Object Details
- Artist
- Herman Leonard, 1923 - 2010
- Sitter
- Frank Sinatra, 12 Dec 1915 - 14 May 1998
- Exhibition Label
- Hailed as “the first modern pop superstar,” Frank Sinatra also found favor with jazz enthusiasts who valued his enduring sense of “swing.” Sinatra launched his singing career in his native New Jersey, and scored a breakthrough in 1939 when an engagement at a local nightclub led to his recruitment as a vocalist with Harry James’s big band. Six months later, he switched to Tommy Dorsey’s orchestra where, backed by the Pied Pipers, he recorded his first chart-topping single—“I’ll Never Smile Again” (1940). A string of hits followed, and in 1942 Sinatra embarked on a solo career that flourished for several years before suffering a steep decline. An Oscar-winning role in the film From Here to Eternity (1953) helped revive his fortunes, as did a contract with Capitol Records. No longer a young crooner, Sinatra now expressed a hipness and worldly sophistication in his singing that was perfectly in tune with the times.
- Frank Sinatra, “la primera superestrella de la canción popular moderna”, también gozó del favor de los amantes del jazz que valoraban su consistente sentido del swing. Sinatra inició su carrera de cantante en su natal New Jersey y en 1939 dio el paso definitivo cuando, a raíz de su actuación en un club local, Harry James lo contrató para su big band. Seis meses después pasó a la orquesta de Tommy Dorsey. Con esta, y acompañado por las voces de los Pied Pipers, grabó su primer sencillo que llegó al tope de las listas de popularidad, “I’ll Never Smile Again” (1940). A esto siguió una cadena de éxitos y en 1942 Sinatra emprendió una carrera de solista que prosperó por varios años antes de un abrupto declive. Su suerte cambió en 1953, cuando ganó un Oscar por su actuación en la película From Here to Eternity y obtuvo un contrato con Capitol Records. Pasada la etapa de joven crooner, Sinatra ahora proyectaba en sus canciones una modernidad y sofisticación mundana en perfecta sintonía con los tiempos.
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
- 1958 (printed 1998)
- Object number
- NPG.2014.111.25
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Copyright
- © Herman Leonard Photography LLC
- Type
- Photograph
- Medium
- Selenium-toned gelatin silver print
- Dimensions
- Image: 39.5 × 30.4cm (15 9/16 × 11 15/16")
- Sheet: 50.5 × 40.5cm (19 7/8 × 15 15/16")
- Frame: 71.8 × 56.5 × 3.8 cm (28 1/4 × 22 1/4 × 1 1/2")
- Place
- Monaco\Monte-Carlo\Monte Carlo
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Equipment\Sound Devices\Microphone
- Equipment\Smoking Implements\Cigarette
- Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie\Bowtie
- Frank Sinatra: Male
- Frank Sinatra: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Singer
- Frank Sinatra: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Film\Movie actor
- Frank Sinatra: Performing arts awards\Academy Award
- Frank Sinatra: Civilian awards\Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Frank Sinatra: Civilian awards\Congressional Gold Medal
- Frank Sinatra: Performing arts awards\Grammy
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.2014.111.25
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4cc110a79-9deb-4ebf-b787-d862a2d02681
