In Memoriam—A Look At Dean Martin's Wonderful Career

Jun 08, 2020 by apost team

Dean Martin is one of the most beloved entertainers from his generation. Now, 103 years after he was born on June 7, 1917, and one quarter of a century after his death, we're looking back on his incredible career and life. From his most well-known songs such as That's Amore and Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, to his Rat Pack days, we're celebrating everything Dean Martin brought to popular culture.

Born with the name Dino Paul Crocetti to an Italian-American family in Steubenville, Ohio on June 7, 1917, the performer would officially change his name years later to the now-iconic Dean Martin. His early years actually suit a member of the Rat Pack rather well—he was quite a rebel as a teen, and became known for talking back to teachers, boxing, and bootlegging liquor. 

After changing his name and modeling his vocal style on the most popular performer at the time, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin soon went on to begin his illustrious career and soon thereafter met Frank Sinatra in New York.

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After releasing his first single Which Way Did My Heart Go? in 1946, Dean Martin was soon paired with comedian Jerry Lewis. After sharing a bill at the 500 Club in Atlantic City, the duo's combination of manic comedy and debonair music was a hit, and they went on to perform together as Martin & Lewis for a full 10 years.

They performed both live and in film & television, and although they were wildly popular together, they eventually parted ways. In that period Martin released such classic songs of his including That's Amore, Memories Are Made of This, Powder Your Face With Sunshine, and You Belong To Me.

After branching out solo, Dean's career went on to even bigger success. He was hugely popular in Las Vegas, and became known for being a member of the so-called Rat Pack—a group of lothario performers known for their boozy, womanizing ways, which also included Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. among others. They starred in the classic heist film Ocean's 11 and immortalized themselves in pop culture forever.

Following this period, Dean had success on television, hosting The Dean Martin Show for nearly a decade from the mid-1960s to mid-1970s. He continued to play in Las Vegas and even publicly reconciled with Jerry Lewis toward the end of their careers. Sadly, he passed away from lung cancer at the age of 78, on Christmas Day in 1995. Beyond his vast accomplishments professionally, Dean Martin was also married three times and had eight children, including two who followed him into show business. 

Are you a Dean Martin fan? What's your favorite song of his? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this on to any friends and family who love Dean Martin!