31 Years Ago, A Legendary American Singer Performed His Final Concert

On February 25, 1995, Frank Sinatra performed his final concert at the JW Marriot Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, California.

The 79-year-old icon of American music closed out his 6-song set with a powerful rendition of "The Best is Yet To Come", a phrase that was written on grave when he died just three years later.

Frank Sinatra's Final Concert Was A Historic Performance

Sinatra had already been suffering with severe health issues throughout the '90s, with heart failure, bladder cancer, dementia, and high blood pressure ultimately being cited as his causes of death. However, his final performance in Palm Desert was a showstopping success, with many attendees praising his undeniable control of the stage.

Sinatra was best known for hits such as "My Way", "New York, New York", and "That's Life", reaching peak popularity in the late '40s and continuing his career for several decades afterwards. He was a pioneering figure in the so-called "golden era" of American swing and jazz singers alongside Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr., and Nat King Cole.

Sinatra's 6-song set in Palm Desert included the hits "I've Got The World on a String", "You Make Me Feel So Young", "Fly Me To The Moon", "Where or When", "My Kind of Town", and "The Best is Yet To Come". The set was praised for his ongoing strength despite health struggles, and willingness to sing his biggest hits despite their demanding vocals.

Sinatra's final full-length concert had taken place just a few months prior to his appearance in Palm Desert, with a sold-out turn at the Fukuoma Dome in Tokyo, Japan. This would be the last time he was able to perform for an extended period of time given his rapidly declining health.

Sinatra's final public appearance was at the "Sinatra: 80 Years My Way" concert in November 1995 to celebrate his birthday. He maintained a strict level of privacy following the event in the years leading up to his death.