Exclusive: A Rare Frank Sinatra Song Gets Unearthed

Had he survived the cold, music legend Frank Sinatra would have celebrated his 100^th birthday this year. But there's still some of his stuff almost no one in the world has heard—so all of that is coming out in a new compilation this month.

Sinatra had a long history of performing the American classic Ol’ Man River by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II. The song was one of his go-to tunes for nearly three decades. He sang it during his Man and His Music TV special and even included a stripped-down rendition during his 1962 world tour. The version below is taken from one of his early performances, from a radio show in 1945. At just 30 years old, a young Sinatra sings what will become a lifelong favorite for one of the first times.

Frank Sinatra: A Voice On Air (1935- 1955) is available for pre-order here.