On December 12, 1915, Frank Sinatra was born to Italian immigrants in Hoboken, New Jersey. He started singing at a young age, performing in taverns to make some extra cash. His charm and style won over audiences, even though he struggled with facial scarring. Sinatra went on to have a successful music career, releasing numerous Top 30 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100, including the number-one singles “Strangers In The Night” and “Somethin’ Stupid.” In 2001, Nevada honored him by declaring December 12 “Sinatra Day.”
Several significant albums were released on this date. In 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Plastic Ono Band released *Live Peace in Toronto 1969*, which peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and featured the hit “Give Peace a Chance.” In 1977, ABBA released *ABBA: The Album*, which topped the U.K. charts for seven weeks and included two number-one singles, “Take a Chance on Me” and “The Name of the Game.”
Memorable performances also took place on December 12. In 1968, The Rolling Stones filmed *The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus* in London, showcasing hits like “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” In 2015, Chance the Rapper made history as the first unsigned artist to perform on *Saturday Night Live*, delivering an exciting rendition of “Somewhere in Paradise” featuring Jeremih.
However, this day has also seen challenges for artists. In 1957, Jerry Lee Lewis’s marriage to his 13-year-old cousin led to backlash and the cancellation of his tour, hurting his career. In 1976, KISS guitarist Ace Frehley narrowly escaped electrocution during a show in Florida, which inspired him to write new music.
