For nearly 50 years he entertained the world through films, television and music. This quiet reserved man of an Italian immigrant barber had the reputation for being a party animal and a lush. Dean Martin died in 1995 on Christmas, 29 years to the day after his mother, but through the benefits of modern technology he has a new album of collaborations with the stars of film and music from today.Born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio Dino spoke only Italian until he was five years old. The singing movie star came through the ranks the hard way as a prize fighter, steel mill labourer, gas station attendant, and a card shark in a speakeasy before being teamed with comic Jerry Lewis.
Martin made numerous films, had a successful television variety show that ran for 19 years, and had over 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts; yet he only had three number one songs and no Grammy Awards even though he had several gold and platinum albums. While Martin enjoyed his Jack Daniels off stage, it was apple juice in the glass on stage and camera. Martin was an avid golfer and would bow out early from parties to sleep so he could get up early for a game while fellow Rat Pack members Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop continued on with the party. Known as the Rat Pack to many, the group itself merely called themselves the clan.
On Martin's new release "Forever Cool" – an homage to the opinion of many who felt Martin was way cool – is a collection of Martin songs with the stars of today's voices added. Appearing on "Forever Cool" are Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Shelby Lynne, Martina McBride, Joss Stone, Chris Botti, Dave Koz, French star Charles Aznavour, Italian star Tiziano Ferro, American Idol finalist Paris Bennett, film star Kevin Spacey, and British singing star Robbie Williams who said that he wanted to be just like Dean Martin.
Among the songs that appear on "Forever Cool" is Martin's trade mark song "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime", "Averaderci Roma", "King of the Road", and a never before released a' cappella version of the Brahms Lullaby as the album's final track. Interspersed among the songs are cuts from studio recordings of Martin having a little fun with other members in the studio.
This father of nine children, father-in-law of Beach Boy Carl Wilson, grandfather of Lou Costello, and Rat Pack member is one of the few who has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – one for movies and one for television. His music transcends time and is "Forever Cool"
