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.
Mr. Success
Frank Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put your head on my chest, and I am Mr. Success.
Never closed me a deal, all at once I'm a wheel,
Just your head on my chest, and I'm Mr. Success.
Why I once knew a worrying man, he was a hurrying man,
With never a second to play,
He had appointments to keep, people to meet,
Not for me, not what I want to be,
Just your head on my chest, and I'm Mr. Success.
Why, I once knew a worrying man, he was a hurrying man,
With never a second to play,
He had appointments to keep, lots of people to meet,
And it took her the hour to make him a day,
Not for me, not what I want to be,
Put my love to the test, that's when I'm at my best,
'Cause with you, pretty baby, standing by my side,
I couldn't be a failure even if I tried,
Cause you make me Mr. Success.
The lyrics to Frank Sinatra's song "Mr. Success" reflect on the idea that true success is not defined by material things or accomplishments, but rather by the presence of love and support in one's life. The first verse describes how the singer is not recognized in a crowded room, but with the simple act of having someone put their head on his chest, he becomes "Mr. Success." This suggests that being recognized and admired by others is not what brings success, but rather a deeper sense of connection and intimacy.
The second verse contrasts this idea with a man who is always in a hurry and consumed by appointments and meetings. This man may be seen as successful by societal standards, but the singer suggests it's not the kind of success he wants for himself. He finds true success in love and connection, not in a busy, stressful life.
The final verse emphasizes this message even more, as the singer claims that with his loved one by his side, he couldn't be a failure even if he tried. It's clear that he believes that love and support are the essential ingredients for true success.
In summary, "Mr. Success" is a song that challenges typical notions of success and highlights the importance of love and connection in achieving true success.
Line by Line Meaning
When I walk through a jam, no one knows who I am,
When I'm lost in the crowd, I can stay anonymous.
Put your head on my chest, and I am Mr. Success.
You comfort me so much that I feel successful.
Never closed me a deal, all at once I'm a wheel,
Without any success, I'm suddenly on top of the world.
Just your head on my chest, and I'm Mr. Success.
Your affection makes me successful even without any other achievement.
Why I once knew a worrying man, he was a hurrying man,
I knew someone who used to worry constantly and was always in a rush.
With never a second to play,
He had no leisure time in his life.
He had appointments to keep, people to meet,
His days were filled with meetings and obligations.
And it took her the hour to make him a day,
It seemed like time was moving slowly for him because he never had a chance to relax.
Not for me, not what I want to be,
I don't want that kind of life for myself.
Put my love to the test, that's when I'm at my best,
I'm at my peak when I'm able to prove my love for you.
'Cause with you, pretty baby, standing by my side,
When I have you with me, my confidence is boosted.
I couldn't be a failure even if I tried,
I know that I cannot fail with your support.
Cause you make me Mr. Success.
You bring out the best in me and make me feel like a success.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EDWIN GREINES, FRANK SINATRA, HENRY W. SANICOLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
VARUNCOUTINHO
Just listened to this in 2021
Must've been cool to hear this in 1958
!
Lalaine
I love this ❤
Splattt808
Hearing this song makes me wish Sinatra did more songwriting. Great song.
pusseycatselena
Classy 👌🏼
Just Steve
God damn if this ain't the most quintessential swingin' Sinatra I don't know what else is.
Philip
I heard it in LV. At this time I bought a heavy drugs then went to have sex with one of the most beautiful girl I've ever met. She was a tourist from Egypt. Oh God I'm married for 4 years but I couldn't forget her ☹️
Tanner Boyle
Nelson Riddle Orchestra 👍
Joey Bonin
It shall not go unnoticed.
Shyrane Soockra
Any else of your songs are available for me ..:(
Paul K
surely it's "walk through a jamb**" as in a door jamb? If you're entering a room through a door you're walking through a jamb.