The namesake of “The Voice,” Frank Sinatra, died of cardiac arrest March 16, 2016, while on tour in Florida. Frank Sinatra, Jr. was 72 and was scheduled to perform Wednesday night at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach. His death was announced by the Associated Press which received a statement from the Sinatra family.
On the Sinatra Family website for fans, a statement read: “The Sinatra family mourn the untimely passing of their son, brother, father, uncle, Frank Sinatra, Jr. of cardiac arrest while on tour in Daytona, Florida.”
Born Francis Wayne Sinatra – and thus not technically a Junior as his father’s well known middle name was Albert – in Jersey City, NJ in 1944, Sinatra was a member of one of the most prominent show business families. Though never a factor on the Top 40 like his sister, Nancy, who scored two #1 chart hits – 1966’s “These Boots Are Made For Walkin'” and the 1967 duet with her father, “Somethin’ Stupid” – Sinatra Jr. nevertheless carved out a successful career as a live concert performer and occasional TV guest. The latter included an appearance on The Sopranos poking fun at himself.
Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped while in Nevada as a 19-year-old and was released shortly thereafter after his family paid a ransom. His captors were captured, sentenced and went to jail.
Frank Sinatra – the “Chairman of the Board” – died at 82 in 1998.
Here’s a clip of Frank Sinatra Jr. singing two of his father’s signature songs.
