- Al Martino
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Al Martino 
Martino in 2005Background information Birth name Jasper Cini[1] Born October 7, 1927
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesDied October 13, 2009 (aged 82)
Springfield, Pennsylvania, United StatesGenres Jazz, swing, pop Occupations Singer, actor Years active 1948–2009 Labels Capitol Website http://www.almartino.com/ Al Martino (born Jasper Cini,[1] October 7, 1927 – October 13, 2009) was an American singer and actor. He had his greatest success as a singer between the early 1950s and mid 1970s, being described as "one of the great Italian American pop crooners",[2] and also became well known as an actor, particularly for his role as singer Johnny Fontane in The Godfather.
Contents
Biography
Jasper "Al" Cini was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The name Jasper was an anglicisation of his father's name, Gasparino.[1] His parents were immigrants from Abruzzo, Italy, who ran a construction business, and while growing up he worked alongside his brothers as a bricklayer. However, he was inspired to become a singer by emulating artists such as Al Jolson and Perry Como, and by the success of a family friend, Alfredo Cocozza, who had changed his name to Mario Lanza.[2][3] After serving with the United States Navy in World War II, including being a part of the Iwo Jima invasion where he was wounded, Cini began his singing career. Encouraged by Lanza, he adopted the stage name Al Martino - Martino being the name of his mother's father[1] - and began singing in local nightclubs. In 1948 he moved to New York City, and in 1952 won first place on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts television program with a performance of Como's hit "If".[4]
Martino in 1952 when "Here in My Heart" topped the music charts.
As a result, he won a recording contract with the Philadelphia based independent label BBS, where he recorded the song "Here in My Heart". Lanza had been asked by his label RCA Victor to record the song, but Martino called and pleaded with him not to do so in order to let Martino's version have a clear run.[2][3][5] The song spent three weeks at #1 on the US pop charts in June 1952, earning Martino a gold disc[6] and, later in the year, also reached the top of the UK charts. It was number one in the first UK Singles Chart, published by the New Musical Express on November 14, 1952, putting him into the Guinness Book of World Records.[7] "Here in My Heart" remained in the top position for nine weeks in the United Kingdom, a record for the longest consecutive run at #1 which has only since been beaten by five other songs.[8][9]
The record's success led to a deal with Capitol Records, and he released three more singles — "Take My Heart," "Rachel," and "When You're Mine" — through 1953, all of which hit the U.S. Top 40.[2] However, his success also attracted the attention of the Mafia, which bought out Martino’s management contract and ordered him to pay $75,000 as a safeguard for their investment.[2] After making a down-payment to appease them, he moved to Britain.[5] His popularity allowed him to continue to perform and record successfully in the UK, headlining at the London Palladium and having six further British chart hits in the period up to 1955, including "Now" and "Wanted". However, his work received no exposure back in the US.[2] In 1958, thanks to the intervention of a family friend, Martino was allowed to return to the US and resume his recording career, but he faced difficulties in re-establishing himself, especially with the arrival of rock and roll.[5] The success of his 1962 album The Exciting Voice of Al Martino secured him a new contract with Capitol, and was followed by a mostly Italian language album, The Italian Voice of Al Martino, which featured his version of the then internationally popular song, "Al Di Là." He also made several high-profile television appearances, helping to re-establish his visibility.[2]
In 1963, he had his biggest US chart success with "I Love You Because", a cover of Leon Payne's 1950 country music hit. Arranged by Belford Hendricks, Martino's version went to #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #1 on the Easy Listening chart. The album of the same name went Top 10 in the Billboard 200. Martino had four other US top 10 hits in 1963 and 1964 - "Painted, Tainted Rose" (1963), "I Love You More and More Every Day", "Tears and Roses" and "Silver Bells" (all 1964).[2] He also sang the title song for the 1964 film, Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte. One of his biggest hits was "Spanish Eyes", achieving several gold and platinum discs for sales.[10] Recorded in 1965, the song reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart when re-issued in 1973.[9] The song, with a tune by Bert Kaempfert originally titled "Moon Over Naples", is among the 50 most played songs worldwide.[citation needed]
Martino's run of chart success faded after the mid-1960s, although many of his records continued to reach the US Hot 100. Another later hit was a disco version of "Volare", (also known as "Nel blu, Dipinto di Blu"). In 1976, it reached number one on the Italian and Flemish charts, and was in the Top Ten in Spain, The Netherlands and France, as well as in many other European countries. In 1993, he recorded a new studio album with the German producer, Dieter Bohlen (former member of pop duo Modern Talking, producer of international artists like Chris Norman of Smokie, Bonnie Tyler, Dionne Warwick, Engelbert or Errol Brown of Hot Chocolate). The single "Spanish Ballerina" (written in Bohlen's europop sound) reached #93 position in the German single charts.[11]
Apart from singing, Martino played the role of Johnny Fontane in the 1972 film The Godfather, as well as singing the film's theme, "Speak Softly Love". He played the same role in The Godfather Part III and The Godfather Trilogy: 1901–1980. He later returned to acting, playing aging crooner Sal Stevens in the short film Cutout, appearing in film festivals around the world in 2006.
Martino died on October 13, 2009 at his childhood home in Springfield, Pennsylvania, six days after his 82nd birthday. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. Martino was survived by his wife Judi and three children. In December 2009, Al Martino was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
Discography
Studio albums
- 1959: Al Martino
- 1960: Swing Along With Al Martino
- 1962: The Exciting Voice of Al Martino (U.S. #109)
- 1962: The Italian Voice of Al Martino (U.S. #57)
- 1963: I Love You Because (U.S. #7)
- 1963: Painted, Tainted Rose (U.S. #9)
- 1963: Love Notes
- 1964: A Merry Christmas
- 1964: I Love You More and More Every Day/Tears and Roses (U.S. #31)
- 1964: Living a Lie (U.S. #13)
- 1965: My Cherie (U.S. #19)
- 1965: Somebody Else is Taking My Place (U.S. #42)
- 1965: We Could (U.S. #41)
- 1966: Spanish Eyes (U.S. #8)
- 1966: Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep (U.S. #116)
- 1966: This is Love (U.S. #57)
- 1967: Daddy's Little Girl (U.S. #23)
- 1967: This Love for You (U.S. #99)
- 1967: Mary in the Morning (U.S. #63)
- 1968: Love is Blue (U.S. #56)
- 1968: This is Al Martino (U.S. #129)
- 1969: Jean (U.S. #196)
- 1969: Sausalito (U.S. #189)
- 1970: Can't Help Falling in Love (U.S. #184)
- 1970: My Heart Sings (U.S. #172)
- 1972: Love Theme from 'The Godfather' (U.S. #138)
- 1975: To the Door of the Sun (U.S. #129)
- 1976: In Concert: Recorded With the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (live)
- 1977: Time after time
- 1978: Al Martino Sings
- 1978: Al Martino
- 1982: All of Me
- 1993: The Voice to Your Heart; produced by Dieter Bohlen in Germany
- 2006: Come Share the Wine
- 2011: Thank You
Compilations
- 1968: The Best of Al Martino (U.S. #108)
- 1999: The Legendary Al Martino
Singles
Year Title Album U.S. Pop[13] U.S. AC[13] UK Singles Chart[9] 1952 "Here in My Heart" The Exciting Voice of Al Martino 1 1 "Take My Heart" 12 9 1953 "Now" 3 "Rachel" 30 10 1954 "Wanted" 4 "The Story of Tina" 10 1955 "The Man from Laramie" 19 1959 "I Can't Get You Out of My Heart" Al Martino 44 "Darling, I Love You" 63 1960 "Summertime" Swing Along With Al Martino 49 1961 "Here in My Heart" (re-recording) 86 17 1963 "I Love You Because" I Love You Because 3 1 48 "Painted, Tainted Rose" Painted, Tainted Rose 15 3 "Living a Lie" Love Notes 22 8 1964 "Silver Bells" A Merry Christmas 6 "I Love You More and More Every Day" I Love You More and More Every Day/Tears and Roses 9 3 "Tears and Roses" 20 7 "Always Together" We Could 33 4 "I Can't Get You Out of My Heart" (reissue) 99 "We Could" We Could 41 6 1965 "My Heart Would Know" 52 11 "Somebody Else is Taking My Place" 53 11 "My Cherie" My Cherie 88 26 "Forgive Me" Spanish Eyes 61 7 1966 "Spanish Eyes" Spanish Eyes 15 1 5 A "Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep" 30 2 "Wiederseh'n" Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep 57 3 "Just Yesterday" This Is Love 77 12 "The Wheel of Hurt" 59 12 1967 "Daddy's Little Girl" Daddy's Little Girl 42 2 "Mary in the Morning" Mary in the Morning 27 1 "More Than the Eye Can See" 54 1 1968 "Love Is Blue" Love Is Blue 57 3 "Lili Marlene" 87 7 "Wake Up to Me Gentle" 21 1969 "I Can't Help It" 97 10 "Sausalito" Sausalito 99 13 "I Started Loving You Again" B 86 19 1970 "Can't Help Falling in Love" Can't Help Falling in Love 51 5 "Walking in the Sand" 9 "True Love Is Greater Than Friendship" 33 1971 "Come into My Life" 30 "Losing My Mind" 39 1972 "Speak Softly Love" Love Theme from 'The Godfather' 80 24 "Canta Libre" 37 1975 "To the Door of the Sun (Alle Porte del Sole)" To the Door of the Sun 17 7 "Volare" 33 9 1976 "My Thrill" 43 "Sing My Love Song" 24 1977 "Kentucky Morning" Love Is Blue 26 1978 "The Next Hundred Years" Al Martino 49 6 "One Last Time" 44 - A "Spanish Eyes" reached number 5 in the UK on re-issue in 1973.[9]
- B "I Started Loving You Again" also peaked at number 69 on Hot Country Songs.
See also
- List of people from Philadelphia
- List of Italian American actors
- List of Italian American entertainers
- List of acts who appeared on American Bandstand
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of Capitol Records artists
- List of crooners
References and notes
- ^ a b c d Al Martino at FindAGrave.com
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Biography by Steve Huey". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3121/biography. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
- ^ a b Biography on official Martino website accessed 2 January 2010
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955–2002 (1st ed.). Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc.. p. 446. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
- ^ a b c Obituary in The Times, retrieved 2 January 2010
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 61. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 7. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- ^ "I Believe" (11 weeks), "Cara Mia" (10), "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" (16), "Love Is All Around" (15), "Umbrella" (10)
- ^ a b c d Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 352. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 194. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ "German Single Charts (Dieter Bohlen)". Archived from the original on 2009-10-24. http://www.webcitation.org/5kmEcX2iP.
- ^ Allmusic.com - Charts & Awards (albums)
- ^ a b Allmusic.com - Charts & Awards (singles)
External links
- Official web site
- Al Martino at the Internet Movie Database
- Cutout movie on IMDb
- Al Martino - Daily Telegraph obituary
- Al Martino at Find a Grave
UK best-selling singles (by year) (1952–1969) 1952: "Here in My Heart" - Al Martino · 1953: "I Believe" - Frankie Laine · 1954: "Secret Love" - Doris Day · 1955: "Rose Marie" - Slim Whitman · 1956: "I'll Be Home" - Pat Boone · 1957: "Diana" - Paul Anka · 1958: "Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley · 1959: "Living Doll" - Cliff Richard · 1960: "It's Now or Never" - Elvis Presley · 1961: "Are You Lonesome Tonight" - Elvis Presley · 1962: "I Remember You" - Frank Ifield · 1963: "She Loves You" - The Beatles · 1964: "Can't Buy Me Love" - The Beatles · 1965: "Tears" - Ken Dodd · 1966: "Green, Green Grass of Home" - Tom Jones · 1967: "Release Me" - Engelbert Humperdinck · 1968: "Hey Jude" - The Beatles · 1969: "Sugar, Sugar" - The Archies
Complete list · (1952–1969) · (1970–1989) · (1990–2009) · (2010–2029) Categories:- 1927 births
- 2009 deaths
- American male singers
- American film actors
- American musicians of Italian descent
- American jazz musicians of Italian descent
- Musicians from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Traditional pop music singers
- Cub Records artists
- Swing musicians
- Capitol Records artists
- United States Marines
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