Dean Martin
| Dean Martin | |
|---|---|
Studio publicity photo for Bells Are Ringing (1960)
|
|
| Born |
Dino Paul Crocetti June 7, 1917 Steubenville, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | December 25, 1995 (aged 78) Beverly Hills, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Acute respiratory failure |
| Other names | Dino Martini |
| Occupation |
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| Spouse(s) |
Betty McDonald (m. 1941; div. 1949) Jeanne Biegger (m. 1949; div. 1973) Catherine Hawn (m. 1973; div. 1976) |
| Children | 8 (including Deana and Dean Paul) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1940–91 |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | |
Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an Italian-American singer, actor, comedian, and film producer. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed the "King of Cool" for his seemingly effortless charisma and self-assurance.
He and Jerry Lewis were partners in the immensely popular comedy team Martin and Lewis. He was a member of the "Rat Pack" and a star in concert stages, nightclubs, recordings, motion pictures, and television. He was the host of the television variety program The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974) and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974–1985).
Martin's relaxed, warbling crooning voice earned him dozens of hit singles including his signature songs "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare", and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?".
Martin was born on June 7, 1917, in Steubenville, Ohio, to an Italian father, Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti (1894–1967), and an Italian-American mother, Angela Crocetti (née Barra; 1899–1966). They were married in 1914. His father, who was a barber, was originally from Montesilvano, in Abruzzo, and his maternal grandparents' origins are believed to be also from Abruzzo although it is not clearly known. Martin had an older brother named William Alfonso Crocetti (1916-1968). Martin's first language was an Abruzzese dialect of Italian, and he did not speak English until he started school at the age of five. He attended Grant Elementary School in Steubenville where he was bullied for his broken English. He later took up the drums as a hobby as a teenager. Martin then dropped out of Steubenville High School in the 10th grade because he thought he was smarter than his teachers. He bootlegged liquor, served as a speakeasy croupier, was a blackjack dealer, worked in a steel mill and boxed as a welterweight.
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