Dean Martin

Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917, was an American singer, actor, and comedian. Martin gained his breakthrough in 1946 alongside comedian Jerry Lewis, forming the act 'Martin and Lewis'. Following the acrimonious partnership ending in 1956, Martin established himself as a solo performer and actor, recording numerous songs and being one of the most popular acts in Las Vegas. He was closely associated with fellow artists Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., forming the famous Rat Pack. In 1965, he became the host of the TV variety show 'The Dean Martin Show' which aired until 1974. He had an extensive career performing in concerts, nightclubs, and on recordings, appearing in 85 film and television productions. His well-known songs include "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?", "That's Amore", and "Everybody Loves Somebody". In his personal life, Martin was known to be a family man despite his reputation and was married three times, ending in a total of 8 children. Martin's first language was Italian and he only learnt to speak English when he started school at the age of five. As a teenager, Martin engaged in various jobs from steel mill worker to welterweight boxer before breaking into show business. He gained massive success throughout his career, selling 12 million records in the US alone, over 50 million worldwide. Despite being known as a laid-back entertaining actor, Martin was determined in his pursuit of dramatic roles. He was particularly active in the country music industry in the 60s, earning him the title of "Man Of the Year" by the Country Music Association in 1966. Martin also had a lasting impact on the Las Vegas entertainment industry.