Home » Jazz Musicians » Dean Martin

Dean Martin

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 singer—the warm sensuality of his voice continues to beguile—with 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 star—he 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

Video / DVD

Dean Martin's Holiday Show

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 ...

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 ...

10

Recording

First Ever Career Defining Box Set for the Legendary Dean Martin

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 ...

178

Recording

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. - The Rat Pack Live at the Sands (2001)

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 Pack—Frank 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 ...

183

Recording

Dean Martin Book & 2CD Anthology to be Released June 7

Dean Martin Book & 2CD Anthology to be Released June 7

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 ...

117

Recording

Capitol/EMI to release two Dean Martin collections on June 7

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, California—Capitol/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 ...

334

Recording

Dean Martin's "Essential Love Songs" Available January 26th

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, ...

287

Recording

Dean Martin is Forever Cool with New All-Star Collaborative Album

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 ...

123

Recording

Dean Martin Capitol Catalog to Be Reissued By Collectors Choice Music

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 ...

Daniel Roure
composer / conductor
Picassoduo
vocals
Daniele Spadavecchia
guitar and vocals
David Francis
piano and vocals
Hetty and the Jazzato Band
band / ensemble / orchestra

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Collected Cool

Ichiban Records
2012

buy

This Time I'm...

Ichiban Records
2012

buy

Essential

Ichiban Records
2011

buy

60 Greatest Hits

Ichiban Records
2011

buy

Volare

Ichiban Records
2009

buy

Swingin' With Dean...

Ichiban Records
2008

buy

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.