Sinatra: The Life

Sinatra: romantic rogue or front man for the mob. Probably both, though which part predominates will likely never be settled. His life and career are presented in some detail in the Summers-Swan book, which I picked up because of Summers' reputation for unflinching jounalism. All in all, I wasn't disappointed. The various phases of Sinatra's long and controversial life are presented with little editorial comment, excepting an outspoken admiration for the vocal artistry. Critics who claim editorial bias or warmed-over news have lttle textual support for the former and a lack of understanding of the latter. And if the facts too often reflect poorly on Sinatra's character, I take that to be the result of having done things " his way", rather than the result of a slanted account. The absence of material on the singer's family life amounts to the book's biggest deficiency, the consequence of Nancy and the children's refusal to be interviewed. Too bad, because that would have provided additional insight. Whatever the truth behind the tawdry altercations and underworld associations, their frequency and nature add up to an unmistakably abusive pattern. Here the truth lies in the whole. One serious example concerns Sinatra's relations with the carnally-obsessed JFK. It seems that in stoking his ego by setting up "dates" for the president, Sinatra remains unfazed by the fact that he is also opening up the highest office in the land to mob blackmail. In fact, neither man appears much concerned with the possible consequences of their careless actions. And while some may romanticize the culture of organized crime, the mob nevertheless remains one of the single most corruptive forces in our land. And that's the main reason for taking an interest in Sinatra's life, in particular. There are hundreds of abusive, ego-driven celebrities with shady connections in Hollywood-- the nature of show business breeds them. But few have ever wielded the clout or dwelled so centrally at the crucial intersection of pop culture, politics, and organized crime as Sinatra. His life story thus amounts to much more than one more cynical rags-to-riches anecdote from Tinsel Town.

Imagine my delight upon discovering that my favorite pop biographer had produced a book about my favorite singer. Anthony Summers has previously penned in-depth biographies of Marilyn Monore, Richard Nixon and J. Edgar Hoover (as well as the definitive book on the JFK assassination). Now with co-author Robbyn Swan comes this excellent look at the life of one of America's most important cultural icons, Frank Sinatra. Summers does not disappoint. Inevitably much of the Sinatra story has been told before (notably in Taraborrell's "Behind the Legend") but Summers adds much about Sinatra's mob connections and fills out a lot about Frank's relationship with various lovers, friends and family. A New York Times reviewer called "Sinatra" "tacky" but I found it typical Summers: well researched, thorough and engaging. This is by no means a hatchet job, Summers is balanced and moreover respectful of his subject. To true Sinatraphiles such as myself this latest (it certainly won't be the last) Sinatra biography is a wonderful opportunity to relive an amazing life. The Sinatra revealed here is a complex man of many moods (many of them dark and stormy) with a voracious appetite for women and a ceaseless dedication to producing beautiful music. Summers starts with a look at Sinatra's Sicilian roots then adds much to the story of his childhood and his rise to super stardom via the big band years. There is a particular emphasis on the early 1950's when Sinatra's star dimmed only to eventually shine brighter than before and the possible role the Mafia played in his career upswing. This book is a must for Sinatra fans or anyone wanting to learn more about one of the 20th centuries most important entertainers. Summers leans heavily on "Mr. S" a recent book on Sinatra by his former valet George Jacobs (but always with attribution) and many hours of interviews.

As in the saga of "Lord of the Rings" the subtext of this splendid biography is that great power can greatly corrupt. This well researched biography is a fascinating read. As a long term Sinatra fan I learned much. While pieces of the Sinatra story are well known, the authors weave together a coherent picture of a complex man providing much detail of Sinatra's relationship to the Mafia, his substance abuse problems, his love life and sexual conquests, and his impact on social, political and cultural events.

I loved this book; you get a real sense of who this man was and may be surprised to learn how lonely of a man he really was, from childhood and through out his life. You may get the impression that he was a spoiled sometimes mean guy but let me say, Frank Sinatra had no role model for the amount of success he acquired. Why? Because he was the first to achieve this dizzying height as a pop singer, he was the first AMERICAN IDOL. It's funny to see these rappers and rockers ACT like bad asses, Frank was the real deal. Go get a Sinatra CD, a glass of jack Daniels and give it a good listen, it's easy to see why he earned the name (THE VOICE)

Would the magestic Sinatra we all know and love have had the drive to become famous without his particular family's dynamics? This bio presents the timeless story of man struggling against the familiar trappings of immigrant life to become a legend in his own time. And it does so by delving into the depths of his personality, his family, his daily pressures, and the ghosts of his past. A great read. Well researched!