Frank Sinatra with The Hoboken Four - Major Bowes 1935

**PUBLIC DOMAIN**

Oldest known recording on Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour program. This was Frank's first nationwide exposure on the NBC radio network.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Frank
• Sinatra
• Major
• Bowes
• Hoboken
• Four
• NBC
• OTR
• Old
• Time
• Radio
• jazz
• crooner

[jamiereidit]

Now for a real sinatra frantic like myself, thats a wonderful treat. Thank you so much for this upload. Much appreciated.

[crooner2007]

You are welcome. I appreciate your support. Hopefully the video (and audio) will remain on YouTube for the enjoyment of all. This is 100% in the Public Domain.

[jimmyskellysgrandson]

This  is amazing!! I should know because Jimmy Skelly was my grandfather! We have many old photos and letters from him on the road with the Hoboken four. Frank Sinatra couldn't hold a candle to my grandfather who could play guitar,piano, and sing. The only reason Sinatra made it was because he could sing a little and he was handsome. We actually have the original copy of "shine" on 78 rpm, a classic by anyone's standards.

[crooner2007]

Wow would love to hear (and digitize!) that 78.

I have no doubt your grandfather was very talented. However, Sinatra had certain something. He was very skinny but somehow still managed to catch the attention of the opposite sex. And of course, the impeccable phrasing and baritone voice, which shined through even then (no pun intended!).

[lskorecki]

this is pure genius ...

listen to armstrong's 1930 version of the same song, SHINE, in pure minstrel fashion, it's fabulous .... two other great versions on SHINE on youtube: django reinhardt's (with vocal) and british roker jioe brown's version ....

[crooner2007]

Amazing isn't it? And this coming from a supposedly "amateur" group.

Even at this early stage, Sinatra clearly commanded the group as the clip suggests.

I'll check out the Armstrong and Django versions.

Thanks for your comments!

[gyniest]

Thanks for sharing this priceless recording and pic.Frank was only 18 yrs.old at the time ,and who knew then that he would become the best ever.

[JohnnyP53]

Awesome!

[honeybee7700]

Miss you Sinatra! The men in the Hoboken four treated frank poorly thankfully he left them and became the greatest entertainer that ever lived!

[RassulValiyev]

Great recording. Thank you so much for posting this. All the best : )

[Lindi804]

thats my uncle Jimmy Petrozelli(skelly),The musician of the four. It was his mother that bought old blue eyes his piano. Then Frankie went on his way to fame. The rest is history

[crimsontiderdotcom]

That's great, but I imagine your grandfather, as a talented man, would have a different take on his talent. Unless there was a grudge somewhere.

[vintageteg1]

ohhhhhhh man thank you for putting frank on here i love him oh so madly i am so crazed over this man iam going to watch this video like 100 times thank you for helping my obssesion