[Dixielandjazz] Sinatra

[Stephen G Barbone]

> Barb Jordan <jordan_barb at hotmail.com> wrote (polite snip)
>
>
> Who were Sammy Davis' influences or did they all emulate one another?
>
>
> Who originated this Darin/Sinatra/Davis style?

I think Sinatra originated the Darin/Sinatra/Davis style. His  
biographers opine that Crosby was Sinatra's first idol. And that  
Sinatra's generation was the first to grew up in the electric  
microphone era, which facilitated singing in a softer style. What they  
say, in effect, is that Sinatra perfected and expanded Crosby's style,  
introducing a bel canto sound to it and taking it to a more nuanced  
conclusion.

They go on to opine that other major influencers of Sinatra were  
Billie Holiday and Mabel Mercer. Citing Holiday as his teacher for  
"authentic emotion" in a song, and Mercer for the importance of  
"story" in a song.  Ella Fitzgerald would say about him: "With Frank,  
it's always this little guy telling his story." Examples of that would  
be "One for my baby and one more for the road.", or "I did it my  
way."  Or come to think of it, most any song he sings.

Others cite Tommy Dorsey as Sinatra's influencer regarding breath  
control and phrasing.

Regarding Darin and Davis, I think Sinatra was a major influence on  
both even though Davis was unique talent from a very early age.  
However, anyone who ever say him sing "Bojangles" can readily see the  
influence of Sinatra/Holiday emotion and Sinatra/Mercer story telling.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband