Here's How Frank Sinatra Got His Nickname, 'Scarface'

When fans think about Frank Sinatra, they remember a music legend, an iconic singer who revolutionized music in the late 20th century. He was one musician who inspired generations with his charm, charisma, and style, which he exuded. According to Rolling Stone, the president of the United States at the time, Bill Clinton, spoke on behalf of the nation, "I think every American would have to smile and say he did it his way."

Although the legendary crooner never formally learned to read music, Sinatra's career, which spanned over 50 years, landed him nicknames such as "The Voice" and "The Sultan of Swoon" as he left an imprint on American music.

Even though he was highly celebrated, his life was burdened by periods of darkness, including potential ties to the mob, rocky romances, secret FBI files, and even depression. He might be immortal to all who hear his music, but with his reported struggles, only a few know how truly human Sinatra was.

At his birth, Sinatra was pronounced to be stillborn. This was because he was blue at birth and ñot breathing.

He was born weighing 13.5 pounds in his parents' apartment kitchen in New Jersey. However, in the womb, he grew to about 5'7 and had to be brought out via forceps.

While the doctor tended to his mother, Sinatra's grandmother took the dead infant, ran him under cold water, and slapped him on his back. This revived him.

To add more calamities to his story, Sinatra was supposed to be named after his father, but a misunderstanding led the priest to call him after his godfather, Frank Garrick. Exhausted from the labor, his mother decided to leave it alone and let him keep the name.

During the icon's birth, the forceps left him with facial scarring on the left side of his face, jawline, and cauliflower ear and neck. As a result, he received the nickname "Scarface" from his peers as a teenager.

Sinatra always tried to blot out his scar before every music performance in his singing career. He also hated to be photographed on his left side. His insecurities didn't, and there, Sinatra wore sky-high boots to elevate his height.

Despite his incredible talent, he had to battle with his loneliness. The music star was the only child of his immigrant parents. His father owned a local tavern and was a part-time firefighter. His mother was a midwife who also helped women to obtain illegal abortions.

She was also involved in grassroots politics and was elected as Democratic Ward Leader in her neighborhood.

Because his parents' occupation took them away from him, Young Sinatra was usually left alone or with his grandmother. According to VQR, Sinatra disclosed that he longed for another sibling when he was younger. "I used to wish I had an older brother that could help me when I needed him. I wished I had a younger sister I could protect."

Sinatra was married to Nancy Sinatra, Barbara Sinatra, Ava Gardner, and Mia Farrow. He shared three kids with his first wife, Nancy, Tina, and Frank. Nancy and Frank followed the steps of their father and became musicians.

Although Sinatra was known to have three children, there have been speculations that investigative journalist Rona Carrie is part of his children. Legally Farrow's father is Woody Allen, and he was born in 1987, over ten years after Sinatra and Mia Farrow divorced. Still, postulation abounds due to the physical similarities between Farrow and Sinatra.

In 2013, Mia Farrow told Vanity Fair that the similarities were possible, but she didn't expand on it. However, Farrow has a cordial relationship with the Sinatra family.

"He is a big part of us, and we are blessed to have him in our lives," Nancy Sinatra said.

On May 14, 1998, the music icon passed away from a heart attack at Los Angeles Medical Center. According to PBS NewsHour, his last days were filled with health complications and significant medical problems such as pneumonia, high blood pressure, and bladder cancer.

He was also diagnosed with Dementia, secondary to Alzheimer's. As his time drew to a close, he seemed to recognize that his time had come and told his wife, "I'm losing."

Smithsonian reported that Sinatra was buried with a bottle of whiskey, a dollar's worth of dimes, a pack of cigarettes, and a lighter. In an interview with Rolling Stone, singer Bono of U2 spoke on the death of Sinatra and the loss of an iconic music singer. "Frank Sinatra was the twentieth century, he was modern, he was complex, he had swing, and he had attitude. He was the boss, but he was always Frank Sinatra. We won't see his like again."