Wow, did you ever
miss the mark in naming Elvis Presley "Entertainer of the Century"
[cover issue dated January 1 - 7, 2000]. Hands down, Frank
Sinatra is, unequivocally, THE ENTERTAINER OF THE CENTURY! He was
placed number 5 on your list in error.
Arguably, as
subjective as these things are, let's put some objective measures on
the table. Specifically, the impact the entertainer had/has on: (1)
individual artistry; (2) music; (3) film; (4) dance; (5) his/her own
personal evolution; (6) the business of entertainment; (7) society;
and (8) legacy. With these categories we can summarily dismiss
entertainers TV Guide rated higher than Frank Sinatra:
Listed #2 -
Marilyn Monroe
(1)
Individual artistry - Although Marilyn Monroe was a very talented comedic and dramatic actress, unfortunately, her entire career was typecast by her sexuality. Consequently, the single greatest aspect of Monroe's career is her sexuality.
Frank Sinatra began his career by solidly establishing himself as an extraordinary vocalist, then he evolved his talent to become an Academy Award® winning actor, film and television producer, business executive, and philantropist.
(2) Music - Monroe was a very capable singer, but she never pursued and she never was promoted to become a successful recording artist.
Frank Sinatra,
like his idol Bing Crosby, used his VOICE as the "foundation" for
his career then continued to evolve: Frank Sinatra's VOICE (more
than his idol Bing Crosby) became the icon for "crooning," and
despite vocal problems his talent as a vocalist became
unparalleled - Sinatra brought true emotion and unique phrasing to
song interpretation - and he got better and better at it, charting Top 10 music every decade from the 1930s to the 1990s. As a counter-point
to rock and roll Frank Sinatra single-handedly ushered in the
1950's "swing" movement. Three of his songs made #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 after the advent of the rock and roll era: "Learnin' the Blues" (1955), "Strangers in the Night" (1966), and "Somethin' Stupid" (1967), the last a duet with daughter Nancy. Frank Sinatra established and defined the idea of
the "concept" recording album; and Frank Sinatra was the first
major recording artist to pull away from a major recording label
and setup his own very successful music publishing and record
company decades before Master P, Puffy Combs and the Artist
(formerly known as Prince)! Frank Sinatra also has the longest time span of charting Top Ten albums on the Billboard album chart, 62 years with "The Voice of Frank Sinatra" going to #1 in 1946, and "Nothing But the Best" going to #2 in 2008.
(3) Film - Monroe was a very capable actress, but no Academy Awards. Unlike Madonna
("Evita") and even Betty Davis, Marilyn was not able to bolt out
of her sexuality to pursue meatier acting roles.
Conversely, Frank Sinatra starred in sixty-(60) major films; produced seven-(7) feature films; directed one-(1) feature film ("None But the Brave," 1965); Sinatra received three-(3) performance-based Academy Awards (Honorary, Best Supporting, and Humanitarian); and another three-(3) Academy Awards for Best Original Song (in 1954 for "Three Coins in the Fountain," and in 1957 for "All the Way," and in 1959 for "High Hopes").
Conversely, Frank Sinatra was not a dancer, but as his career evolved and grew from singing to acting, just like the majority of "leading men" during his generation Sinatra learned how to dance, and to do so quite capably with legendary dancer Gene Kelly.
(5) His/her own
personal evolution - Suicide or "misfortune" at 36 years of age. The very
emotionally troubled Monroe unfortunately never realized her
potential.
Conversely, Frank Sinatra evolved throughout a career lasting sixty-(60) years. Remarkably, although Sinatra's sound or "voice" changed, his voice deepened, but his style and phrasing remained the same, extremely distinctive. Sinatra faced many challenges throughout his career, such as: recording contracts cancelled; vocal cords hemorrhage; infidelity; multiple divorces; motion picture flops; U.S. Senate investigations; arrests; suicide attempt; and much more. Nevertheless, Frank Sinatra worked hard to complete his career arch.
(6) The business of entertainment - Monroe's "career" was managed by others, she had very little control over her career. Unlike Madonna, she was never able to parlay her
sexuality into a vibrant business machine.
Frank Sinatra
owned and ran his own film production company, music publishing, record company, other entertainment businesses, and non-profit enterprises.
(7) Society - Monroe's image and sexuality was and remains the "pinnacle standard" for feminine beauty and sexuality around the world. Consequently, Monroe's overall social image is one-dimensional.
Conversely, Frank Sinatra's career was multi-dimensional (music, concerts, film, television, etc.).
(8) Legacy - Monroe's image and sexuality was and remains the "pinnacle standard" for feminine beauty and sexuality around the world for perpetuity.
Listed #3 - The
Beatles
(1)
Individual artistry - The
Beatles had a phenomenal impact when they landed in the U.S. back
in 1964. Elvis was essentially asleep-at-the-wheel repeatedly making
formulaic movies even after The Beatles eclipsed
"The King of Rock and Roll" in music sales, concert attendance, and more.
Elvis
backed-away from his music career to making "B" movies during the entire 1960s. The Beatles established themselves as the #1 selling recording artists of the 1960s, but who won the Grammy for Best Solo Performance in
1965 and 1966? Who won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1965
and 1966? Yep, Francis Albert Sinatra.
(2) Music - The Beatles wrote great original music, and they sampled the songs of several legendary R&B and Rock and Roll artists. As of 2017, they hold the record for most number-one hits on the Hot 100 chart with twenty. They have received seven Grammy Awards, an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score ("Let It Be," 1970) and fifteen-(15) Ivor Novello Awards presented by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA). They were also collectively included in Time magazine's compilation of the twentieth century's 100 most influential people.The team of John Lennon and Paul McCartney are as equally iconic and successful as Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Thom Bell and Linda Creed, George and Ira Gershwin, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland.
Again, Frank Sinatra,
like his idol Bing Crosby, used his VOICE as the "foundation" for
his career then continued to evolve: Frank Sinatra's VOICE (more
than his idol Bing Crosby) became the icon for "crooning," and
despite vocal problems his talent as a vocalist became
unparalleled - Sinatra brought true emotion and unique phrasing to
song interpretation - and he got better and better at it, charting Top 10 music every decade from the 1930s to the 1990s. As a counter-point
to rock and roll Frank Sinatra single-handedly ushered in the
1950's "swing" movement. Three of his songs made #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 after the advent of the rock and roll era: "Learnin' the Blues" (1955), "Strangers in the Night" (1966), and "Somethin' Stupid" (1967), the last a duet with daughter Nancy. Frank Sinatra established and defined the idea of
the "concept" recording album; and Frank Sinatra was the first
major recording artist to pull away from a major recording label
and setup his own very successful music publishing and record
company decades before Master P, Puffy Combs and the Artist
(formerly known as Prince)! Frank Sinatra also has the longest time span of charting Top Ten albums on the Billboard album chart, 62 years with "The Voice of Frank Sinatra" going to #1 in 1946, and "Nothing But the Best" going to #2 in 2008.
(3) Film - The Beatles consistently made very entertaining films, but their output was insignificant with only four-(4) starring films: "A Hard Day's Night (1964)," "Help! (1965)," "Magical Mystery Tour (1967)," and "Yellow Submarine (1968)."
Conversely, Frank Sinatra starred in sixty-(60) major films; produced seven-(7) feature films; directed one-(1) feature film ("None But the Brave," 1965); Sinatra received three-(3) performance-based Academy Awards (Honorary, Best Supporting, and Humanitarian); and another three-(3) Academy Awards for Best Original Song (in 1954 for "Three Coins in the Fountain," and in 1957 for "All the Way," and in 1959 for "High Hopes").
(4) Dance - Nope. Nada. No way. Never happened. Didn't happen. The Beatles did not dance or introduce any original dances.
Conversely, Frank Sinatra was not a dancer, but as his career evolved and grew from singing to acting, just like the majority of "leading men" during his generation Sinatra learned how to dance, and to do so quite capably with legendary dancer Gene Kelly.
(5) His/her own
personal evolution - Collectively, the Beatles evolved their music from traditional Rock & Roll to mirror the social protest songs common for the 1960s. Individually, each member also began to establish "his" own identity, which was particularly evident after the group disbanded.
Conversely, Frank Sinatra evolved throughout a career lasting sixty-(60) years. Remarkably, although Sinatra's sound or "voice" changed, his voice deepened, but his style and phrasing remained the same, extremely distinctive. Sinatra faced many challenges throughout his career, such as: recording contracts cancelled; vocal cords hemorrhage; infidelity; multiple divorces; motion picture flops; U.S. Senate investigations; arrests; suicide attempt; and much more. Nevertheless, Frank Sinatra worked hard to complete his career arch.
(6) The business of entertainment - The Beatles became the most heavily promoted music group in the history of the world, and their success became an immediate template for the U.S. domestic and international marketing of music artists. Unfortunately, the Beatles lacked the necessary business acumen to effectively manage their own interests, and to evolve the careers into other aspects of the entertainment industry (film, stage, television, etc.). In February 1968 they formed Apple Corps, a multimedia corporation composed of Apple Records and several other subsidiary companies. Lennon described the venture as an attempt to achieve "artistic freedom within a business structure", but his increased drug experimentation and growing preoccupation with Yoko Ono, combined with the Beatles' inability to agree on how the company should be run, left Apple in need of professional management. Lennon asked Lord Beeching to take on the role, but he declined, advising Lennon to go back to making records. Lennon was approached by Allen Klein, who had managed the Rolling Stones and other bands during the British Invasion. In early 1969, Klein was appointed as Apple's chief executive by Lennon, Harrison and Starr, but McCartney never signed the management contract.
Frank Sinatra worked hard to complete his career arch not only in the music industry as a vocalist, writer, publisher, concert performer, producer and arranger, and record label owner, but also as a film and television actor, producer, director, business executive, and philantropist.
(7) Society - As the Beatles gained increased popularity through strategically designed public relations campaigns that marketed their music and related social protest songs globally, more and more attention was given to personal comments made by each band member. Particular attention was captured by and given to John Lennon. "More popular than Jesus" was part of a longer remark made by John Lennon during a 1966 interview in which he argued that the public was more infatuated with the Beatles than with Jesus, and that rock music might outlast Christianity. His opinions drew no controversy when originally published in the United Kingdom, but when republished in the United States a few months later, angry reactions flared up in Christian communities. The full quotation was:
"Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that; I'm right and I'll be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first – rock 'n' roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me."
(8) Legacy - Begining in 1960, "The Beatles" disbanded in 1970. John Lennon was assassinated by Mark David Chapman on December 8, 1980 at forty-(40) years of age. George Harrison died on November 29, 2001 at 58 years of age.
Unlike many R&B, County & Western, and Rock & Roll groups such as The Rolling Stones (1962 to present, 57 years), The Dells (1952 to 2012, 60 years), The Temptations (1960 to present, 59 years), and The Oak Ridge Boys (1947 to present, 72 years), The Beatles lacked the chemistry and conviction to complete their collective career arch.
Conversely, in 1970, Frank Sinatra released Watertown, a critically acclaimed concept album, with music by Bob Gaudio (of the Four Seasons) and lyrics by Jake Holmes. Then, on November 2, 1970, Sinatra recorded the last songs for Reprise Records before his self-imposed retirement, which was short-term at best, because he continued to occassionally perform fundraising concerts. Then, in 1973, Sinatra came out of his short-lived retirement with a television special and album. The album, entitled Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back, arranged by Gordon Jenkins and Don Costa, was a success, reaching number 13 on Billboard and number 12 in the UK. Frank Sinatra contined to perform around the world for the next twenty-five-(25) years! Frank Sinatra died on May 14, 1998 at eighty-two-(82) years of age.
Listed #4 -
Lucille Ball
(1)
Individual artistry - Lucy established herself as a very talented, smart, and beautiful actress, comedian, and business woman, but her greatest success was limited to television.
(2) Music - Lucy was a very capable singer, but she did not achieve career success as a Billboard charting, concert vocalist, singer, etc.
Again, Frank Sinatra,
like his idol Bing Crosby, used his VOICE as the "foundation" for
his career then continued to evolve: Frank Sinatra's VOICE (more
than his idol Bing Crosby) became the icon for "crooning" and,
despite vocal problems his talent as a vocalist became
unparalleled - Sinatra brought true emotion and unique phrasing to
song interpretation - and he got better and better at it, charting Top 10 music every decade from the 1930s to the 1990s. As a counter-point
to rock and roll Frank Sinatra single-handedly ushered in the
1950's "swing" movement. Frank Sinatra established and defined the idea of
the "concept" recording album; and Frank Sinatra was the first
major recording artist to pull away from a major recording label
and setup his own very successful music publishing and record
company decades before Master P, Puffy Combs and the Artist
(formerly known as Prince)!
(3) Film - Lucy was a very talented, smart, and beautiful actress, but she had a
mediocre and short lived film career. However, she had a legendary TV career. She was the most succesful female in television history, and without regard to her gender, Lucille Ball was easily one of the most successful and powerful entertainment moguls in entertainment history.
Frank Sinatra
was not a comedian, Lucy was. However, Frank Sinatra also had
televison shows and specials from the 1950s through the 1990s.
Plus, Sinatra appeared in over sixty-(60) films which included nearly
every conceivable genré: comedy, action, war, adventure,
musicals, westerns, spy, drama, and period films. Lucy didn't.
(4) Dance - Lucille Ball was a very capable dancer, but not in the league of Eleanor Powell, Rita Hayworth, Ginger Rogers, Ann Miller, or Doris Day.
Conversely, Frank Sinatra was not a dancer, but as his career evolved and grew from singing to acting, just like the majority of "leading men" during his generation Sinatra learned how to dance, and to do so quite capably with legendary dancer Gene Kelly.
(5) His/her own
personal evolution -
Conversely, Frank Sinatra evolved throughout a career lasting sixty-(60) years. Remarkably, although Sinatra's sound or "voice" changed, his voice deepened, but his style and phrasing remained the same, extremely distinctive. Sinatra faced many challenges throughout his career, such as: recording contracts cancelled; vocal cords hemorrhage; infidelity; multiple divorces; motion picture flops; U.S. Senate investigations; arrests; suicide attempt; and much more. Nevertheless, Frank Sinatra worked hard to complete his career arch.
(6) The business of entertainment - Unlike Marilyn, Lucy's
near legendary savvy as a business woman propelled the creation of
her Desilu Studios which was the first home for the now legendary
"Star Trek" TV and film franchise. Yet, even before Lucy, Bing
Crosby established a template for success in film and television
("Hogan's Heroes," etc.) that is not only unmatched but sadly
resulted in his four son's from his first marriage never having to
work a day in their lives.
Like Lucy, and Bing Crosby, owning his own film production company
gave Frank Sinatra a certain freedom and business savvy. Unlike
Lucy, Elvis and Bing, Frank Sinatra applied his artistry
diversely, as a performer and businessman. After acknowledging her
business savvy, Lucy's individual artistry is limited to her icon
status as a television comedian and, while significant, Carol
Burnett is clearly an heir apparent. As the "King of Rock and Roll"
Elvis' heir apparent is the self-titled "King of Pop" a.k.a.
Michael Jackson. There is no heir apparent to Sinatra.
(7) Society - In 1962, Ball became the first woman to run a major television studio, Desilu Productions, which produced many popular television series, including Mission: Impossible and Star Trek. Ball was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning four times.[8] In 1960, she received two stars for her work in film and television on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1977, Ball was among the first recipients of the Women in Film Crystal Award. She was also the recipient of the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1979, was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1984, and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986, and the Governors Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 1989. Ball's impact on society was briefly impaired by her alleged affiliation with the Communist Party in 1936, but as gossip columnist Hedda Hopper wrote in an interview: "The only thing red about Lucy is her hair, and even that is not legitimate."
Way before it became fashionable to advocate for civil rights, even before he became pals with Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra made a serious musical statement for ethnic equality. Let's not forget all throughout the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s Black performers (Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, etc.) could not sleep in the same Las Vegas hotels where they performed, but Frank Sinatra refused to perform unless members of his band and performers like Sammy Davis, Jr. could sleep and perform in the same hotel. Frank Sinatra was a catalyst for positive change. The very first "music video" to receive an Academy Award® was presented to Frank Sinatra in 1945 for the video, "The House I Live In."
(8) Legacy - Yes, Lucille Ball was a very capable actress, singer, dancer, and business woman, but more than anything else, Lucille Ball's career in television is the centerpiece of her legacy.
Listed #1 -
Elvis Presley
(1)
Individual artistry - Elvis' was not the first, but he was truly the most dynamic and successful White male to "cover" and record Black R&B music, which was subsequently renamed "rock and roll," and therefore acceptable for White people.
Without regard to race, sex, ethnicity, or religion, and throughout his entire career, Frank Sinatra openly sang with, worked with, and recorded with a robust group of contemporaries from Peggy Lee to Nat King Cole, from Ella Fitzgerald to Dean Martin, from Lena Horne to Carly Simon, from Sammy Davis, Jr. to Antonia Carlos Jobim, from Bing Crosby to Louis Armstrong, from Nelson Riddle to Duke Ellington, from Count Bassie to Gordon Jenkins, and literally many more hundreds of very talented artists. Elvis never shared or explored his individual artistry with his contemporaries.
(2) Music - Let's acknowledge Elvis' musical
accomplishments, his recording success. According to German owned
BMG which owns Elvis' label RCA, it is estimated that Elvis has
sold over one billion records worldwide, more than anyone else in
the history of the record music business. Commercially successful in many genres, including pop, country, blues, and gospel, Elvis is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music. Elvis won three competitive Grammys, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame.
But when it's all said and
done, what single recording artist has been the most prolific,
produced more recordings and has more product available than
anyone else. Elvis? No. Sinatra? Yes. What recording artist has
consistently charted new material in the top 100 from the 1940s
through the 2000s? Elvis? No. Francis Albert Sinatra? Yes. Guess who has more albums in the 100 best-selling albums than any other artist? Elvis? No. Frank Sinatra. Yes! Source: Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and 100 Best Selling Albums of the 50s by Charlotte Greig
Again, Frank Sinatra, like his idol Bing Crosby, used his VOICE as the "foundation" for his career then continued to evolve: Frank Sinatra's VOICE (more than his idol Bing Crosby) became the icon for "crooning" and, despite vocal problems his talent as a vocalist became unparalleled - Sinatra brought true emotion and unique phrasing to song interpretation - and he got better and better at it, charting Top 10 music every decade from the 1930s to the 1990s. As a counter-point to rock and roll Frank Sinatra single-handedly ushered in the 1950's "swing" movement. Frank Sinatra established and defined the idea of the "concept" recording album - please read, "Sessions with Sinatra: Frank Sinatra and the Art of Recording" by Charles L. Granata, and "The Rough Guide to Frank Sinatra" by Chris Ingham, and "Sinatra! The Song Is You - A Singer's Art" by Will Friedwald. Plus, Frank Sinatra was the "first major recording artist" to pull away from a major recording label and setup his own very successful music publishing and record company decades before Master P, Puffy Combs and the Artist (formerly known as Prince)!
What recording
artist has a legendary list of composers and arrangers that reads
like a who's who's list (Irving Berlin, Cahn and Van Heusen,
Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Nelson
Riddle, Gordon Jenkins, Billy May, etc.) of the best in recording
history? Elvis? No. Sinatra? Again, of course! In the 1950s when
record companies where putting pressure on recording artist to
sing trendy, mediocre or "safe" songs of the day who held his guns
and sang "his" music HIS WAY? Elvis? No. How can anyone ever
forget Elvis Presley singing (broadcast from the waist up) "Hound
Dog" to a actual "Hound Dog" on national television. In the early
1950s when confronted with his "dog" tune, "Mama Will Bark" Frank
Sinatra ultimately told both his arranger, Mitch Miller, and
Columbia, his record label, goodbye. At the time this was not a
wise business decision but Sinatra consistently held high
standards for the quality of his artistic product. Perceived as a
rebel by some, Sinatra preferred quality over crap. Apparently,
Elvis wasn't aware of or didn't learn from Sinatra's "dog"
history. Elvis had phenomenal potential but, after his initial
success in late 1950s, one can hardly call his musical output,
particularly his musical film work during the 1960s, as high
quality material. After his stint in the military, Elvis
essentially lost his "edge", started playing it "safe" and
ultimately, Elvis became his own "Golden Oldies Show" during the
1970s. Meanwhile, in 1973 at 58 years of age Sinatra came out of a
nearly three year self-imposed retirement and went on to achieve
even more chart success with "Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back" and later
with the legendary "New York, New York". Elvis died August 16,
1977 fat and drugged.
On January 26, 1980 at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, over 175,000 people attended the fourth-(4th) highest-attended single-artist's ticketed concert in history, which featured Frank Sinatra. Elvis has never been so ranked.
Sinatra went on and
pushed his musical envelope even further with "Trilogy: Past, Present
& Future" and hit again with Quincy Jones' arrangement of "Mack
The Knife" in 1984. Then, at 78 years of age, Frank Sinatra achieved
even more artistic success while also pioneering a breakthrough in
recording technology by successfully teaming with many contemporary
artists of the day (Luther Vandross, Bono, Kenny G, Julio Iglesias,
Barbra Streisand, etc.) in "Duets" from 1993 and "Duets II" in 1994.
Despite health problems Frank Sinatra continued performing in
concert, showing his strength and frailties, until a few years before
his death on May 14, 1998.
(3) Film -We can easily dismiss Elvis' film career, because it was not even in the league of three time Academy Award nominated and one-time Best Actor Bing Crosby.
Conversely, Frank Sinatra starred in sixty-(60) major films; produced seven-(7) feature films; directed one-(1) feature film ("None But the Brave," 1965); Sinatra received three-(3) performance-based Academy Awards (Honorary, Best Supporting, and Humanitarian); and another three-(3) Academy Awards for Best Original Song (in 1954 for "Three Coins in the Fountain," and in 1957 for "All the Way," and in 1959 for "High Hopes"). Elvis' film career quickly disappeared into mediocrity.
(4) Dance - Elvis had a very vibrant, exhilarating, and highly improvisational dancing style. Although Presley was always exciting and captivating with his gyrating and thrusts, his dance repertoire was very limited and did not include ballet, tap, ballroom, jazz, country, or modern dance. Unfortunately, unlike Fred Astaire, Harold Nicholas, Michael Jackson, and Usher as Elvis' career matured he failed to evolve his creative talent and skill as a dancer.
ELVIS PRESLEY - "Jailhouse Rock," from the 1957 movie of the same name.
Conversely, Frank Sinatra was not a dancer, but as his career evolved and grew from singing to acting, just like the majority of "leading men" during his generation Sinatra learned how to dance, and to do so quite capably with legendary dancer Gene Kelly.
(5) His/her own
personal evolution - Elvis became extremely reclusive, a drug addict, and died from a toxic reaction to the drug codeine which caused sudden cardiac arrhythmiaat at forty-two-(42) years of age.
Conversely, Frank Sinatra evolved throughout a career lasting sixty-(60) years. Remarkably, although Sinatra's sound or "voice" changed, his voice deepened, but his style and phrasing remained the same, extremely distinctive. Sinatra faced many challenges throughout his career, such as: recording contracts cancelled; vocal cords hemorrhage; infidelity; multiple divorces; motion picture flops; U.S. Senate investigations; arrests; suicide attempt; and much more. Nevertheless, Frank Sinatra worked hard to complete his career arch.
(6) The business of entertainment - Elvis' career" was managed by others, he did not manage his career. Unlike Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson, Elvis was never able to parlay his
"talent" into a vibrant business machine. Frankly, not until after Elvis' death was his career fully exploited and monetized.
Conversely, Frank Sinatra worked hard to complete his career arch not only in the music industry as a vocalist, writer, publisher, concert performer, producer and arranger, and record label owner, but also as a film and television actor, producer, director, business executive, and philantropist.
(7) Society - Although Elvis Presley's career was primarily confined to singing, some limited dancing, and To some Elvis is considered the greatest entertainer of the 20th century. To some Presley was considered a racist for launching and building his entire career by singing R&B songs of and mimicking the vocals and dance movements of Black entertainers. To some Presley is wrongly considered the creator of Rock & Roll. To some Presley is considered a philanthropist for, beginning in 1961, a tradition of distributing checks to more than 50 charitable organizations, donating more than $100,000 a year. Elvis supported St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis. Presley also gave anonymously. Presley paid off people’s debts and mortgages. The full extent of Elvis’ charity is unknown.
Postumously, to further Presley's philanthropy, in 1984 the Elvis Presley Foundation was established as a 501(c)(3) organization. It was first known as the Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation. The foundation, for example, created the Elvis Presley Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of Memphis to assist students in music, film, television and theater. The foundation also assists other charities in the Memphis community, especially focusing on arts, education and children’s programs. Elvis’ only child, Lisa Marie, founded the Presley Charitable Foundation in 2007. The organization established the Presley Place-New Orleans, a transitional housing facility for homeless families. The foundation provides rent-free housing, child daycare, career and financial counseling, family management guidance, and other tools for the homeless. Through this process they gain self-esteem and independence. The Presley Place-Memphis opened its doors in 2001. Proceeds from a Lisa Marie Elvis song, “In the Ghetto,” went directly to the charitable foundation. The Presley Charitable Foundation is also a 501(c)(3) organization.
Conversely, again, in 1962 Frank Sinatra went on a world-wide
concert tour - paying his own expenses together with those of his
musicians and entourage - and raised over $1 million dollars for
children's charities throughout the world. In fact, during his
lifetime, Frank Sinatra, the man and performer, raised in excess
of one billion dollars for various charities worldwide. Source: Sinatra: World On A String." Frank Sinatra's philanthropic work is legendary and continues after his death through the Frank Sinatra Foundation.
Way before it became fashionable to advocate for civil rights, even before he became pals with Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra made a serious musical statement for ethnic equality. Let's not forget all throughout the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s Black performers (Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, etc.) could not sleep in the same Las Vegas hotels where they performed, but Frank Sinatra refused to perform unless members of his band and performers like Sammy Davis, Jr. could sleep and perform in the same hotel. Frank Sinatra was a catalyst for change. The very first "music video" to receive an Academy Award® was presented to Frank Sinatra in 1945 for the following video, "The House I Live In."
(8) Legacy - True, Elvis was
more than a mere flash in the pan, but how much more? Sadly, Elvis
screwed-up and didn't complete his career arch.
TV Guide and MTV
also picked Michael Jackson's "Thriller" as the best music video
ever. No, way! The best music video EVER is Frank Sinatra's "The
House I Live In" made in 1946 for which he received a Special
Academy Award. Way before it became fashionable to advocate civil
rights, even before he became pals with Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank
Sinatra made a serious musical statement for ethnic equality.
Let's not forget all throughout the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s
Black performers (Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington,
etc.) could not sleep in the same Las Vegas hotels where they
performed, but Frank Sinatra refused to perform unless Sammy
Davis, Jr. could sleep and perform in the same hotel. Frank
Sinatra was a catalyst for change. Frank Sinatra openly and
specifically acknowledged his admiration of Black performers like
Billie Holiday. Clearly, TV Guide and those youngsters at MTV are
obviously short on memory. To this day, Little Richard is still trying to be
recognized at the TRUE "King of Rock and Roll!
As hinted above, it's
a terrible omission for TV Guide to overlook the career of Bing
Crosby who, in his initial heyday from 1928 through 1934 was truly
the very first major iconic multi-media star (music, radio, film, stage, etc.). For example, "Blue
Hawaii" was originally a hit for Bing, then Sinatra and then, oh
yeah, Elvis Presley! Crosby had an impact and, at the time, everyone
wanted to sound like him, except a really skinny kid from Hoboken,
New Jersey. So, TV Guide let's not put the cart before the horse.
It's nearly impossible to ignore "Der Bingles'" impact each Christmas
with the Irving Berlin penned masterpiece "White Christmas." Yet,
where Crosby excelled there's ample evidence of how Sinatra's career arch obliterated Crosby's
achievements primarily through his individual artistry as a vocalist
and the tenacity of his convictions to do it his way.
So, let's review the "Big Picture" of Frank Sinatra's career:
1. Sinatra won two (2) Academy Awards, Bing won one (1) Academy Award; and Elvis won nothing, zero, nadda.
2. Sinatra has MORE MUSIC AVAILABLE ON CD than any other male recording artist - Elvis doesn't even come close;
3. Sinatra openly supported civil rights, Elvis didn't;
4. Sinatra was openly against McCarthyism, Elvis was a nobody then but, throughout his career, Elvis NEVER publicly championed any causes (pollution, civil rights, animal rights, etc.)
5. Sinatra had better business sense and entrepreneurial skills - he created his OWN record label (Reprise), publishing, and film companies; while the Presley estate still only gets "nickels and dimes" (15%) from Universal Music which owns 85% Presley's music, while the rights to all Elvis Presley recordings before 1973 are owned by RCA Records (owned by Sony Entertainment);
6. Sinatra played the best clubs, the best concert halls, and entertained heads-of-state thoughout the world; and Elvis' career was all but over until his 1968 comeback special, and even then he never elevated his career to achieve new recording success; Elvis became a "has been" and nothing more than a "golden oldies" show unto himself.
7. Sinatra consistently recorded NEW material throughout his career - at 50 years of age Sinatra won the Grammy for Record and Album of the Year; Elvis never made it to 50 because he was already dead. At 53 years of age, Sinatra briefly retired in 1971, but at 55 Sinatra came out of retirement and - again - started playing the best venues in the world and sold-out stadiums in the U.S., Europe, South America, etc. Between 60 and 72 years of age Sinatra was one of the top 10 largest money making concert performers in the world; and during this time Elvis was dead. Let's not forget that Sinatra is the ONLY recording artist to have charted in the top 15 during each decade from 1930 to 2000! And Elvis? Don't bother looking.
8. Did Elvis ever have a television series? No. Did Sinatra? Yes. A couple of them.
9. Sinatra is openly acknowledged as the "vocalist" is his generation; Elvis is simply considered a singer with a good voice who wiggled his hips.
10. Sinatra faced and conquered his personal demons (drugs, emotional, alleged ties to organized crime, money troubles, the change in his voice, marriage, politics, health, etc.); Elvis was unable to face and conquer his personal demons and died.
Please keep in mind, I own ALL of Sinatra's commercial recordings and hundreds of bootleg or unreleased recordings; and yes, I also
own all of Elvis' recordings, and when you listen to the ENTIRE body of their
work you will find Elvis never developed the artistry and arch of performance
demonstrated by Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Johnny Cash, Ella
Fitzgerald, Placido Domingo, Julio Iglesias, Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey,
Luciano Pavarotti, Judy Garland, Mick Jagger and so many more.
Oh, Elvis
was a dynamic performer but the title of "Entertainer of the Century"
should not focus on just the brief peak of a performer's career - it should be
about the impact of their ENTIRE career.
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Elvis was more than a
"flash act," but, sadly, he had so much unrealized potential.
After Elvis' career peaked, he achieved very little, his records weren't
selling that well, he lost radio "air play" to British bands and U.S.
groups, he couldn't get cast in a decent movie, and he eventually became obese
and drugged. IF Elvis had lived longer...perhaps, then, maybe, he would
have evolved to be in Sinatra's league, but I doubt it because Sinatra's career and talent was far more diverse and creative.
Entertainer of the
Century? None other than, Frank Sinatra!
