Elvis Presley Frank Sinatra: Unpacking Their Complex Bond
The names Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra evoke distinct images and sounds – the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll versus the Chairman of the Board. Separated by a generation and musical styles, public perception often painted them as competitors. While Sinatra’s smooth phrasing and Presley’s raw energy captivated different audiences, their careers and legacies intertwined in fascinating ways. Examining the relationship between Elvis Presley Frank Sinatra reveals a complex dynamic filled with initial friction, eventual mutual respect, and surprising parallels beneath the surface of their perceived rivalry, offering key insights for Shocknaue Entertainment News readers into the lives of these 20th-century titans.
Early Interactions and Public Perceptions
In the burgeoning era of rock ‘n’ roll, Elvis Presley’s meteoric rise inevitably drew comparisons and comments. When asked about new talent in a June 1957 interview, Frank Sinatra notably praised Pat Boone. Questioned specifically about Elvis, Sinatra offered a cautious assessment, deeming it too early to tell if Presley was merely a “freak” phenomenon. “They said I was a freak when I first hit, but I’m still around,” Sinatra remarked. “Presley has no training at all. When he goes into something serious, a bigger kind of singing, we’ll find out if he is a singer. He has a natural animalistic talent.”
Elvis, navigating his own sudden fame, typically remained guarded when asked about established stars like Sinatra. While listing Dean Martin and Nat King Cole among his favorites in 1957 press conferences, he often omitted Sinatra. When pressed about Sinatra specifically in Canada that April, Elvis gave a noncommittal, “I can take him or leave him.”
However, the dynamic shifted later that year. In October 1957, Elvis addressed comments Sinatra reportedly made in a French publication criticizing rock ‘n’ roll. Sinatra allegedly called the genre “the most brutal, ugly, degenerate, vicious form of expression” and its purveyors “cretinous goons.” Though Sinatra didn’t name Elvis, Presley, as the genre’s leading figure, felt compelled to respond. “I admire the man,” Elvis stated carefully. “He has a right to his own opinions. He is a great success and a fine actor, but I don’t think he should have said it… I don’t think anyone has the right to take potshots at something that is definitely a trend. It’s an American development, just like crooning was a few years back.” This exchange highlighted the generational and stylistic tensions defining their public personas early on.
Bridging the Gap: The 1960 TV Special
Any lingering public perception of animosity seemed to dissipate following Elvis’s return from the army. His first major public appearance was on Frank Sinatra’s own network TV special, The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis, broadcast in May 1960. On stage together, the two icons appeared relaxed and comfortable, performing snippets of each other’s songs. This landmark television event suggested a mutual respect had formed, moving beyond earlier critiques. Though their paths diverged significantly afterward, with only occasional personal contact, the special marked a notable moment of public reconciliation and collaboration between Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.
Elvis Presley Frank Sinatra performing together on the Timex Welcome Home Elvis TV special in 1960
Divergent Paths: Career Choices and Song Selection
Despite moments of convergence, the long-term careers of Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra took different shapes, particularly regarding artistic control and song selection. Music historian Will Friedwald, in a 2005 American Heritage article, argued that Sinatra’s recorded catalog ultimately appears more consistently strong than Presley’s, attributing this partly to differences in their business arrangements, specifically publishing rights.
The Publishing Conundrum for Presley
Upon signing Elvis to RCA Victor in 1956, Colonel Tom Parker established a dedicated publishing company, initially part of Hill and Range, to handle Presley’s music. To maximize revenue, Parker generally insisted Elvis record songs controlled by this entity. This restriction, maintained throughout most of Elvis’s career, meant he potentially missed out on recording high-quality material from outside songwriters that might have suited his voice perfectly. Friedwald contends this limitation significantly impacted the overall depth and quality of Presley’s recorded output over the years.
Sinatra’s Artistic Freedom
Frank Sinatra, conversely, maintained greater control over his song choices. While he also owned publishing interests, Friedwald noted, “that hadn’t stopped Sinatra from consistently recording the best songs he could find.” Sinatra wasn’t bound by the same publishing restrictions that arguably hampered Presley. This freedom allowed Sinatra to select from a wider range of composers and material, contributing to the revered quality and breadth of his discography. According to Friedwald, “Presley was importuned to waste too much energy making mediocre songs—which he usually owned a piece of—sound better than they were.”
Shared Traits and Differing Temperaments
Beyond business dealings, fundamental similarities and crucial differences in temperament defined the careers of Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Both possessed an extraordinary ability to interpret songs, yet neither claimed significant status as a songwriter.
Masters of Interpretation
“The strength of both,” Friedwald argued, “was that they could interpret a song written by someone else, and make it into something considerably more magical, and even personal, than the guy who wrote it.” He cited Elvis’s version of Eddy Arnold’s “You Don’t Know Me” as an example surpassing even the original writer’s rendition. Both men had the unique gift of taking existing material and infusing it with their distinct personality and vocal style, making the songs definitively their own.
Control, Ambition, and Artistic Growth
A key divergence lay in their approach to career management and artistic development. Friedwald recounted a conversation between Frank Sinatra and his daughter Nancy, who co-starred with Elvis in Speedway (1968) and considered him a friend. Frank criticized Elvis, feeling he hadn’t seized opportunities to evolve as an artist over time. Nancy defended Elvis, suggesting his management and entourage restricted his creative exploration.
Sinatra, however, reportedly rejected this excuse. From his viewpoint, an artist was ultimately responsible for their own path. “The old man would never let anybody stand in his way in terms of choosing a song or finessing an arrangement or a recording mix to perfection,” Friedwald wrote. While Elvis wasn’t passive—Joe Esposito described Elvis working with engineers on mixes and being frustrated by RCA’s alterations—he rarely forced the issue. Sinatra, known for his assertive personality, likely would have. Friedwald mused, “Perhaps Presley was too nice and civil a guy. Perhaps to stick to your standards in Hollywood, you had to be something of a gangster,” like Sinatra. This difference in temperament deeply influenced their respective artistic trajectories and control over their final product. Interestingly, despite these differences, Friedwald notes parallels: both were only children who craved entourages, devoted sons, achieved Hollywood stardom, and experienced multiple career comebacks.
Conclusion
The relationship between Elvis Presley Frank Sinatra was far more nuanced than a simple rivalry. From Sinatra’s initial skepticism about rock ‘n’ roll and Presley’s cautious responses, to their memorable 1960 TV collaboration, their paths crossed at pivotal moments. While analysis suggests differing approaches to artistic control and song selection shaped their respective catalogs—with Sinatra maintaining greater freedom and Elvis constrained by publishing deals—both men shared an unparalleled gift for song interpretation. Their differing temperaments influenced how they navigated the pressures of fame and the demands of the industry. Decades after their passing, both Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra remain towering figures in popular culture, their legacies enduring and their names forever linked at the pinnacle of 20th-century entertainment. Their complex bond continues to fascinate music lovers and historians alike.
