Frank Sinatra Jr.

Francis Wayne Sinatra (/sɪˈnɑːtrə/; January 10, 1944 – March 16, 2016), known professionally as Frank Sinatra Jr., was an American jazz and big band singer, songwriter, and conductor. He was the second child and only son of singer and actor Frank Sinatra and his first wife, Nancy Barbato Sinatra, the younger brother of singer and actress Nancy Sinatra, and the older brother of television producer Tina Sinatra.

Francis Wayne Sinatra was born on January 10, 1944, in Jersey City, New Jersey, into the household of one of the most popular singers in the world, Frank Sinatra. The younger Sinatra was technically not a "junior", as his father's middle name was Albert, but was nonetheless known as Frank Jr. throughout his life. The younger Sinatra hardly saw his father, who was constantly on the road, either performing or working in films. Sinatra Jr. recalled wanting to become a pianist and songwriter from his earliest days.

On December 8, 1963, Sinatra, 19 years old, was kidnapped from Harrah's Lake Tahoe (Room 417) and held for ransom. He was released two days later after his father paid the $240,000 ransom demanded by the kidnappers (equivalent to $2,520,000 in 2025). His father had offered $1 million (equivalent to $10,520,000 in 2025), but the kidnappers declined the larger offer. In a later interview with Ira Glass, kidnapper Barry Keenan said that he initially intended to earn back the ransom over years and pay it back to Sinatra's father. Keenan, Johnny Irwin, and Joe Amsler were soon captured, prosecuted for kidnapping, convicted, and sentenced to long prison terms, of which they served only small portions. Mastermind Keenan was later adjudged to have been legally insane at the time of the crime and hence not legally responsible for his actions. Famed attorney Gladys Root represented Irwin.

The kidnappers demanded that all communication be conducted by payphone. During these conversations, Sinatra's father became concerned that he would not have enough coins, which prompted him to carry 10 dimes with him at all times for the rest of his life; he was even buried with 10 dimes in his pocket.

At the time of the kidnapping, Sinatra's father and the Rat Pack were filming Robin and the 7 Hoods. The stress of the kidnapping, in addition to the assassination of his close friend John F. Kennedy just a few weeks prior to the kidnapping, caused Sinatra's father to seriously consider shutting down production, although the film was ultimately completed.

By his early teens Sinatra had begun performing at local clubs. At the age of 19, he became the vocalist for Sam Donahue's band. He also spent considerable time with Duke Ellington, learning the music business.

Sinatra spent most of his early career on the road. In 1965, he composed music for the film, the Beach Girls and the Monster. By 1968, he had performed in 47 states and 30 countries, had appeared as a guest on several television shows^{[citation needed]} including two episodes of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour with his sister Nancy, hosted a 10-week summer replacement series for The Dean Martin Show, had sung with his own band in Las Vegas casinos, and had been the opening act for bigger names at other casinos. During that time, he gained a reputation for rigorous rehearsals and demanding high standards for his musicians.

Sinatra appeared in the Sammy Davis Jr. drama A Man Called Adam in 1966. He also played a disturbed man who takes a stewardess hostage and later as officer Tom Boyd in three episodes of the television crime drama Adam-12, the last episode of which was titled "Clinic on 18th Street" (originally broadcast on March 13, 1974). This episode was an edited television pilot for a Mark VII Limited series that was not sold.^{[citation needed]} His other acting credits included roles in Aru heishi no kake (1970) with Dale Robertson, Code Name Zebra (1987) opposite James Mitchum, and Hollywood Homicide (2003) with Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett.