- Dean Martin was once a welterweight boxer. He lost 11 of 12 matches before stopping.
- His given name was Dino Paul Crocetti, and when he first started his singing career, he was billed as “Dino Martini”. He changed his name later after singing for bandleader Sammy Watkins, at Sammy’s urging.
- His flop at the Riobamba in 1943 after being preceeded by Frank Sinatra is the event that joined the two men in lifelong friendship.
- His singing style has been compared to Bing Crosby, which might be why he never enjoyed the fanfare Sinatra did – Bing’s style was already way too common by the time Dino ever saw the spotlight.
- Dean Martin was severely claustrophobic, and had actually developed a hatred for New York City because of the tall buildings. He never used elevators, and loved the fact that California’s earthquakes required low buildings – he was happiest in Hollywood.
2 Comments
Hi,
Thanks for the 5 Dean Martin facts, some of which I have heard , and some that I haven’t.
Dean had to have a great sense of humor to call himself Dino Martini..and I’m surpised he kept the name as long as he did! One of the great little bits in all of Dean’s Matt Helm movies is spoofing his and Frank’s records…Some say it was Harry Mills of the Mills brothers that Dean adopted part of his style from…but I’m sure Bing was a huge influence as well….
That Dean was claustraphobic(did I spell that right?) I had no idea about. I have a friend who
shares a similar dislike for elevators, and am always amazed at hearing about the nervousness this person goes thru when getting on one. I can relate somewhat to the fear of heights thing…You have a great site, and I enjoy visiting.
Long live the Dean Martin Show and The Golddiggers/Ding A Lings!!!!
I had always contributed to the mills brothers and bing…with a bit of jolson in their too!
Cheers
Bob C
Dean of the Dean-O-Holics