Frank Sinatra
Sinatra was doing well enough with the Harry James Orchestra, but the band was struggling to make the big time and when Tommy Dorsey offered him a job, Sinatra accepted. It was also an important step financially for Sinatra whose wife, Nancy, was expecting their first baby.
The importance of singing with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra was often acknowledged by Sinatra, and in particular he observed and listened to the way in which Tommy himself used breath control when playing solos.
Frank also got along well with Tommy on a personal level. The singer was young and enthusiastic and Tommy greatly admired his ability. There is no doubt that Sinatra bloomed during his time with Dorsey but even his first appearance with the band at the Lyric Theatre in Indianapolis was a great success. Tommy had predicted in a radio interview that Sinatra would soon be as important as Crosby, but even he must have been surprised and delighted at how quickly this appeared to be happening.
Frank stayed with the band until September 1942 when he decided to leave and become a soloist - a decision which Tommy found hard to accept. Dorsey, the shrewd businessman took over and when Sinatra did go, Tommy along with his manager, Leonard Vannerson, owned almost 50% of Sinatra's future earnings. Eventually, with the help of others, including his booking agency, Sinatra secured his release from this arrangement and he soon went on to become astoundingly successful as a solo performer. It was only a few months later in 1943 that he was an absolute sensation at the Paramount Theatre in New York.
These early recordings of Sinatra with Tommy Dorsey are a great introduction to the man once dubbed 'The Voice.'
This information is featured in the CD booklet.
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