Legendary singer Frank Sinatra was born 100 years ago today – and his magnificent musical legacy lives on.
Born on December 12, 1915, he passed away at the age of 82 on May 14, 1998, and is widely regarded as one of the 20th century's greatest singers and musical influences, with record sales of over 150 million.
Born to Italian immigrants in Hoboken, New Jersey, he became a superstar for teenage American girls – called bobby soxers – during the 1940s, but his career hit a wall in the early 1950s.
Re-emerging with an Oscar-winning performance in the 1953 film From Here to Eternity, he signed to Capitol records and soared to an artistic peak with a series of albums and songs that made him an international success.
That string of records defined the album as a creative entity, and titles include 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).
The hits kept coming in the 1960s, including Strangers in the Night and My Way, and in the 1970s he enjoyed a career-defining hit with New York, New York, although fans would point to his Capitol years as his greatest artistic achievement.
Adored by his fans, Sinatra also had a list of nicknames that help define him: 'The Voice', 'The Sultan of Swoon', 'Ol' Blue Eyes', 'The Chairman of the Board'.
Known as a highly volatile character, Sinatra was prone to violent mood swings and also had links with organised crime, but is best remembered for his remarkable voice and unique style rather than his unpleasant personality.
Here he is singing Cole Porter's I've Got You Under My Skin:
