Sinatra exhibit debuts at Grammy Museum next week

Ken Veeder/Capitol Archives

Following its highly acclaimed debut in New York in March, the multimedia exhibit exploring the life and career of Frank Sinatra will get its Los Angeles premiere at the Grammy on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015.

As the official exhibit of the 2015 Frank Sinatra Centennial, Sinatra: An American Icon traces 100 years of Sinatra legacy, from Hoboken, N.J., through superstardom, chronicling the meteoric rise of his music career, his Hollywood success, personal life, and humanitarian work.

“Dad always said, ‘I’d like to pass along to people what I know and what I do,” commented Nancy Sinatra, in a prepared statement. “With this exhibit, the Sinatra family proudly shares personal and professional insights into the life and times of Frank Sinatra.”

"Sinatra's Los Angeles legacy is as prominent in music history as his New Jersey roots, which makes bringing the official exhibit of the 2015 Sinatra centennial to our museum extra special," said Bob Santelli, Executive Director of the Grammy Museum. "This exhibit not only celebrates Sinatra's recording and GRAMMY legacy, but gives visitors a unique glimpse of what it was like to personally know the man behind ‘The Voice.’"

On display in the Museum's Special Exhibits gallery on the second floor through Feb. 15,  2016, highlights will include:

A recreation of a Hoboken trolley car, similar to one Sinatra used to travel to Jersey City to see his idol, Bing Crosby.

Artifacts from the Sinatra Family’s personal collection, including photos, family mementos, rare correspondence, personal items, artwork, and recordings.

An original Philco radio that plays an episode of Songs by Sinatra featuring Sinatra, Jane Powell, and Irving Berlin from the Library's Irving Berlin Collection of Non-Commercial Radio.

Bandstand layout diagrams, lighting notes, and other designs, as well as ticket stubs, scripts and contracts that show the process and production that went into all of Sinatra's projects.

Fan club newsletters and memorabilia illustrating his impact on American culture.

Visitors will also be able to step inside a recreation of the historic Studio A at the Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood as it was during one of Sinatra's recordings sessions in the '60s, and take control of the soundboard to "re-produce" the arrangement for one of his classic hits. 

Sinatra: An American Icon is presented in cooperation with the Sinatra Family, Frank Sinatra Enterprises, the Frank Sinatra Collection and USC School of Cinematic Arts. 

www.grammymuseum.org