Frank Sinatra performed in nearby clubs and taverns before going on to become one of the all-time best-selling musicians in the world. Upon joining a local band known as the 3 Flashes, they soon adopted the moniker Hoboken Four. Prior to leading The Tommy Dorsey Band, Sinatra held a number of other musical positions. During his first year of collaboration with Dorsey, he recorded more than 40 tracks.
In 1940, he joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and later established himself as a single performer. One of the most well-known vocalists of the 20th century, Sinatra was known for his silky voice and perfect phrasing. Later, he recorded more than 1,400 tracks and received numerous accolades.
When Sinatra’s debut record, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, was released in 1946, he was already a star. The song stayed at the top of the Billboard charts for an additional 11 weeks after dominating for seven weeks straight. After his career started to wane in the late 1940s, Sinatra underwent a massive revival characterized by an intense schedule in the early 1950s, taking on as many music and film projects as he could. His first album for the company, Songs for Young Lovers, was released the year after he signed a deal with Capitol Records.
He established Reprise Records, his own company, in 1960. He put out a number of recordings through Reprise, one of which was 1964’s It Might as Well Be Swing, which featured ‘Fly Me To The Moon,’ one of Sinatra’s most well-known songs. Although the performer covered the song ten years after it was written, it is his version that is considered to be the most accurate and well-known. Before Sinatra recorded it, a number of artists, including Johnny Mathis and Peggy Lee, who made the song famous after performing it on television, covered the song. The song was soon covered by Julie London, Connie Francis, and Paul Anka under the new name “Fly Me To The Moon,” which ultimately inspired Sinatra to record it.
Although “Fly me to the Moon” may not directly relate to the LGBTQ+ community, LGBTQ+ artists have used it in their work to help the community gain exposure and acceptance.
