
This fascinating account of the man who became known as "The Voice" covers his life from his birth in 1915 to his winning of an Academy Award for his role in From Here To Eternity in 1954. Although Frank admits to sleeping with hundreds of women, his first wife Nancy and second wife, Ava Gardner were supposedly the only true loves of his early life. He remained friendly to Nancy and she to him despite his well-documented adulterous behavior. His mother Dolly provided the earliest feminine influence on him, being regarded by some as not unlike a Mafia Don. In fact, it was suggested that her training caused Frank to "carry with him his own inner Godfather."
Kaplan's account of the early life of this musical phenomenon's early life is astounding in its scope. His research provides the most intimate details of Frank's upbringing and career, along with the headline news and tabloid coverage of the star's turbulent existence. His colleagues , agents, friends, relatives, former lovers and others are quoted liberally in the book and their assessments paint a picture of a man driven by ambition and carnal desires, but one who was a true musical genius and an unconventional family man. Quotes from daughter Nancy's book show that she took a revisionist approach when examining her relationship with her father. But even those inclusions by Kaplan serve to give an authentic portrayal of a man who was often seen as a demon by others. While his personal habits and behaviors probably would not win him any awards, his musical contribution, "The Voice" leaves an undeniable mark on modern music. Readers can only hope that Kaplan will create another remarkable book about the second half of Frank Sinatra's life.
Frank: The Voice by James Kaplan
Read by Rob Shapiro
Random House Audio, unabridged: 22.5 hours on 18 CDs