Dean Martin "The King of Cool"

"When he started to redo his nightclub act, he started at the Sands Hotel and had some writers helping him. It was like Jack Benny who had the violin thing, and made fun about being cheap.

Dean was so handsome, so debonair. They just thought, 'We'll put a drink in his hand and a cigarette.' Every man wanted to be him, and every woman wanted to be with him." - Deanna Martin, Dean’s daughter, as quoted here in the - LA Times.

You may know him as Dean Martin, but did you know that's not his real name? His legal name was actually Dino Paul Crocetti. But, he was also known by other names!

Born June 7th, 1917 in Stubenville, Ohio, he started his career at the age of 17, singing in nightclubs close to his hometown. Interestingly, he was an amateur boxer who went by the name “Kid Crochet” and all around near do well. In regards to his fighting record in 12 bouts he “won all but 11.”

He also dropped out of High School in the 10th grade because he thought; ‘’ I was smarter than all of my teachers.”

In his career, Dino took on many jobs. Bootlegger, Blackjack Dealer, even worked in a Steel Mill. He worked an illegal casino behind a tobacco shop as a “Croupier.” Where he called himself “Dino Martini” the obvious origin of what would become his stage name Dean Martin.

He began singing and entered into the Music industry with the Ernie McKay Orchestra. His crooning style was greatly inspired by fellow Crooners Harry Mills and Perry Como.

In the late 40’s he found himself singing after Frank Sinatra at the Riobamba Night Club, where... He flopped. Ha, tough act to follow I suppose. But Dino’s career wasn’t just within music.

He found great success teaming up with Comedian Jerry Lewis. The two had a now famous show, “Martin and Lewis” the two rising in the ranks, having eventually played the Copacabana club in New York. The two made movies together as well including, “You’re Never Too Young!” , “Sailor Beware” and “Hollywood or Bust” just to name a few. However, after struggling to compete with the new up and coming Rock and Roll music and the Slapstick act feigning Dino found success in more Dramatic roles, including a movie co-starring Marlon Brando called “The Young Lions.” But, if you really want to see a great Dean Martin movie, in my opinion "Rio Bravo” is tops blooby. A western, Costarring none other than John Wayne.

His country music style is great too “Dean “Tex” Martin: Country Style” is a great album. Dean, able to cross over flawlessly into another Genre. A rarity in Music.

In the 1950’s and 60’s Dino joined what would become known as “The Rat Pack” which included Joey Bishop , Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. They were a Las Vegas sensation, holding down the Sands and making the now famous movie, “Oceans 11” (My favorite.)

In 1965 Dino started the “Dean Martin Show” on NBC. It ran for 264 episodes and included the famous “Roasts” and his variety of “tongue and cheek, boozer style of comedy and womanizing personality.

His later days included a Country hit with Conway Twitty called, “My First Country Song” in 1983. And a famous reunion with Jerry Lewis on Lewis’ telethon.

The reunion was received with two standing ovations as the two made amends after falling out years before. The moment caused the telethon to make record donations and Jerry Lewis was later quoted as saying, “It was one of the greatest moments of my life!”

Dean was diagnosed with Lung cancer at the age of 76 after decades of being a heavy smoker. He refused treatment, and passed away on Christmas Day at his home in Beverly Hills in 1995 at the age of 78. "The whole world is drunk, and we're just the cocktail of the moment. someday soon, the world is gonna wake up, pop two aspirin with a glass of tomato juice, and wonder what the hell all the fuss was about." - Dean Martin