Tag: 60s

Dean Martin Biography

18 June 2009

Dean Martin, the man simply known as “Dino,” was a worldwide success. Martin starred in movies, sang Swing Era classics and also introduced America to Italian classics with a new-age twist, and even hosted a hugely popular variety show, The Dean Martin Show.

These are just a few things that Dino did in his entertainment life. He was “second in command” behind Frank Sinatra during the affluent years of the Rat Pack. Martin’s story is the true American dream.

“Dino,” contrary to popular belief, isn’t a nickname. Born to Italian immigrants in Steubenville, Ohio on June 17, 1917, Dean Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti. Steubenville is directly on the Ohio-West Virginia line - not a lot of Italian immigrants had made the trek that far south from New York and New Jersey.

Dino stood out in this environment, only speaking Italian for a lot of his childhood, and quit school at the age of 16 to work in a steel mill. Dino ran liquor for bootleggers and worked as a croupier for the local speakeasy before deciding to follow in his idols’ - Bing Crosby’s - footsteps.

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