Army during World War II but was discharged after 14 months due to a hernia. By fall 1943 he had begun performing in New York. He stayed with Watkins until at least May 1943. By late 1940 he had begun singing for Cleveland bandleader Sammy Watkins, who suggested he change his name to Dean Martin. He sang in a crooning style influenced by Harry Mills of the Mills Brothers and Perry Como. He got his break working for the Ernie McKay Orchestra. At the same time, he sang with local bands, calling himself "Dino Martini" (after the Metropolitan Opera tenor Nino Martini). Martin gave up boxing to work as a roulette stickman and croupier in an illegal casino behind a tobacco shop, where he had started as a stock boy. Martin knocked out King in the first round of an amateur boxing match. The two reportedly charged people to watch them bare-knuckle box each other in their apartment, fighting until one was knocked out. For a time, he shared a New York City apartment with Sonny King, who was also starting in show business and had little money. Of his 12 bouts, he said that he "won all but 11". His prizefighting earned him a broken nose (later straightened), a scarred lip, many broken knuckles (a result of not being able to afford tape used to wrap boxers' hands), and a bruised body. Īt 15 he billed himself as "Kid Crochet". He bootlegged liquor, worked in a steel mill, served as a croupier at a speakeasy and a blackjack dealer, and was a welterweight boxer. He dropped out of Steubenville High School in the tenth grade because, according to Martin, he thought he was smarter than his teachers. As a teenager, he played the drums as a hobby. He attended Grant Elementary School in Steubenville, where he was bullied for his broken English. His first language was Italian and he spoke no English until he started school at the age of five. Angela's father, Domenico Barra, emigrated from Monasterolo del Castello, Bergamo. His father, who was a barber, was originally from Montesilvano, Pescara, and his mother was born December 18, 1897, in Fernwood, Ohio. Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917, in Steubenville, Ohio, to Italian father Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti (1894–1967) and Italian-American mother Angela Crocetti ( née Barra 1897–1966). His best known songs include " Ain't That a Kick in the Head?", " Memories Are Made of This", " That's Amore", " Everybody Loves Somebody", " You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", " Sway", and " Volare".Įarly life Mural of Dean Martin in Steubenville, Ohio Throughout his career, Martin performed in concert stages, nightclubs, audio recordings and appeared in 85 film and television productions and sold 12 million records in the US alone. From 1974 to 1984, he was roastmaster on the popular Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, which drew celebrities, comedians and politicians. Starting in 1965, Martin was the host of the television variety program The Dean Martin Show, which centered on Martin's singing and comedic talents and was characterized by his relaxed, easy-going demeanor. He became one of the most popular acts in Las Vegas and was known for his friendship with fellow artists Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., who together with several others formed the Rat Pack. He established himself as a singer, recording numerous contemporary songs as well as standards from the Great American Songbook. They performed in nightclubs and later had numerous appearances on radio and television and in films.įollowing an acrimonious ending of the partnership in 1956, Martin pursued a solo career as a performer and actor. Martin gained his career breakthrough together with comedian Jerry Lewis, billed as Martin and Lewis, in 1946. One of the most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century, he was nicknamed "The King of Cool". Dean Paul Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti J– December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor, and comedian.
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