A tenth grade dropout who began his professional career as a boxer named "Kid Crocett" (playfully pronounced Kro-Shey). He started his entertainment career as a singer working for the Ernie McKay Orchestra, where he crooned in a style similar to Bing Crosby.
After serving domestically in the Army during WWII, Dino met Jerry Lewis while they were both performing at New York City's Glass Hat Club.
Yes, Dino Paul Crocetti was also known as Dean Martin.
The partnership between Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis started in 1946 and lasted ten years.
In 1957 Martin moved into his solo career as an actor, starting with "The Young Lions" which included Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift and Tony Randle. Many other memorable roles were in "The Sons of Katie Elder", and "Rio Bravo" both with John Wayne and in "Ocean's Eleven" with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Perter Lawford.
Martin's singing career continued throughout, this a sample of some of his best known work:
- Return To Me (Ritorna a Me)
- Everybody Loves Somebody
- Gentle On My
- Release Me
- In Napoli
- Standin On The Corner
- That's Amore
Hey pallie Otis, thanks for the trib to our great Dino. I agree with all your Dinostatements, especially "The movies he did were best when he had the opportunity to play a relaxed, if not devilish personalities, it fit the man." Loves the Matt Helm flicks, our Dino is never cooler then when playin' his cool, hip and randy self...not the greatest Dinoflicks, but our Dino at his greatest! Never was, never will be anyone as cool as our King of Cool. Since you are obviously a Dinolover, I invite you to check out the ol' Dinoblog. Oh, to return to the days when Dino walked the earth!
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. Dean Martin is my favorite all around entertainer. The man's great in music, in movies, and on television. He's so cool and hip. I love listening to his tunes. So many of them have become great classics. I really enjoy his acting, whether it's in something like Ocean's 11 or one of the Matt Helm spy movies. Nice to see another fan.
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