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Artist Biography - Frank Sinatra Jr.
Background: Frank Sinatra Jr. was born in New Jersey in 1944. The son of one of the most famous singers of all time, Frank Jr. was immediately under the spotlight. This, accompanied by the fact that Frank Sr. was constantly on the road (Frank Sr. was filming a movie in Hollywood when he was born), made for a rougher childhood than you'd expect for a member of the Sinatra legacy. Frank Jr. has actually described himself as the "Volkswagen in the Sinatra family garage".
Obviously music was going to be part of Frank's life, it was just a matter of how. He began taking music lessons at age five. He learned to play the piano and the violin. He also began singing and writing his own songs. Frank Jr. was determined to make a name for himself though. He had various summer jobs from age 12 on because he had an agreement with his father to try to make it on his own without help. He also went on to public school instead of a private institution because of the agreement. That didn't last very long though. Frank Jr. was sent off to a private school in Arizona by his mother because of the endless teasing he endured on behalf of his father. At this point, Frank's relationship with his father was limited to letters exchanged between the two. Needless to say, Frank Jr. was miserable. His only resolution was a black Pontiac Bonneville convertible that Frank Sr. bought for him for his return.
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Artist Biography - Frank Sinatra Jr.
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 Frank's musical career really began at boarding school in California. He met another student by the name of Rick Shaw, who was an artist. Rick would do impressionist paintings, and Frank would make up a melody for each painting. The duo did some performances, showcasing both of their talents. With the positive response from the performances, Frank Jr. decided he wanted to perform publicly. Frank called a friend in Phoenix that owned a nightclub. He asked his friend a date that he could perform. April 28th, 1962 would mark his public debut as a singer. He played piano and sang to a very appreciative crowd. Frank would need a band though. The way he acquired one was strange but effective. He walked up to the band leader at Disney on July 4th and asked him if he could sing with the band. Once he heard Frank belt out a few tunes, the band leader asked him to play with them on July 6th for a tribute to the band. Frank Jr. wowed the audience with his voice and presence. It wasn't long before the band signed on with Frank for a full tour. Frank Jr. set out with the band to make an honest living as a musician, and without the help of his father.
That same year in December, Frank Jr. was kidnapped by two men at a Lake Tahoe hotel before his performance. Frank was placed in the trunk of their car and not let out until Los Angeles. He was released when his father paid a $240,000 ransom. Uninjured but definitely disturbed, Frank Jr. toured relentlessly in the following years, sometimes only taking a few days off a year. He felt he had to work three times harder than his father to prove himself. His first solo full-length album "Young Love For Sale" came shortly after in 1965 to mixed reviews.
These days, Frank continues to perform either on stage or on the set. He has had brief acting roles (most notably "The Sopranos"), and numerous albums released. He still performs today.
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For more information , enjoy the official homepage of Frank Sinatra Jr.
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