Home »Jazz Musicians »Dean Martin
- Biography
- News
- Has Influenced
Quick: name the artist, who (a) knocked the Beatles from the top chart position at the height of Beatlemania; (b) scored a gold record in 2004 with his fastest-selling album ever, which also hit the iTunes Top 5; (c) was worshipped by Elvis Presley; and (d) is heard regularly in the hippest movies, TV shows and commercials. Need another clue? Playboy recently called him "the coolest man who ever lived."
Of course that man is Dean Martin. Dean's importance to generations of music fans (not to mention aficionados of masculine cool) now far outstrips his former reputation as the tippler of the Rat Pack or Jerry Lewis' crooning straight man. Simply put, he was a great singerthe warm sensuality of his voice continues to beguilewith a winning style and just a touch of mystery.
"He was the coolest dude I'd ever seen, period," recalled Stevie Van Zandt in his liner notes to the 2004 compilation Dino: The Essential Dean Martin, adding, "He wasn't just great at everything he did. To me, he was perfect."
His childhood was anything but. An immigrant barber's son, Dino Crocetti greeted the world in 1917 in Steubenville, Ohio. He spoke only Italian until age five and quit school at 16. His early autobiography is as gritty as that of any hip-hop starhe delivered bootleg liquor, served as a speakeasy croupier and blackjack dealer, worked in a steel mill and briefly ruled the ring as boxing phenom Kid Crochet.
Winning his share of bouts earned him little apart from a broken nose, but Dino's speakeasy experience put him in contact with club owners, resulting in his first singing gigs.
With a fixed nose and a boost from his pals in the nightclub underworld, he became Dean Martin, styling himself after the top male vocalist of the time, Bing Crosby. He later began singing with the Sammy Watkins Band and enjoyed moderate success on the East Coast; in 1943 he joined Frank Sinatra at New York's Riobamba club.
1946 was a banner year for Martin. He released his first single, "Which Way Did My Heart Go?," and was first paired with comic Jerry Lewis. The two shared a bill at the 500 Club in Atlantic City, but the night they combined their acts into one combo platter of manic, ad lib-heavy comedy and debonair music saw the birth of a phenomenon. They were the hottest ticket around and parlayed their onstage success into a string of hit movies and headlined a hugely popular series of TV appearances on the Colgate Comedy Hour.
Read more
Tags
Dean MartinVocalist
Video / DVD
Dean Martin's Holiday Show
Source:JazzWax by Marc Myers
The Dean Martin Show first aired on NBC in 1965 and lasted nine seasons, until 1974. Martin's rugged good looks, enveloping manner, swinging vocals and self-deprecating sense of humor tapped into the psyche of the American adult viewer in the late 1960s and early '70s who was shunted aside by the youth market and left clinging to the 1950s. On Dec. 14, 1967, Martin hosted a holiday special of his weekly variety TV show. While there was plenty of cringe-worthy ...
read more
Performance / Tour
Feinstein's At Loews Regency Presents An Evening With Internationally Acclaimed Entertainer Deana Martin Celebrating Her Father Dean Martin In Her Acclaimed Show “Deana Sings Dino”
Source:Miller Wright & Associates
FEINSTEIN’S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed “Best of New York” by New York Magazine and “an invaluable New York institution” by The New York Post will continue its Summer 2012 season with the return of internationally acclaimed entertainer, DEANA MARTIN. Deana Martin takes the audience on a musical journey, honoring her legendary father Dean Martin and other great performers who shaped American music and popular culture for over four decades such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Judy ...
read more
10
Recording
First Ever Career Defining Box Set for the Legendary Dean Martin
Source:Universal Music Group
“Martin sang the way all men imagine they sound in the shower…He worked that deep, mellifluous voice of his with a casual grace that somehow carried a weight of romantic implication other crooners never quite achieved.” – The Los Angeles Times There is only one man who Playboy called “the coolest man who ever lived” and who Elvis Presley worshipped and admired. Simply put, that man is Rat Pack legend Dean Martin. He is one of the greatest recording artists ...
read more
178
Recording
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. - The Rat Pack Live at the Sands (2001)
Source:Something Else!
By Derrick Lord This is an act the Rat PackFrank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.had down to a T and it really shows. A fun slice of musical history. Completely un-PC which is a much welcome change of pace. It was recorded in 1963. Funny how people seemed to have more of a sense of humor about things at that sensitive time than they do now. I won't lie to you. It's probably not a CD you will play ...
read more
183
Recording
Source:Chris M. Slawecki
Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) has announced the release of a new 60+ page hardcover book and musical collection titled Cool Then, Cool Now, on June 7. Never before seen photos compiled from personal collections and family archives Cool Then, Cool Now goes behind-the-scenes to capture the spirit and life of one of the most unique, and by far coolest entertainers, Dean Martin. Featured inside is a 2-CD, 28-song collection, spanning Dean Martin's musical career featuring a host of hits including ...
read more
117
Recording
Capitol/EMI to release two Dean Martin collections on June 7
Source:Michael Ricci
DEAN MARTIN'S TOP HITS GATHERED FOR NEW CD AND DIGITAL RELEASE, CLASSIC DINO: THE BEST OF DEAN MARTIN PLATINUM-SELLING DINO: THE ESSENTIAL DEAN MARTIN EXPANDED FOR 2CD AND DIGITAL COLLECTION Both Collections to be Released by Capitol/EMI on June 7 Hollywood, CaliforniaCapitol/EMI will release two collections of Dean Martin's music on June 7, just in time for Father's Day. A new title, Classic Dino: The Best Of Dean Martin gathers 14 classic tracks, and the Platinum-certified Dino: The Essential Dean ...
read more
334
Recording
Dean Martin's "Essential Love Songs" Available January 26th
Source:Michael Ricci
Dean Martins most romantic ballads have been gathered for a new mood-setting collection, Essential Love Songs, to be released January 26 by Capitol/EMI, just in time for Valentines Day. 16 classics are featured, including You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You," Just In Time," That's Amor," I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face," and Dream A Little Dream Of Me." For Dean Martin, singing came as naturally as breathing. Effortlessly cool and dynamic in his life and career, ...
read more
287
Recording
Dean Martin is Forever Cool with New All-Star Collaborative Album
Source:Wiredset
New Capitol/EMI CD, Deluxe Edition CD/DVD and Digital Album Pairs Martin with Other Top Entertainment Luminaries, Including Joss Stone, Kevin Spacey, Robbie Williams, Charles Aznavour, Martina McBride, Dave Koz, Chris Botti and More! Also Features Previously Unreleased Dean Martin Vocal Track and Witty Studio Banter Hollywood, California - Around the world, entertainment superstar Dean Martin has the market cornered on charisma, easygoing charm, playful wit, and gracious humility, all of which combine to make him infinitely cool. To honor Martin's ...
read more
123
Recording
Dean Martin Capitol Catalog to Be Reissued By Collectors Choice Music
Source:All About Jazz
Each Disc To Include Non-LP Singles As Bonus Tracks
LOS ANGELES - Rat Pack fans rejoice: renowned reissue label Collectors Choice Music will re-release the nine albums Dean Martin recorded for Capitol Records between 1953 and 1962, as well as the compilations of various non-LP singles that Capitol released in the mid '60s. Each album will be released separately (with the exception of four compilations the label released on the Tower imprint, which are paired on two CDs). Each single ...
read more
Frank Lamphere
vocals
Frank R Lamphere
vocals
Manee Valentine
vocals
Lisa Lindsley
vocals
Daniel Roure
composer / conductor
Picassoduo
vocals
Michael Poss
vocals
Daniele Spadavecchia
guitar and vocals
David Francis
piano and vocals
Hetty and the Jazzato Band
band / ensemble / orchestra
Gracie and Lacy
vocals
Marc Toussaint
vocals
Charlie Chech
vocals
Eric Hollaway
vocals
Photos
Music
- Recent Releases
Videos
Similar
Louis Armstrong
trumpet and vocals
Frank Sinatra
vocals
Ella Fitzgerald
vocals
Nat King Cole
piano and vocals
Tony Bennett
vocals
Bing Crosby
vocals
Harry Connick, Jr.
piano
Sammy Davis Jr.
vocals
Fred Astaire
vocals
Vic Damone
vocals
Bobby Darin
vocals
Last Updated: October 19, 2023
Dean Martin
Instrument: Vocals
Born: June 7, 1917
Died: December 25, 1995
Publicist: Wiredset
Followers
Showcase
Playlist
Song of the Day
Get more of a good thing!
Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.
Connect
- Welcome
- Our Staff
- Join Us
More Access
- Newsletter
- Content Plug-Ins
- RSS Feeds
For Musicians
- Primer
- Toolkit
- Dashboard
Advertise
- Rates and Options
- Place Order
Privacy Policy | We do not sell or share your personal information
© 2024 All About Jazz & Jazz Near You. All rights reserved.
Join Our Community or Welcome Back!
- Member? Sign in
- Join
One moment, you will be redirected shortly.
Welcome to All About Jazz!
We sent a confirmation message to . Look for it, then click the link to activate your account. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, check your spam, bulk or promotions folder.
Thanks for joining the All About Jazz community!
Explore All About Jazz & Jazz Near You
- Home
- Jazz Albums
- Album Reviews
- Articles
- Jazz Musicians
- Jazz News
- Contest Giveaways
- Jazz Pictures
- Polls
- Song of the Day
- Video of the Day
- Home
- About
- Concerts
- Livestreams
- Venue / Clubs
- Directory
- Venue Finder
- Musician Finder
- Teacher Finder
- Events By City
- Weekly Newsletter
- Welcome!
- Getting Started
- Advertise
- Search
- Staff
- Help Wanted
- FAQ
- Contact Us
Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories and includes a local jazz events calendar.
Help improve the Dean Martin page
All About Jazz musician pages are maintained by musicians, publicists and trusted members like you.Interested? Tell us why you would like to improve the Dean Martin musician page.
