When I was in my first year of college, I got to know one of the assistants in the department where my minor was housed. He was such a goofy guy--he loved music, especially things like Irish drinking songs and Dean Martin's famous singles. We were driving somewhere one afternoon, and he blasted "Mambo Italiano," and sang along. It was such daftar Operaqq a goofy experience, but I have loved Dean Martin ever since, warts and all. As you probably know, he was one of the infamous members of "The Rat Pack," which also included Frank Sinatra.
Dean Martin's birth name is actually Dino Paul Crocetti; he was born in June of 1917 to parents that had emigrated from Italy to Steubenville, Ohio. Martin began his interest in music through taking up the drums as a teenager; however, many "hobbies," and occupations came between the times he dropped out of the tenth grade and actually broke into show business.
He got involved in bootlegging and gambling for some time; he also took up boxing and suffered a broken nose, a permanently split lip, and shredded knuckles all before his sixteenth birthday.
At the time, he showed some promise in boxing, winning twelve out of thirteen matches, but he returned to gambling, becoming a roulette stickman at an illegal casino. What a life for such a young man! On the side, he began teaming up with local bands to sing. He adopted the stage name Dino Martini, taking a mild jibe at a famous opera star named Nino Martini.
His first real performing job was with the Ernie McKay Orchestra, but by the opening of the 1940's, he had begun singing for the band leader Sammy Watkins. It was Watkins' suggestion that he simplify his name from Dino Martini to Dean Martin.
It took a long time before Martin's career began to soar; there were times when it seemed as though he would be a nightclub singer forever. When he met comedian Jerry Lewis, they teamed up almost immediately. Much of the rest is history--he performed with Lewis for some time, before moving on to a solo career and later joined The Rat Pack.
In the mid-1960's, he developed a variety show named--what else?--The Dean Martin Show which aired on the NBC network. The show lasted almost ten years, welcoming such stars as Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Stewart, and Bob Hope.
In the '70's, Martin mostly dropped off the radar as far as show business was concerned. He did periodic tours with Sinatra and other performances with former partners--even one with Jerry Lewis.
Dean Martin passed away in 1995 at the age of 78. He had a lot of ups and downs, but he brought happiness and entertainment to millions. Now that's amore!