Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants, Sinatra began his musical career in the swing era with bandleaders Harry James and Tommy Dorsey. Sinatra found success as a solo artist after he signed with Columbia Records in 1943, becoming the idol of the "bobby soxers". He released his debut album, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, in 1946. Sinatra's professional career had stalled by the early 1950s, and he turned to Las Vegas, where he became one of its best known residency performers as part of The Rat Pack. His career was reborn in 1953 with the success of From Here to Eternity, with his performance subsequently winning an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Sinatra released several critically lauded albums, including 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).
Sinatra left Capitol in 1960 to start his own record label, Reprise Records, and released a string of successful albums. In 1965, he recorded the retrospective September of My Years, starred in the Emmy-winning television special Frank Sinatra: A Man and His Music, and released the tracks "Strangers in the Night" and "My Way". After releasing Sinatra at the Sands, recorded at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Vegas with frequent collaborator Count Basie in early 1966, the following year he recorded one of his most famous collaborations with Tom Jobim, the album Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim. It was followed by 1968's collaboration with Duke Ellington. Sinatra retired for the first time in 1971, but came out of retirement two years later and recorded several albums and resumed performing at Caesars Palace, and reached success in 1980 with "New York, New York". Using his Las Vegas shows as a home base, he toured both within the United States and internationally until a short time before his death in 1998.
Sinatra forged a highly successful career as a film actor. After winning an Academy Award for From Here to Eternity, he starred in The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), and received critical acclaim for his performance in The Manchurian Candidate (1962). He appeared in various musicals such as On the Town (1949), Guys and Dolls (1955), High Society (1956), and Pal Joey (1957), winning another Golden Globe for the latter. Toward the end of his career, he became associated with playing detectives, including the title character in Tony Rome (1967). Sinatra would later receive the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1971. On television, The Frank Sinatra Show began on ABC in 1950, and he continued to make appearances on television throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Sinatra was also heavily involved with politics from the mid-1940s, and actively campaigned for presidents such as Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, though before Kennedy's death Sinatra's alleged Mafia connections led to his being snubbed.
While Sinatra never formally learned how to read music, he had an impressive understanding of it, and he worked very hard from a young age to improve his abilities in all aspects of music. A perfectionist, renowned for his dress sense and performing presence, he always insisted on recording live with his band. His bright blue eyes earned him the popular nickname "Ol' Blue Eyes". Sinatra led a colorful personal life, and was often involved in turbulent affairs with women, such as with his second wife Ava Gardner. He went on to marry Mia Farrow in 1966 and Barbara Marx in 1976. Sinatra had several violent confrontations, usually with journalists he felt had crossed him, or work bosses with whom he had disagreements. He was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1985, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997. Sinatra was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Trustees Award, Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. After his death, American music critic Robert Christgau called him "the greatest singer of the 20th century", and he continues to be seen as an iconic figure.
Sinatra died with his wife at his side at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on May 14, 1998, aged 82, after a heart attack. Sinatra had ill health during the last few years of his life, and was frequently hospitalized for heart and breathing problems, high blood pressure, pneumonia and bladder cancer. He was further diagnosed as having dementia. He had made no public appearances following a heart attack in February 1997. Sinatra's wife encouraged him to "fight" while attempts were made to stabilize him, and his final words were, "I'm losing." Sinatra's daughter, Tina, later wrote that she and her sister, Nancy, had not been notified of their father's final hospitalization, and it was her belief that "the omission was deliberate. Barbara would be the grieving widow alone at her husband's side." The night after Sinatra's death, the lights on the Empire State Building in New York City were turned blue, the lights at the Las Vegas Strip were dimmed in his honor, and the casinos stopped spinning for a minute.
Sinatra's funeral was held at the Roman Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, California, on May 20, 1998, with 400 mourners in attendance and thousands of fans outside. Gregory Peck, Tony Bennett, and Sinatra's son, Frank Jr., addressed the mourners, who included many notable people from film and entertainment. Sinatra was buried in a blue business suit with mementos from family members—cherry-flavored Life Savers, Tootsie Rolls, a bottle of Jack Daniel's, a pack of Camel cigarettes, a Zippo lighter, stuffed toys, a dog biscuit, and a roll of dimes that he always carried—next to his parents in section B-8 of Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City, California.
His close friends Jilly Rizzo and Jimmy Van Heusen are buried nearby. The words "The Best Is Yet to Come", plus "Beloved Husband & Father" are imprinted on Sinatra's grave marker. Significant increases in recording sales worldwide were reported by Billboard in the month of his death.
A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening
Frank Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some are content with an evening spent home by the radio
Some like to live for the moment, some like to just reminisce
But whenever I have an evening to spend. just give me one like this
This is a lovely way to spend an evening. can't think of anything I'd rather do
This is a lovely way to spend an evening, can't think of anyone as lovely as you
A casual stroll through a garden. a kiss by a lazy lagoon
This is a lovely way to spend an evening
I want to save all my nights and spend them with you
Catching a breath of moonlight, humming our favorite tune
This is a lovely way to spend an evening
I want to save all my nights and spend them with you
The song "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening," performed by Frank Sinatra, is a romantic ballad that portrays a picturesque evening spent with a loved one. The first verse starts by describing how people like to spend their evenings in different ways, such as a night at the movies, a dance or a show, or just staying at home. However, whenever the singer has an evening to spend, he desires nothing more than spending it the way described in the chorus: walking through a garden, kissing by a lazy lagoon, catching a breath of moonlight, and humming their favorite tune. These simple and timeless activities are depicted as the ultimate way to spend an evening when shared with someone special.
The lyrics of the song capture the essence of romance and the beauty of small moments spent with someone you love. The imagery painted is wholesome and nostalgic, evoking a sense of warmth and comfort. The song's melody and Sinatra's smooth vocals add to the romantic and dreamy atmosphere, making it a classic love song that has stood the test of time. This song is a perfect choice for a slow dance or a romantic evening with your significant other.
Line by Line Meaning
Some like a night at the movies, some like a dance or a show
People have different preferences for how they spend their evenings, some enjoy watching movies, some like dancing, and others enjoy going to a show
Some are content with an evening spent home by the radio
Some people are satisfied with spending an evening at home listening to the radio
Some like to live for the moment, some like to just reminisce
People have different attitudes about life, some prefer to live in the moment, while others like to reminisce about the past
But whenever I have an evening to spend. just give me one like this
The singer has a particular preference for how he likes to spend his evenings, and he wants them to be like this
This is a lovely way to spend an evening. can't think of anything I'd rather do
The singer thinks that spending an evening like this is wonderful, and he can't imagine doing anything better
This is a lovely way to spend an evening, can't think of anyone as lovely as you
The singer is spending this special evening with someone he admires greatly and thinks is incredibly lovely
A casual stroll through a garden. a kiss by a lazy lagoon
The singer is enjoying a romantic walk through a garden and a kiss by a peaceful lagoon
Catching a breath of moonlight, humming our favorite tune
The singer and his companion are enjoying the moonlight and humming their favorite song together
I want to save all my nights and spend them with you
The singer is expressing his desire to spend all his evenings with the person he is with, as he thinks they are special and enjoyable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Adams, Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daddy Patty
In my opinion. Frank Sinatra is the best male singer to ever live. Flawless vocal technique, and superior range.
Peter Taylor
@robert samson Oh, c'mon!
Peter Taylor
Beautiful voice and interpretation. But definitely not the best singer who ever lived. That's too much of a stretch when you think of the passage of time and the people before him and after.
stephen smith
Yes and he also admired our own great Matt Monroe
Peter Taylor
That's a stretch when you think of the lineup over the years. But, he had a beautiful voice and delivery.
robert samson
Lets not forget Perry Como.
Meredith Foster
This was Sinatra at his absolute zenith. Silken delivery, superb phasing and story telling. What clever arranging combining this lovely McHugh/Adamson song with the famous theme from Tchiakovsky's 6th Symphony.
Robert Stevens
Frank Sinatra sang many songs that were technically difficult, songs that had parts that challenged a singer to get them right. It was Sinatra's genius, not only to deliver them perfectly but also to make it look so easy that we could fantasize about doing it like he did. There will never be another like him. There will never be another TIME like that.
William Jueschke
Brilliant arrangement playing Tchaikovsky’s 6th along with the song.
Le’a
The man had style and charisma. Very classy. RIP Legend x