by Alex Q. Arbuckle

On Dec. 12, 1915, Francis Albert Sinatra was born in a tenement in New Jersey, the son of Italian immigrants Natalina Garaventa and Antonino Sinatra. His delivery was rough, leaving him with a perforated eardrum and scarring on his neck, cheek and ear.

As a young child, his parents ran an illegal tavern (which was ignored by local authorities) where he would occasionally sing for pocket change. Sinatra listened to the radio constantly, developing his voice and trying to emulate his idol, Bing Crosby.

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Source: http://mashable.com/