Here at 77 WABC we celebrate the life of Frank Sinatra. 77 WABC has facts and stories documenting Frank Sinatra: The Man, The Advocate, The Humanitarian.
Here's a look at the life of Frank Sinatra
1945. "The House I Live In"
Frank Sinatra played himself, who while on a break from recording a song, sees a group of boys chasing a Jewish boy and steps in to explain racial and religious tolerance. The short film won a special Honorary Academy Award in 1946.
Watch the film here:
After World War II.
1979. The Simon Wiesenthal Center
Sinatra, civil-rights champion: A side of Frank not many people know
The Daily News focused on Frank Sinatra and how, “Throughout Sinatra’s career, he would show his support for civil rights and his dismay for racial persecution in the U.S.; he never outwardly boasted about this for publicity’s sake. In Las Vegas during the 1950s and 60s, black performers appearing at major hotels were not allowed to stay in them. Segregated from white performers, they were restricted to ramshackle quarters, far from the strip, in a shabby part of town.’
Read the article here: https://www.nydailynews.com/
Father - Antonio Martino Sinatra
- was born in Sicily, 1894 in Lercara Friddi, near Palermo, not far from Corleone
- came to US when he was 9 years old
- was a prize fighter
- then became a Captain in the Hoboken Fire Department
- opened a bar called ‘Marty O’Brien’s’
Mother - Natalia Garavente (Dolly)
- was born in northern Italy, in 1895 in Lumarzo, near Genoa *
- came to the US when she was 2 years old
- was a midwife
- was prominent in local politics, especially in Democratic circles
Frank Sinatra
- Was the Grand Marshall of Columbus Day on 1979. He said that two important people came from Genoa, Columbus and his mother
Friendship between Tony Bennett & Frank Sinatra
- The friendship between the two led Tony Bennett and his wife Susan to found the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens in 1999.
Frank Sinatra was an entertainer for over six decades and received many awards and honors. These are just a few highlights:
- Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Congressional Gold Medal (Congress’ highest civilian award)
- 3 Oscars
- 2 Golden Globes
- 21 Grammys
- 1 Emmy
- 1 Peabody
- 1 Cecile B. DeMille Award
- Honored at the Kennedy Center Awards
