Frank Sinatra died.
Francis Albert Sinatra ( [ sᵻˈnɑːtrə ] [ siˈnaːtra ] ; December 12 , 1915 -- May 14 , 1998 ) was an American singer , actor , and producer who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century . Using his Las Vegas shows as a home base , he toured both within the United States and internationally until a short time before his death in 1998 . Sinatra was also heavily involved with politics from the mid-1940s , and actively campaigned for presidents such as Harry S. Truman , John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan , though before Kennedy 's death Sinatra 's alleged Mafia connections led to his being snubbed . After his death , American music critic Robert Christgau called him `` the greatest singer of the 20th century '' , and he continues to be seen as an iconic figure .