Were Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin friends?

Answer 1

The simplest answer appears to be no. In the sense that they certainly weren't buddies and I'm not aware of any occassions they are meant to have performed on the same bill. However they certainly will have met. Claims that Sinatra felt animosity towards Darin after he was misquoted as declaring he wanted to surpass his senior, on the other hand, appear to be equally exagerated and unlikely. For a start many of Sinatra's inner circle were good friends with Darin. He appeared and duetted with Dean Martin on the latter's variety show, as well as having his own tv show showcased by Martin, was very good friends with Sammy Davis jr who attended his This Is Your Life, and appears to have hung out with Nancy Sinatra. All of which would be inconcievable if Sinatra actively took against him. The overall impression from most sources on this matter seems to be that Sinatra adopted a stance of aloof amusement towards the young pretender, but was otherwise cordial and jokey about the alleged rivalry. Frank also respectfully namechecks Darin - as well as Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald - on his own rendition of Mack the Knife.