Martin, Dean, 1917-1995

Born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, June 17, 1917; worked various odd jobs including amateur boxer; started his career singing at Steubenville night spots; first used the name Dean Martin while singing with the Sammy Watkins Band in Cleveland (ca. 1941); partnered with Jerry Lewis (1946-56) as the straight half of one of America's most successful comedy teams of the 1940s and 50s; he remained a popular solo entertainer with song recordings, TV specials, his own long-running TV variety program (1965-74), and several motion picture roles; was a member of Frank Sinatra's "Rat Pack" (early 1960s); died Dec. 25, 1995, in Beverly Hills, CA.

Biography

Born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, June 17, 1917; worked various odd jobs including amateur boxer; started his career singing at Steubenville night spots; first used the name Dean Martin while singing with the Sammy Watkins Band in Cleveland (ca. 1941); partnered with Jerry Lewis (1946-56) as the straight half of one of America's most successful comedy teams of the 1940s and 50s; he remained a popular solo entertainer with song recordings, TV specials, his own long-running TV variety program (1965-74), and several motion picture roles; was a member of Frank Sinatra's "Rat Pack" (early 1960s); died Dec. 25, 1995, in Beverly Hills, CA.