One of the most famous singers of our time was none other than Frank Sinatra. His luscious singing voice gave the world so much joy and entertainment. When his daughter, Nancy Sinatra, was born, everyone thought she would follow in his footsteps as a most-loved singer and songwriter. However, it was not as easy as it was for her father. Here’s how she went from struggling musically to an influential fashionista.
Nancy Sinatra’s Early Life
Nancy Sinatra was born on June 4th, 1940, in New Jersey. She was no ordinary girl, as she was the oldest daughter of the famous Frank Sinatra. She was named after her mother, Nancy, nΓ©e Barbato, Sinatra. In her first few years old life, the Sinatra family packed up and moved to California because Frank wanted to further his career in Hollywood as an actor. This was where Nancy grew up.
Her days were filled with piano lessons and voice training sessions. She was expected to follow in her father’s footsteps. Additionally, she had some acting lessons to complete her abilities. Nancy Sinatra grew up famous by default. Her father’s singing career had become so powerful, and he had millions of fans across the globe. She was always surrounded by the elite and famous, which made it a wonder why her music career didn’t take off in the way everyone had hoped.
Nancy Sinatra Flopped at First
Nancy Sinatra had been trained to sing, and so she was automatically signed on by her father’s record label, Reprise Records. Unfortunately, the world did not take to her first few songs the way they did with her father, Frank. They failed to make it to the charts, and she was about to be dropped by the label her father created. It wasn’t until 1965 that her first hit song came to be.
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Lee Hazelwood/Nancy Sinatra rule pic.twitter.com/pbLX2eda02
— Rat (@babybelial) January 14, 2017
She received some help from a friend and fellow musician, Lee Hazelwood. He helped her sing in a lower tone than her initial training had taught her. Lee also helped her change her entire look. She started dressing with a “Carnaby Look,” dyed her hair blond, and wore heavier makeup. This caught the attention of the world, and she soon soared into fame.
These Boots Were Made for Walking
The late 1960s saw her career flourish as a singer. Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood sang in many duets that because highly popular all over the world. These included “Summer Wine,” “Did You Ever,” and “Hey Cowboy.” Then, in 1966, her fame spread to America when she wrote her hit song, “These Boots Were Made for Walking.” She became wildly recognized for her iconic look, in which her infamous go-go boots became the idol of every young woman of her era.
In 2016, Nancy interviewed with Los Angeles Magazine. βI knew it was a hit the first time [writer-producer] Lee Hazlewood played the bass line on his guitar in my motherβs living room,” she recalled. “When I heard the track in the studio, I knew then and there it would be a number-one record. I even told Lee to release the track without the vocal! The fact that it has been embraced by generation after generation of little girls is proof of its staying power. I was the lucky one to record it and I think the fashion helped it along. Girls always want a pair of boots.”
Nancy was later given the honor of a star with her name on it on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As for the go-go boots that got her there… Nancy says she may have given them away at some point.
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Sources
- “Nancy Sinatra and her transformation from failing singer to fashion icon. Newsner. June 2, 2020.
- “Nancy Sinatra. biography. August 12, 2020.
- “Nancy Sinatra Biography.” The Famous People.