Sinatra: The Life
by Anthony Summers, Robbyn Swan
Published by Knopf
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Reviewed by Connie Anderson
Okay, upfront: I love Sinatra's singing, the way his phrasing and tone can tell a story with such emotion and connectiveness. There, I said it.
Sinatra, the singer, needs to be separated from Sinatra, the man, to read this book with an open mind. The authors track Sinatra's heritage back to a small Sicilian village where his grandparents first associated with families who became Mafia in America.
Over the years, Sinatra was investigated for his involvement with the Mafia, for what and who he knew, first in 1950 and then 1970. He denied associations and was evasive whether he knew any Mafia members. In fact, as his career was just beginning, the Mafia was in total control of all entertainment in the New York area. If you wanted to perform at a bar, restaurant or on the radio, the Mafia had to give you the nod. Sinatra's mother was politically involved in Hoboken, and this helped influence people to give her boy a chance.
Those chances, along with practice and a strong desire to be a singer, helped to launch him. However it was his gift of voice and phrasing, complemented by association with some amazing orchestras and great song selections that we all remember.
When his career was faltering early on, the Mafia encouraged studio executives to give this singer an acting role in "From Here to Eternity," for which he won an Oscar. Often someone gave him a break, but it was his talents and drive that made it work.
With his heavy social drinking (today he'd be called an alcoholic), he'd have violent outbursts. Sinatra tried to control his personal life and those around him. His many affairs, marriages and complicated relationships were fodder for the media. Women loved him; men admired him.
What an amazing life he had -- connected with the rich and famous, the beautiful and the bad men. All this might be true, but when I hear him sing "New York, New York" or many others, alone or in duet, I care only about the song and the singer.
Armchair Interviews says: If you want to believe only the best about Sinatra, this book's research will upset you. If you want to know how hard this lonely, sometimes isolated, man worked to achieve and keep what he had, you'll enjoy Sinatra: The Life.