Fans Mourn Frank Sinatra

Legions of Frank Sinatra fans and friends are mourning the death of the entertainer. Sinatra - who many entertainment historians consider to be the first pop star - died of a heart attack on May 14, 1998, in Los Angeles at the age of 82.

"It's the saddest day of my life." said singer Eydie Gorme, one of the many who recalled Sinatra's life.

"He was one of the people, along with Bing Crosby, who really defined how singing on record was a unique and different thing," Bill Flanagan, Editorial Director of VH1 told CBS News Co-Anchor Jane Robelot.

The crooner's voice first came to be known in the 1930s, when sound recordings were still new. "He invented the whole genre," said Flanagan.

Sinatra adapted to the new technology quickly, singing into the microphone as if he were speaking directly to each person in the audience. The unusual intimacy of Sinatra's singing style was a stark contrast to earlier musical recordings, in which singers in performance halls screamed to the rafters.

"He said, 'With a microphone you can sing in a baritone, you can sing as if you're singing in someone's ear, you can talk to a buddy at the bar, you can whisper sweet nothings to a woman,'" recalled Flanagan.

"He brought just an incredible expressiveness to his music. He was able to grasp the true meaning of a lyric and draw the listener in so that they became part of the song," said Chuck Granata, a producer at Columbia Records who is an archivist and friend of the Sinatra family.

"Well, that's the end of an epoch." said actor William Hurt, one of the many entertainers at the 51st Cannes International Film Festival who was shocked to learn of Sinatra's death.

Film director Martin Scorsese was also saddened by the news: "There will never be another him. He was the original."

Outside Sinatra's gated estate in Beverly Hills, Calif., about 20 fans and members of the media gathered to pay respect. One fan, Brian McCray, 22, of Los Angeles wore black and held a candle: "He's my favorite. I've listened to him since I was 6 years old."

Celebrity fans also paid a tribute to the late entertainer. Here is how a few of them remembered Sinatra:

President Clinton: "I think every American would have to smile and say he really did do it his way."

Gore Vidal, writer: "I would say that half the population of the United States over the age of 40 was conceived while their parents were listening to his records. He played a great romantic role in the country. Most singers are pretty bland, mellifluous. Bing Crosby put you to sleep, Sinatra got the blood flowing."

Frankie Vaughan, singer: "They can say what they like, the man was a phenomenal entertainer. He was a one and only...Even when he had his bad times he was still scrapping away to get back to what he enjoyed most of all and that was entertaining."

Stan Britt, author of "Frank Sinatra: A Celebration": "To watch Sinatra perform you got something you did not get with other singers, it was an education."

Ernest Borgnine, actor: "The world has now lost one of the most precious commodities. In all memories, from childhood to romance to the mature years, Frank has been with us in all times. He gave so much of himself and much more than people realized. It is a sad day today because Frank touched everyone in the world."

Celeste Holm, actress: "The wonderful thing about Frank is that he always maintained a kind of rakish spontenaity, like a child."

Vic Damone, singer: "He was my role model, my mentor, and most importantly, my friend. There will never ever be another Francis Albert Sinatra. Nobody will ever come close."