Reprise Records and Retirement

In 1961 Frank founded his own record label, Reprise. He was extremely involved in everything to do with the new company, both musically and in the business aspect. Frank was extremely successful at Capitol as well as at Reprise. Sinatra even outsold Elvis and other rock artist of the time. Sinatra got enough  money out of royalties from Capitol records that he was able to get Reprise out of debt and make it a highly sought after label. In 1963 he got a $10 million and continuing one third ownership proposition for Reprise from Jack Warner of Warner brothers. The label signed people like Sammy Davis, Duke Ellington, Dean Martin and even Bing Cosby.

In Spring of 1962 he set out on a two month world tour to raise money for children's charities. He went to Los Angeles, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, Athens, Rome, Milan, Paris, Monte Carlo, London and New York. He raised over $1 million for the charity.

In 1965 Frank was 50 years old and became sober, reminiscent in mood, and the public took the sentiment to its heart. Faithful Sinatra fans were middle aged and as nostalgic as he. The song It Was a Very Good Year won two Grammys. He also made a semi autobiographical double album called A Man and his Music. I personally feel that included in these albums were some of the best songs Frank Sinatra ever performed.




That's Life, Strangers in The Night,and Somthin' Stupid all made No. 1 in America which was a great feat for him considering The Beatles, The Stones and The Beach Boys were all very popular and it was nearly impossible for good balladeers to make the charts at all.




 In 1968 and 1969 Frank recorded the Don Costa albums- Cycles, My Way and A Man Alone all of them very vibrant and in parts were very autobiographical which made them even more moving.






Frank also continued doing films such as The Manchurian Candidate (1962), The Detective (1968), The Naked Runner (1967), The Lady in Cement (1968).

With rock in the ascendant and his fans becoming more and more indifferent on March 21, 1971 he announced his retirement. The man who never quit, it seemed was about to quit. On June 14 1971 At the Los Angeles Music Center he made his farewell appearance.