Dean Martin was an American singer, actor, comedian and television host. Nicknamed the "King of Cool", he is regarded as one of the most popular entertainers of the 20th century.
real name: Dino Paul Crocetti
labels: Capitol Records, Reprise Records, MGM Records, EMI
genres: traditional pop, easy listening, country music, jazz, pop music, big band music
awards: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
plays: voice
member of: Rat Pack, Martin and Lewis
Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.
Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917, in Steubenville, Ohio, to Italian father Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti (1894–1967) and Italian-American mother Angela Crocetti (née Barra; 1897–1966). Gaetano, who was a barber, was originally from Montesilvano, Pescara, Abruzzo and Angela was born December 18, 1897, in Fernwood, Ohio. Angela's father, Domenico Barra, emigrated from Monasterolo, Bergamo. Martin had an older brother Guglielmo "William" Antonio Crocetti (1916–1968). At 15, Martin billed himself as "Kid Crochet". His prizefighting earned him a broken nose (later straightened), a scarred lip, many broken knuckles (a result of not being able to afford tape used to wrap boxers' hands), and a bruised body. Of his 12 bouts, Martin...
Martin's first solo film, Ten Thousand Bedrooms (1957), was a box-office failure. Although "Volare" reached number 15 in the U.S. and number 2 in the UK, the era of the pop crooner was waning with the advent of rock and roll. Martin wanted to become a dramatic actor, known for more than slapstick comedy films. Though offered a fraction of his former salary to co-star in a war drama, The Young Lions (1958), Martin accepted the part, co-starring with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift. Tony Randall already had the part, but talent agency MCA realized that with this film, Martin would become a triple threat: they could make money from his work in nightclubs, films, and records. Randall was paid off to relinquish the role, Martin replaced him...
For nearly a decade, Martin had recorded as many as four albums a year for Reprise Records. Martin recorded his final Reprise album, Once in a While, in 1974, which was not issued until 1978. His final recordings were made for Warner Bros. Records. The Nashville Sessions was released in 1983, from which he had a hit with "(I Think That I Just Wrote) My First Country Song", which was recorded with Conway Twitty and made a respectable showing on the country charts. A follow-up single, "L.A. Is My Home"/"Drinking Champagne", came in 1985. The 1974 film drama Mr. Ricco marked Martin's final starring role, in which he played a criminal defense lawyer.
In 1997, Ohio Route 7 through Steubenville was rededicated as Dean Martin Boulevard. Road signs bearing an Al Hirschfeld caricature of Martin's likeness designate the stretch with a historical marker bearing a small picture and brief biography in the Gazebo Park at Route 7 and North Fourth Street.
Are you them, or do you know them? The mail slot is open.
"Ain't That a Kick in the Head" is a swing song written in 1960 with music by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Sammy Cahn. It was first recorded on May 10 of that year by Dean Martin in a swinging big band jazz arrangement conducted by Nelson Riddle.
The song was featured in the 1960 heist film Ocean's 11, where Martin performed it in an alternate arrangement featuring vibraphonist Red Norvo and his quartet.
Van Heusen and Cahn wrote the song specifically for the 1960 film Ocean's 11, though it was initially referred to press as "Ain't That a Kick in the Seat". Dean Martin's single was released before the film's premiere on August 10, 1960. In the film, Martin performs the song inside a Las Vegas casino.
Despite being listed on the "Very Strong Sales Potential" list in Billboard's "Reviews of This Week's Singles", Dean Martin's initial release of "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" failed to chart and never technically was a hit in terms of sales or radio play.
Aside from the performance in Ocean's 11, the song has been used in a variety of popular media since its release. The song is heard in the 1990 feature film A Bronx Tale. It is featured in the 2010 video game Fallout: New Vegas, where it is played on the in-game radio station Radio New Vegas. It was also featured in the 2011 film Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol during the film's prison break sequence. It was used again in the trailer for the 2025 film Mickey 17.