One2Swing Biography: Dean Martin
As part of the One2Swing Daily, I wanted to pay tribute to a lot of the artists and musicians that provide the music that we enjoy and dance too. These bios are drawn together from a wide variety of sources and condensed down to just a few pointers. Hope you enjoy them! -Ben

Right after I finished up with Frank Sinatra's bio, I decided I wanted to put up bios for a lot of other great crooners as well (Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett., etc). In the "Crooner" series, it makes sense that we put another member of the Rat Pack, Dean Martin

Dean Martin
(1917 - 1995)

     Born Dino Paul Crocetti, Dean Martin is a legendary vocalist best known for his comedic partnership with Jerry Lewis and his association with the "Rat Pack."Martin was born the son of an immigrant and thus spoke only Italian until he started school at age five. He reportedly dropped out of high school at age 16 and went on to hold many different odd jobs (including one as an amateur boxer named Kid Crochet) before he began singing in Ohio nightclubs at age seventeen (as Dean Martini). He was discovered and hired by Sammy Watkins in 1938. He then changed his name to Dean Martin and enjoyed success in Sammy Watkins band in the New York club circuit modeling himself after idol Bing Crosby. In 1946, a struggling comedian by the name of Jerry Lewis suggested they start teaming up together. It was their comedic chemistry together that lifted them to the hottest nightclub act in Atlantic City


     Success did not stop there. By the end of the 1940's they were the most popular comedic duo in the nation and made their film debut in "My Friend Irma".Eventually the two went on to solo careers. Martin continued to shine on stage, TV, film, and in music. Even as Rock and Roll took over the nation with an invasion of Beatlemania, it was in 1964 when the Beatles were at their height that Martin knocked them off the top of the charts with "Everybody Loves Somebody". He retired during a 1988-89 concert tour with Sammy Davis, Jr. and Frank Sinatra when he became too sick to continue. He has given us many greats including "Ain't That A Kick In The Head" and the popular sing-along "That's Amore".Listen to 'Ain't That A Kick In The Head (mp3).



Hope you enjoyed this mini-bio. I have many more to come!
-Ben