Public Libraries of Suffolk County, New York

Sinatra, behind the legend, J. Randy Taraborrelli

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 539-565) and index

individual biography

platesillustrations

index present

non fiction

Sinatra

electronic resource eBook

bibliographydictionaries

J. Randy Taraborrelli

behind the legend

A look at the life and times of a legendary singer explores the personalities, realities, and controversies surrounding the show business giant

Part one: Beginnings -- L'America -- Marty and Dolly -- Frank is born -- Young Frank -- Hoboken days -- Early aspirations -- Nancy -- Early singing days -- Midwife -- "Let Frankie In" -- Toni -- Frank and Nancy marry -- Part two: First blush of success -- Harry James -- Tommy Dorsey -- Self-invention -- Marital weakness -- Dorothy -- Dispute with Dorsey -- "Sinatra-Mania" -- Making do -- 1943 -- Breaking the Dorsey contract -- Anchors aweigh to Los Angeles -- Part three: Big time -- The voice: 1945--46 -- The house he lives in -- Marilyn Maxwell -- Lana Turner -- Family intervention -- The diamond bracelet -- Frank and the Mob -- Nancy makes a decision -- In Cuba with the boys -- Regret -- The FBI and the reporter -- Part four: The Ava yeras -- Ava Gardner -- 1948--49 -- The affair begins -- Lana's warning to Ava -- "Absolutely not" -- A take-charge kind of woman -- Empty -- Ava: "Nancy will thank me one day" -- Frank at the Copa -- Gunplay -- Brink of despair -- Need -- Nancy files for separation -- 1951 -- The suicide attempts -- Ava comes to dinner -- Frank and Ava marry -- Part five: Downward spiral -- His only collateral was a dream -- Mogambo -- Ava's pregnancies -- Filming from here to eternity -- Frank signs with Capitol -- Part six : Back on top -- Success -- The final straw -- Vegas investment -- Conflicted Christmas -- Marilyn Monroe---Take One -- After Frank? -- 1954 Academy Award -- Sammy Davis's accident -- Golden -- Pack master -- Lauren "Betty" Bacall -- Which is the real Dad? -- 1957--58 -- Betty's heartbreak -- Part seven: The Rat Pack years -- The Rat Pack -- JFK -- Stark duality -- The execution of Private Slovik -- On the way to the White House -- The Kennedys worry about Frank and Sammy -- Part eight: And Marilyn Monroe -- Reprise -- Sinatra's preinaugural gala -- Sinatra makes a deal with the devil -- The return of Marilyn Monroe -- Sinatra betrays Giancana -- The problem with Marilyn -- Publicity stunt engagement -- JFK snubs Sinatra -- Elvis -- Frank's plan to marry Marilyn -- Memories of Marilyn -- Swinging '63 -- Frank and Ava redux -- Sinatra surrenders his gaming license -- Part nine: The kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr -- Planning a kidnapping -- Frank on Frank Jr.: "I got a good kid here" -- Delusional thinking -- Kidnapping Frankie -- "Kidnapping my kid?" -- Close call -- "Shoot me and see what happens" -- The ransom demand -- Frank: "You know you're a dead man, right?" -- Frankie is released -- Capturing the kidnappers -- The trial -- Kidnapping postscript -- Growing up Sinatra -- Prelude to the best -- Part ten: The Mia years -- Mia -- First blush of romance -- Mia and Frank in Palm Springs -- Getting to know you -- Red flag -- Fish out of water -- The other side of Frank -- Confronting Sinatra -- Nancy's marriage ends -- Dolly on Mia: "This is trouble. mark my words." -- The Walter Cronkite interview -- What to do about Mia? -- "No more little girl" -- Boots and strangers -- Mia meets the family -- Frank and Mia marry -- Mia meets Ava -- Unkind -- "Somethin' stupid" -- Personality disorder -- Rosemary's Baby -- Divorce---Sinatra style -- Frank fires George Jacobs -- Cycle of pain -- Coda -- Part eleven: Transition -- Changing times -- My way -- Marty Sinatra---rest in peace -- A $22.5 million deal ... at Dolly's house -- More mob questions -- Surprising political support -- Another Vegas showdown -- Retirement? -- Nixon-Agnew -- Part twelve: The Barbara years -- Barbara Marx -- Barbara: trying to fit in -- Cheshire contretemps -- Spiro, Barbara, and the Aussies -- Finding her way -- End of an era -- Jackie? or Barbara? -- Or maybe Ava? -- Frank and Barbara get engaged -- Surprise prenup? -- Frank and Barbara marry -- Dolly Sinatra---rest in peace -- "Who died and left Barbara boss?" -- Adopting a new Sinatra? -- Frank's secret annulment -- Sammy's fall from grace -- Trilogy -- Barbara meets "the Boys" -- "Who took that shot?" -- Sinatra sets the record straight---his way -- Frank and Nancy tour together -- As if she had a choice -- Part thirteen: That's life -- The Kitty Kelley matter -- Frank and Barbara separate -- Sick over the Kitty Kelley book -- Prudent? -- The Sinatra sisters reach out to Barbara -- Rat Pack redux? -- The trouble with Dean -- The Sinatra daughters' revolt -- Ava: "I always thought we would have more time" -- Sammy---rest in peace -- Dinner with the Sinatras -- Father-and-son detente -- A sad ending for Jilly -- Prodigal daughters -- Tina's miniseries -- Frank's secret daughter? -- Duets -- One more for the road -- Sinatra: eighty years---her way? -- Part fourteen: And now the end is near ... -- Eightieth birthday family showdown -- "Goodbye, Dag" -- A fourth wedding ceremony -- Surrounded by love -- Fine