 82, the legacy Frank Sinatra left behind is truly staggering.