Following in his famous father’s footsteps, Frank Sinatra Jr. performed ‘Night and Day’ on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ in 1963. Accompanied by the renowned Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Frank Jr. looked and sounded similar to his father.
Frank Jr. starts the song with the microphone on the stand. As the 2nd verse starts, he removes the microphone and walks around the stage. A tremendous orchestra section in the middle of the song showcases the fantastic trombone section in the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
He wore a tuxedo and sang while making motions during the horn hits. At one point, he turned his back to the audience, snapping his fingers to encourage the band to swing their instrumental section.
In the last chorus, he improvises a bit more. His body sways, and he arches his back on higher notes. He is more animated as the band plays the final section. The audience applause proves they really enjoyed the performance.
Frank Jr. performed in his early teens while working with Duke Ellington to learn the music business. He was also interested in acting and landed some smaller parts in TV. Eventually, he worked as his father’s musical director in 1988.
While Frank Jr. was famous due to his father, he also achieved unlikely personal fame when he was kidnapped in 1963. He was only 19-years-old, and his father paid a ransom of $240,000 to the kidnappers. His performance on Sullivan’s show was only a few months before the incident.
A famous father and a famous kidnapping may have cast a shadow over Frank Jr.’s efforts in music. However, his talent was undeniable. This clip proves that even at 19, he was a powerhouse singer who knew his craft.
Share with your friends because sharing is caring.
