In 1947, Frank Sinatra was a major pop and film star. His years with trombonist Tommy Dorsey's orchestra from January 1940 to the summer of 1942 had established him as Bing Crosby's rival—particularly with younger music fans who identified with Sinatra's casual, natural singing style.
Soon after leaving Dorsey, Sinatra signed with Columbia Records in January 1943 and began a grueling period of recording, radio and stage appearances, and film work. In short order, Sinatra became a national sensation—his vocals on record were warm and sincere while his brash confidence and innocent optimism were captured neatly in musical films such as Higher and Higher (1944) and Anchors Away (1945).
In 1947, Sinatra made It Happened in Brooklyn—a film about how those with big dreams can see them through with the right mindset and determination. One of my favorite scenes features a young-adult Sinatra working in a record store as he tries to show bop-influenced teens how It's the Same Old Dream should be crooned...
And here's Sinatra singing The Brooklyn Bridge from the same move...
Soon after leaving Dorsey, Sinatra signed with Columbia Records in January 1943 and began a grueling period of recording, radio and stage appearances, and film work. In short order, Sinatra became a national sensation—his vocals on record were warm and sincere while his brash confidence and innocent optimism were captured neatly in musical films such as Higher and Higher (1944) and Anchors Away (1945).
In 1947, Sinatra made It Happened in Brooklyn—a film about how those with big dreams can see them through with the right mindset and determination. One of my favorite scenes features a young-adult Sinatra working in a record store as he tries to show bop-influenced teens how It's the Same Old Dream should be crooned...
And here's Sinatra singing The Brooklyn Bridge from the same move...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved.
