How did Tommy Dorsey’s trombone playing influence Frank Sinatra’s singing technique?

Frank Sinatra was profoundly influenced by the trombone playing of Tommy Dorsey, often citing him as his primary musical influence regarding phrasing and breath control.12

Dorsey was renowned for his "singing" trombone style, which was characterized by seamless, legato phrases and flawless breath control. Striving to emulate this distinctive sound, Sinatra worked to improve his own breath control, which allowed him to perform long, unbroken melodic passages that mirrored the fluidity of Dorsey’s instrument. Sinatra frequently acknowledged this debt to Dorsey, noting that the bandleader’s technique was instrumental in shaping his own approach to vocal performance.12