Frank Sinatra, Jr. was born in New Jersey, raised in California, and educated in the showrooms of Las Vegas and on bandstands all over the world.

While studying music at the University of Southern California, Frank Jr. originally planned a career as a pianist and conductor. Show promoters, however, had different ideas, and he eventually made his professional show business debut as a singer with the Elliott Brothers Band.

On the evening of September 8, 1963, the Royal Box of the Americana Hotel in Manhattan re-opened for the fall season. Other hotels featured such established performers as Sheila and Gordon MacRae Waldorf), Peter Duchin (St. Regis), and Xavier Cugat and Abbe Lane (Plaza). The Royal Box presented a newcomer: backed by the Tommy Dorsey Band.
At 21, Frank Jr. made his debut into the big time.