Frank Sinatra, who is from Hoboken, New Jersey, was first influenced by the close-knit and smooth vocals of Bing Crosby when he started his musical career. Motivated by the swing era, he began his career with well-known bandleaders Tommy Dorsey and Harry James, fully engrossed in the colorful sounds and popular genres that characterized the time.
Sinatra was unique because of his uncompromising commitment to his work. Amazingly, he never studied music reading, but his unwavering pursuit of musical brilliance knew no limits. From the 1940s through the 1960s, he effortlessly dominated the stage and won over audiences with his passion and musical brilliance.
One of the best-selling musicians in the world today, Sinatra claims an amazing projected 150 million albums sold worldwide.
Sinatra began a musical journey that would alter popular music forever when he signed a record deal with Capitol Records. His ability to choose music that generated particular feelings was evident in his albums.
Sinatra’s recordings become priceless gems in the fabric of the Great American Songbook, from the sparkling exhilaration of melodies for Swingin’ Lovers! (1956) to the melancholic incidents of the sad romantic melodies in Wee Small Hours (1955).
Together, let’s explore the mysterious area of Frank Sinatra’s music to determine what genre this legendary singer belonged to and what qualities his timeless melodies had!
Was Sinatra a Jazz Singer?
The complexity of Frank Sinatra’s musical journey provides the answer to the question of whether or not he was a jazz singer. Sinatra’s limitless diversity defies formal categorization, even though he undoubtedly left an everlasting influence on the jazz world through his performances with big bands and collaborations with notable jazz performers.
Since he was a young child, Sinatra was deeply influenced by big band jazz, having looked up to musicians like Rudy Vallée, Gene Austin, Bob Eberly, and Russ Colombo. As a result, Sinatra discovered inspiration and comfort in the alluring realm of jazz.
Swing music, a colorful type of jazz that peaked in the 1920s and 1930s, is one particular style that is strongly linked to Frank Sinatra’s musical legacy. His 1961 CD Sinatra’s Swingin’ Session!!! serves as a single example.
Deeper exploration of Frank Sinatra’s discography and genre reveals albums like Swing Easy, which features a selection of easily swinging tunes that begins with Cole Porter’s timeless hit “Just One of Those Things.” Not to be overlooked are the indisputable classic Songs for Swingin’ Lovers, which feature Sinatra’s performance of “I Got You Under My Skin” in particular.
How Would You Describe Frank Sinatra’s Music?
It is challenging to categorize Frank Sinatra’s musical approach into a particular genre because of the way his distinctive style breaks conventional limits. His superb vocal control and ability to infuse each song with complex lyrics, passion, and emotion distinguish him as a great musical legend. The type of music popularized by Frank Sinatra includes, among other things, jazz, swing, bolero, R&B soul, and classic pop.
Frank Sinatra’s Unique Style
Frank Sinatra changed the format of records for future generations, and it is something we cannot ignore while discussing his distinctive approach. The modest story of Sinatra’s album Wee Small Hours’ debut stems from his vision that challenged the conventional pop conventions of his era.
Instead of settling for the standard 10-inch pop record format, Sinatra set his sights on something that would garner greater recognition in his day. He wanted the record to be released in a style appropriate for the world of the highly regarded genre of classical music at the time.
Wee Small Hours was an album that completely defied the status norm when it was issued on 12-inch LPs. This is how Sinatra changed the game for album releases in the future and established a new benchmark!
Frank Sinatra’s genre and distinctive style, however, don’t end there. In addition, his remarkable vocal ability was what made him stand out from the crowd and enchant audiences everywhere.
Is Frank Sinatra Considered Rock?
We can name a number of musical genres when asked what Frank Sinatra’s music was, but he isn’t usually regarded as a rock musician. Sinatra’s career began before rock & roll gained popularity, and the genres of jazz, swing, and classic pop were where his music mainly flourished.
Although Sinatra’s songs might have had an impact on succeeding rock musicians, his own style stayed distinctly big-band-inspired.
Characteristics of Frank Sinatra’s Music
A Baritone Voice Range
A baritone voice usually falls in the middle of the male vocal range, from F2 to G4. Sinatra’s baritone voice, which ranged from G2 to G4, was the distinguishing feature of his musical genius. His voice had a weathered and burnished sound that took his listeners to the worlds of love, heartbreak, triumphs, and tragedy with its velvety richness.
Listening to Sinatra’s classic pop tune “Fly Me to the Moon” can allow you to detect his baritone voice even if you are not familiar with musical terms.
Legato Singing Style
One of Sinatra’s vocal qualities that contributed a smooth flow of subtlety to his music was his legato manner. Through his fluid and well-connected phrasing, Sinatra’s songs have an increased emotional depth.
Here are a few examples showcasing Sinatra’s legato mastery:
- “Fly Me to the Moon”
- “Strangers in the Night”
- “The Way You Look Tonight”
- “My Funny Valentine”
- “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”
- “All the Way”
What is 40s Music Called?
Since 12-inch records were usually connected to classical music albums, this demonstrated the respect and power that classical music enjoyed at the time. It is reasonable to conclude that popular genres and classical music coexisted in a unique way during the 1940s.
Conclusion: What Genre is Frank Sinatra’s Music?
We would like to emphasize once again how Frank Sinatra’s music transcends a fixed genre categorization as we wrap up our article about his musical talent and what genre his music belonged to!
Even today, audiences around the world are in awe of Sinatra’s extraordinary musical variety and boundless talent, thanks to his interest in swing music, conventional pop, jazz, and R&B as well as his distinctive baritone and legato vocal technique and breath control.