Sinatra: Behind the Legend

by J. Randy Taraborrelli

A thorough look and the life and times of a legendary singer by the best-selling author of Call Her Miss Ross explores the personalities, realities, and controversies surrounding the show business giant, and includes some never-before-seen photographs. 150,000 first printing.

Genres: Biography, Music, Nonfiction, History

547 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

J. Randy Taraborrelli is an author known for biographies of contemporary entertainers and political figures. He is a featured writer in several entertainment magazines in Canada, England, and Australia. He also appears on television as an entertainment news reporter on shows such as Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America, Today and CBS This Morning. Taraborrelli resides in Los Angeles, California.

Taraborrelli, who has written eighteen books (including updated and expanded editions), has had fourteen of them appear on the New York Times best seller list, the most recent of which was 2014's The Hiltons - The True Story of an American Dynasty. His first best seller was Call Her Miss Ross in 1989. His 2009 biography of Marilyn Monroe - The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe - made a re-appearance on the e-books best-seller list at number two in the summer of 2012.

In November of 2012, it was announced that Reelz cable channel had optioned Taraborrelli's New York Times best-selling book, After Camelot, as a miniseries. It will be his second television miniseries, the first airing on NBC in 2000 and based on his book, Jackie, Ethel, Joan.

Through his newly formed J. Randy Taraborrelli Productions, Taraborrelli is currently developing and producing a number of television projects.

Reviews

[Michael Finocchiaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old Blue Eyes was quite a character. Really not all that similar to the pathetic Johnny Fontane (although there were probably a few unsavoury facts in there as well), he was a self-made man who banked everything on his voice and yet should have been far more careful in his choice of friends. The coincidence of just happening to be at such and such a party with mafia boss so and so happens way too much. He also treated women globally like shit. Kind of sad considering some of the beautiful love songs he sang, but honestly, are any of us surprised? I was shocked to learn that Marilyn Monroe nearly died on his compound and rather than getting her medical attention, he had her quietly flown back to her LA bungalow where she was found dead less than 48h later. His denials of mob connections got tiresome after a while. However, none of that takes away from the incredible voice he had. His story as told by Taraborrelli is fascinating at times, repulsive at others, but a nonetheless piece of Americana now that should be understood for what it really was and not just what we would wish it to be.

[F.R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A life as long lived and eventful as Frank Sinatra’s, actually demands to be broken down into chunks. An author can try and take in the big picture, but to really get depth and clarity it seems preferable to me to just shine a spotlight on parts of it.

I was thinking a lot about that idea a lot as I waded through J Randy Taraborrelli’s biography of Sinatra. Frank Sinatra: legendary singer; award winning actor; head of the rat pack (Chairman of the Board); friend of the Kennedys; seemingly friend of nearly every gangster you can care to mention; friend of Ronald Reagan; husband of Ava Gardner; husband of Mia Farrow; briefly fiancée of Lauren Bacall; lover of Marilyn Monroe; lover of Lana Turner; legendary hot-head; New Jersey boy made good.

That’s a lot of life to fit into one book, and making my way through it, it just seemed like it would be better to just focus in depth on particular periods. For example (and I'm just throwing ideas into the air here): Frank’s relationship with Ava Gardner; Frank’s mob connections; or the kidnapping of Frank’s son. You could even go smaller and much more specific and do a short volume like ‘Frank Sinatra and the making of The Manchurian Candidate’. That’s something I’d read, I bloody love that film (so was irked it was covered in a single paragraph in this book). By looking at him in moments of crisis or moments of triumph, a writer can examine his actions and reactions in close captivity and the reader would learn a multitude about his character. That seemed better to me than one volume which is just about cramming incident in, but achieves no depth. Almost, but not quite, giving the world a long biography but still leaving us with an unexamined life.

So obviously I don’t think J Randy Taraborrelli’s work compares favourably to Shaun Levy’s ‘Rat Pack Confidential’ (or the Sinatra episodes of Karina Longworth’s excellent ‘You Must Remember This’ podcast). Taraborrelli really doesn’t help his book with a plodding, uninteresting prose style and a short chapter format that just feels like he has a long list of events he has to tick off because that’s what he thinks biography is. But he never really gets to Frank, and one can’t help think that smaller, much more focused format would be successful in pulling back the layers.

We don’t find out here any of the ups and downs he might have had with arranger Nelson Riddle. Most of his movies are just dismissed in a line or a paragraph, while the albums are rushed past with whether they had any hit singles on them and how critically/commercially successful they were. This is also a Frank Sinatra biography which doesn’t tell the reader when or where he met Dean Martin or Sammy Davis Jr.

The result is a life well lived boiled down into a pedestrian biography that has none of the glamour or passion you’d expect from a book about Sinatra. Yes, it steers the reader safely from his birth to his death, but seemingly unlike Sinatra, Taraborrelli doesn’t want to enjoy any of these moments, he just wants to tick off his boxes and get to the end.

[Dave Schwensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and fast read that brings together all the elements you would expect from a “showbiz biography.” In other words, the author stands on the fence of opinion and never falls too hard in either a positive or negative direction while humanizing a music icon. Through detailed research and interviews with Sinatra’s family, cronies, associates and witnesses he has structured an insightful look into a life that experienced the brightest of show business fame and scandalous headlines, while also filled with personal struggles and depression away from the stage and spotlights.
*
The beginning of the book sets this stage for Sinatra’s earliest years growing up in Hoboken, New Jersey. The nationality stereotypes, neighborhood boundaries and inferred class structures placed a giant chip on his shoulders, while a domineering mother enriched him with a sense of entitlement within their small world. The details about Dolly Sinatra are eye opening and fuel the various highs and lows her only son experienced throughout his career and personal life.
*
The latter part of this book seemed a bit disjointed when compared to the excellent beginning. It became a collection of many stories of the adult, famous and flawed Sinatra told in shorter vignettes. Rat Pack members Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and the rest just seemed to appear out of nowhere. Absent were details on how they met and what ignited the fun that made them late night kings of Las Vegas and on call 24/7 to drink, party, sing, chase women and show a generation what it was to be “cool.” But in the long run, that minor detail doesn’t take away from the entertainment factor.
*
Since Frank Sinatra in his prime was a couple generations before my time, it was fascinating to read about his early successes, dedication, frustration and rise to a level of fame that only a very few entertainers have equaled. Along the way his ego and selfish (empowered) attitude left many casualties in his wake including wives and lovers, business partners and members of his inner circle and famous Rat Pack. But because of this stubbornness that again can be traced to his upbringing, he also fell victim to the government and organized crime. But you know what? Ol’ Blue Eyes didn’t seem to care. He did it his way.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating look at the man with The Voice but about whom I knew very little. Taraborrelli covers all the facets of Sinatra's life, the good and the bad. This is not a tabloid look at a celebrity. It's a honest examination of a talented man who lived quite a life. Kudos to narrator Robert Petkoff for an excellent reading including alternative voices.

The Audible version isn't listed specifically so I picked this one.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! J. Randy brought me right through Frank's life, once again, in an explicit, detailed account of his trials and tribulations. Excellent accounting of the singer's life, his wives, children, accomplishments and failures. I always feel like I am right there watching the subject of the book's life unfold right before my eyes. I always get the human side of these icons Randy writes about. He brings Frank Sinatra from the top of his pedestal right down to earth for me. Every time I finish one of Randy's books, I am brought to the realization that successful, accomplished entertainers are, in fact, only human after all. Randy brings the human side of Frank, and many of those people around him, to the forefront. Thoroughly enjoyed reading about Frank Sinatra, a man I new very little about. His research is, as always, right on. His attention to the details is delightful and humorous at times. As with all of his books, J. Randy brought a whole array of emotions out of me as I continued to read chapter after chapter. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of Frank's of just wants to get the whole story about his life. Randy, it was fantastic as always.

[Freyia KKK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Taraborrelli made such a good job on this book. I found myself hating my beloved Frank several times, for all his doing in ill temper and hurting so many people around him, lots of times for nothing. Nevertheless, nothing change the fact, that he was one of the most talented singers and actors we have had. And yes; the last chapter was hard to read due to tears in my eyes. He is and always will be a legend ❤

[Alan Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with stories and moments from Frank's life, this book is a delightful read.

Taraborrelli doesn't just paint the outside, he goes inside to provide details on what made Sinatra tick.
His relationships not only with women but with fellow members of his Rat Pack.

[Jo-Ann Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and complete biography of a very complex American icon. An easy and entertaining read with many personal details from family and friends. It was less biased in either direction than some other biographies I have read. It is more well-balanced with the positives and negatives that humanize the public figure. There were many points where I hated to put it down because I was so engrossed in the tale.

[Janie A. Hutchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

J. Randy Taraborrelli has long been one of my go-to authors of biographies. In Sinatra he does not disappoint. His is a balanced performance of reality, rumor and speculation. He does not take sides and in Sinatra's life there was a plethora of sides to take. Riveting!

[Dona · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the early 1990’s I had the opportunity to see Frank Sinatra in concert in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was heartbreaking and it made me wish I hadn’t even done it. After reading this biography I understand why I felt that way. Sinatra toured long after he should have stopped, driven in part by his need for an audience and fear of dying and, in my opinion, partly because of greed of those who benefited from his incoming revenue. When I picked this biography I didn’t realize that it had actually been written before Sinatra’s death in 1998. Nevertheless, it was an extensive look into his life and relationships. I wonder why so many of these extremely talented and gifted people are so unhappy? It seems to be an overriding fact of life in recent biographies I’ve read.

[Ross Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I am a huge Sinatra fan and was before reading this book but this in-depth analysis of his life proved how little I originally knew. It’s clear to see how much effort the author went to to find out all this information. A must read for any Sinatra fan and a highly recommended choice for any music fan.

[Candy Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book. This author was so thorough and really researched the facts meticulously. I feel like I know Frank Sinatra personally now.

[Matthew Fitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at FAS's life and times......

[Tania Strydom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read. Would love to see a movie come from this book

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I'm older, like many, I knew of Sinatra from a dozen or so songs and references to the "Rat Pack', so when I found this book in my father's collection I decided to give it a read to see what else I could learn. It was a fascinating story, at times inspiring, at times exasperating. Frank, like others in history who possessed extreme talent and knew it (Churchill, Michael Jordan, Tiger) were capable of leaving their mark on the world, making it a better place or accomplishing great things, or leaving music still listened to today, but could also be capable of extreme arrogance in their public and private lives. Such is the case here. I suppose it's hard when you stand head and shoulders above most to be told your behavior is not acceptable. Most can't hear it. Frank couldn't, nor could he stop even after he recognized it in himself. Be that as it may, he cared passionately about his music, never giving it less than his all, leaving us with a vast library of recordings to enjoy. I think I bought five albums while reading this book, ones highly recommended by the author. They're all great. Good book.

[Neera Kapahi · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.Randy Taraborrelli does an amazing job researching and bringing to life the larger than life of Frank Sinatra. I am a fan of Frank Sinatra’s music and acting and was impressed with his drive, dedication and determination- especially during the early years.

I had heard about his infidelities but was shocked at the extent and especially his callous attitude towards his first wife Nancy. I came away being a bigger fan of Nancy’s than Frank Sinatra. He was a complex man and could be loyal and generous to those close to him and at times just as easily shut them out of his life. His mood swings and violent temper could spin out of control.

I enjoyed reading about his various tumultuous relationships especially with Ava Gardner. His marriage to Mia Farrow was bizarre not only because of their age and personality difference but also because her father, director John Farrow had an affair with Ava Gardner!

This is my second book by this author- I had read Elizabeth earlier. I am looking forward to reading more of his books.

[William C Ruediger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining book about Sinatra and his tribe of sycophants, including most of his family. If you are interested in Frank Sinatra and his sojourn through life, this book is highly recommended. He was mostly a bully and real SOB throughout his life. He could treat Presidents, business friends, Mobsters, other entertainers, family and especially wives and girls friends with extreme care - or contempt and cruelty. He still attracted mobs of people trying to break into his circle of friends and gawkers. When he was in a good mood, or liked you, he could be giving in an extreme way, including financially. One slight trespass or perceived wrong-doing and you were usually out of his life forever. Never a word or glance given again. He was a serial womanizer who demanded complete and total loyalty and obedience from his wives and girl friends. His temper, jealousy, drinking, gambling and carousing were legendary.

Still, Sinatra was a unique person and a singer and actor of immense and unique talent. There probably will never be another like him.

[Anthonyjames · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I bought the book, I thought I would read about a singer that is innocent. But yeah that's only my thoughts.

I never expected that Sinatra would be a temperal man. And expected that he was a very innocent man, just look at his face (1940 ). And I really thought that his whole career would just be circling in the world of music, Sinatra takes all the opportunity to radio, film, and others.

Well I was amazed how Taraborrelli wrote this, when I heard about the author ( when he wrote about Jackson) , and the readers say that Jackson is controversial. That's my expectation for Sinatra, it will be controversial. I expected that once I read the book I would be a huge fan of Sinatra, and heck yeah, I became one( but I'm not fan of his personality, and the way he talks about his wives(especially to Nancy barbato)).

I recommended this book if you want to know about a legendary, if you want to know about his life. Sinatra behind the legend. Well if you expected that this book will be a very innocent book ha, don't expect that. And by the title says " BEHIND THE LEGEND" so yeah.

[Peter O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biography on Sinatra is almost synonymous with the biography of America in the twentieth century - at least the glitzier side of it anyway. It really was a remarkable life and what I really liked about this book was it's accessibility. It didn't delve too deeply into the musical genius of the artist or go too intricately into the recording sessions (given that there were some years where he churned out four or five albums a year, it would have made for a pretty dry read) but instead concentrated more on the juicy stuff. The affairs, the mob, the fights, the booze, the tantrums, the Ratpack - it's all in there and as much as it could have made for a cheap read, the subject and the many, many interviewed sources are treated with a lot of respect and his legacy and that of his feisty family remain intact. He may not have had much choice as, if the book makes one thing perfectly clear, it is that whatever it is you do in life, you should never piss off a Sinatra.

[Matt Ussher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this chronological deep dive into Frank Sinatra‘s greatest accomplishments and various stories encapsulating his family, friends, and emotional traumas. This biography covers everything Sinatra from his early childhood in Hoboken all the way to his somewhat depressing life as an old man. A unique perspective that this book brought was Frank’s vulnerable and sensitive side, especially when it came to processing loss, which was nicely juxtaposed against his innate ability to cut someone off from his life permanently with zero remorse. Personally, I thought that this book could have benefited from being slightly shorter and removing some of the arduous and inconsequential arguments and stalemates between Frank’s daughters and his last wife Barbara. But overall, it was well written from a third-party perspective, mainly dealing with objective information and not trying to second-guess Franks thoughts or emotions.

[Marthe De Haan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly well written and well researched biography of a legend. Dean Martin puts it well when first interviewed "Frank's an okay guy. No one understands him because they try to figure him out. You can't figure out Frank, so don't bother trying to do that in your book. You just gotta accept him. He never thought about a thing he ever did. He just did it. He just lived his life, like me, like all of us. Singin', workin' havin' a good time, taking our raps. He coulda been nicer, though," Dean added thoughtfully. "We all coulda been nicer, especially to each other, and to the dames, too. Especially to the dames."

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thorough biography. Frank was a character that oozed charisma. Even as I was reading I liked him, though there were some stories that made you say "really?" He worked hard on his music and really developed a special sound that I don't think will ever be repeated. Possibly had some mental or psychological issues that never were dealt with by the strong headed man but great work ethic and most of all "cool."
Very detailed, at times long. Unbiased from what I read. Looking for Frank highlights pick another shorter book. This gives a very detailed life story of Frank Sinatra.

[Melissa S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was good in the amount of detail and research that went into it. I was impressed and fascinated by learning about how Sinatra developed his musical abilities from the beginning and differentiated himself from other singers of the time. Noteably I was disappointed at at his lack of moral compass in regards to his relationships. That put a dull on the shine of this ledgend for me, but this is simply my opinion.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book of this, 18 discs, and thought it would never end. I was curious to learn about the entirety of Sinatra's career and personal life, but was disappointed that the focus was almost entirely on his personal life. Sinatra made nearly 60 films, but you never would have known it from this book. It's rare that I read a biography and end up not liking or even admiring the person. This is one of those rarities.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read about Frank Sinatra’s life. The author undertook a lot of research and conducted many interviews with family, friends and employees of Frank Sinatra. Singing and performing was an integral part of who he was. He had a troubled personal life with all of his fiery relationships, and was not very nice to so many people that were close to him. He was a great singer and performer, and he leaves behind a legacy of all of his recordings.

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

New York times best selling author Randy Taraborrelli documents how a skinny kid from New Jersey became a global sensation. This is a detailed biography that traces Sinatra's life and career. Heather, The Book Grocer.

Purchase this classic here for just $8.00

[Dianne Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started this I thought there was nothing new I could learn about Sinatra after having read over 20 biographies over the years but this was the most thoroughly researched and balanced of them all, I did learn so much more - not all of it good but that was the man he was. If you are only ever going to read one Sinatra biography in your life - make it this one!

[Debbie Ladd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a lot about this famous entertainer...not all of it positive for sure.

[Anne-Cara]

DNF at 75% - got tired of the author writing up literally every anecdote related to Sinatra that he’d ever heard, making for poor and disjointed storytelling. Needed an editor.

[Scott Langston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Less well written and less thoroughly researched than the far better Kaplan books.